Taking Oblivion Screenshots 101 Contributors: Hannah, Archeopterix, LadyCallipyge, Lon Lon Link, CCNA, Monica21, Ronginus, and SC_WolfIt is important to note that enabling screenshots in Oblivion is slightly different than it was in Morrowind. There are two .ini files for Oblivion, one in the game install directory and another in your My Documents directory.
The one in My Documents is the one you'll need to change. Detailed instructions below:
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1. Exit Oblivion
2. Find the
Oblivion.ini file in
My Documents\My Games\OblivionNOTE: Oblivion_default.ini in
Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion is
NOT the one you're looking for!
3. Make a copy of the .ini file.
It is very important to make a back-up copy of the .ini file in case of errors.4. Open the Oblivion.ini file in Notepad
5. Find the line "
bAllowScreenShot=0" and change it to "
bAllowScreenShot=1"
6. Save your changes and close Notepad
7. Start Oblivion as usual
8. When you want to take a screenshot, press the "
Print Screen" key on your keyboard ?it's usually to the right of your F-keys. If successful, you should see a large message in the upper-left of your screen that says "
ScreenShot: File 'ScreenShot0.bmp' created." Everytime you take a screenshot, Oblivion will create a new .bmp with a new filename (one number larger than the previous screenshot).
9. All screenshots are stored as
.bmp files in the root of your Oblivion directory. Unless you changed the install directory during the installation of Oblivion, it should be in
C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion -----------
If You Can't Find the .ini FileIf you cannot see your Oblivion.ini file, it is possible that your system is set to "hide" certain file types. To check and see if it's set up that way, go to your
Start Menu ->
Control Panel ->
Folder Options. In the Folder Options dialogue box, click on the
View tab. You should see in the left hand window a whole bunch of options. Look for where it says Hidden Files. If it isn't already selected, select "
Show hidden files and folders." Just below this option, also be sure that "
Hide extensions for known file types" is
unchecked. Click OK. You should be able to see the Oblivion.ini file in your My Documents directory now.
Alternatively, if you are having problems finding the actual directory, you can use Windows' search function (
Start Menu ->
Search ->
All files and folders). In the "All or Part of the file name" field type in (without the quotes) "
Oblivion.ini". Make sure your C:\ drive is selected in the "Look in" field. Click "Search" - your computer should show you the file in the right-hand pane. Proceed from step 3, making sure to make a back-up file.
If Changing the .ini File Doesn't Seem to WorkIf you're still not able to take screenshots after changing the .ini file, check to see if you have anti-aliasing turned on in your video options. If it is, turn it off (
ESC ->
Options ->
Video ->
Anti-aliasing: OFF) and you should be able to take a screenshot.
There may be other reasons for screenshots not working but the causes and solutions are unknown at this time.
CCNA Edit I found that on my rig, I had to hit the Function Lock key to enable the Print Screen button to work, and of course hit the Function Lock again to get the F1 to F4 menu keys and Quicksave (F5) and Quickload (F9) to work again.
Camera Tips- Press R on your keyboard to switch back and forth from first- to third-person view
- Press and hold R and change the camera angle by moving your mouse around at the same time
- A side-to-side mouse movement will rotate the camera around your player
- A forwards-backwards mouse movement will tilt the camera angle above or below your character
- The mouse scroll wheel will move the camera closer or farther away
- You can equip your weapon and/or cast a spell in this position as long as you continue to hold R
- Press the Print Screen button at any time to take your shot - be careful not to take them too close together or you'll accidentally capture the "screen shot created" message in your shot
- To "remove" the User Interface (your stat bars, compass etc.), open the console by pressing the ~ key on your keyboard, type in "TM" (but without the quotes), press Enter, then close the console (press the ~ key again). This toggles the UI off. Turn it on again by using the TM console command again.
For you Vista users, Reiben has the following informations:
» Sun May 05, 2013 6:55 am 
