Taking a screenshot is one of those things that we “assume” everyone just knows how to do – kind of like knowing how to turn on a computer or how to tie our shoes. Unfortunately, this isn’t a feature that is highlighted and paraded in front of customers looking to buy a computer. Instead, you’re left to figure it out on your own (if you ever do).
As a technically savvy individual, I find knowing how to do this to be a HUGE timesaver during the work day and wanted to share instructions on how to take a screenshot in both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.
Windows XP
- Decide on a screen to capture
- Hold Alt and the Print Screen keys (this takes a screen capture and saves it to memory)
- Open Microsoft Paint (Start >> Programs >> Accessories >> Microsoft Paint)
- Click Control-V or Edit >> Paste
- Click File >> Save as… and save to your hard drive
- To email your screenshot, attach it through your email program
With Windows Vista and Windows 7, you have a couple of different options. Option 1 is to use the Alt and Print Screen method mentioned above. Fortunately, Microsoft also provides a tool called the Snipping Tool as well, which let’s you get more granular about what you are taking a screenshot of – here is how to take a screenshot using the Snipping Tool and Windows Vista / Windows 7.
Windows Vista/Windows 7
- Open the Snipping Tool. Start >> Programs >> Accessories >> Snipping Tool
- Select the type of snipping tool you would like to use
- Drag around the area you would like to “snip”
- Click the save snip button
- Enter a name and save your file
- To email your screenshot, attach it through your email program
Mac OS X offers a very comprehensive tool for taking screenshots. Below are the keystrokes you need to take screenshots. Perform the following key combinations to take your desired screenshot.
Mac OS X
- Command – Shift – 3: Takes a screenshot of your current screen and saves it to your desktop
- Command – Shift – 4: Let’s you select an area. Takes a screenshot and saves it to your desktop
- Command – Shift – 4 – Space – then click on a window: Takes a screenshot of a window, saves it to your desktop
- Command – Control – Shift – 3: Takes a screenshot of the screen, saves it to your clipboard
- Command – Control – Shift – 4: Let’s you select an area and then takes a screenshot and saves it to your clipboard (think copy and paste)
- Command – Control – Shift – 4 – then space – then click a window: Takes a screenshot of a window and saves it to your clipboard
Note: In Leopard and later, the following keys can be held down when selecting an area (when using Command – Shift – 4 or Command – Control – Shift – 4:
- Space: This locks the size of the region you have selected. When you move your mouse, it moves the region
- Shift: Allows you to resize one edge of the selected area
- Option: Allows you to resize the selected area with its center as the anchor point
Need a video tutorial? I’ve put one together below to help you out.
Tell me – are you a Windows or Mac user? Also, what other tutorials do you need help with? Leave a comment below.