Show HN: Screenstab (tilt-shift-style screenshots) is now free and open source
Screenstab, a tool for creating tilt-shift-style screenshots used in product launches and tech content, has been made completely free and open source. All previously paid PRO features—including watermark-free exports, HD export, and drag-and-drop—are now included at no cost, with the source code published on GitHub.
Background
- **Tilt-shift effect** is a photographic technique that makes a scene look miniature. In screenshots, it creates a stylized blur at the top and bottom of the image while keeping the center sharp — making app or website screenshots stand out as if they were product shots.
- Screenstab is a web-based tool that applies this effect to screen captures. It was originally a paid commercial app; the developer has now made it **free and open source**, releasing all formerly paid features (HD export, no watermarks, etc.) to everyone.
- This is posted on Hacker News ("Show HN"), a section where makers share their own projects with the tech community. The author is a solo developer who did everything himself — from design to payments — and is now asking the community what other small, irritating design or screenshot tasks people still do manually.
- The announcement is notable because it reflects a growing trend among indie developers: launching small, focused tools commercially, then going open-source to build goodwill and attract contributors.