If you want to take a picture that is displayed on a computer screen, this can be done easily. You can learn how to take screenshots on Mac, Windows, and mobile devices. All you have to do is learn some keyboard shortcuts and quick tricks.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Taking a Screenshot on Windows
Step 1. Look for the keyboard button that says "Prt Sc"
It stands for "Print Screen". By pressing this button, the image on the screen will be saved in the clipboard. It's the same as when you click "copy" on an image.
- Usually this key is located in the upper right corner of the keyboard, above the " Backspace " key.
- Press " Prt Sc " once to take a screenshot of the currently displayed screen.
- If you press and hold the " alt=""Image" " key while doing this, the image that will be captured is the window you are currently using, for example a web browser. So, if you just want to take a picture of your internet browser, click on that browser window and press alt=" "Image" & Prt Sc at the same time.</li" />
Step 2. Run Microsoft Paint
This free program comes preinstalled on all Windows computers. You can use it to paste screenshots and edit them if necessary.
- You can open Paint from the Start menu. Run this program by clicking " All Programs " → " Accessories " → " Paint ".
- You can use any application that can be used to paste images, such as Microsoft Word, Photoshop, or InDesign. However, Paint is the fastest and easiest way to save screenshots.
Step 3. Click " Paste " to display the screenshot
The Paste button is in the top-left corner of Paint. You can also paste it by pressing CTRL + V keys at the same time.
Step 4. Save the screenshot
Now you can save the screenshot using Paint. Click the small purple Save button (in the form of a purple diskette) or press CTRL + S simultaneously. Name the image and determine its quality.
Step 5. Use the Snipping Tool if you are running Windows Vista, 7, and 8
Microsoft installed a small tool in all windows that can be used to take custom screenshots. In the Start menu, find the program by typing " Snipping Tool ". With this tool, you can create a screenshot of the size you want and save it directly through the Snipping Tool program:
- Click "New"
- Click and drag the area you want to take a picture of.
- Click "Save Snip" (purple disk-shaped button).
Method 2 of 3: Mac OS X
Step 1. Press Command ("Apple"), Shift and 3 at the same time
The image containing the entire screen view will be saved on the desktop. The image will be named "Screen shot" along with the date and time behind it.
Step 2. Press the Command ("Apple"), Shift and " 4 " keys to take a screenshot of the area you selected
The mouse cursor will change to a small plus sign. When it appears, click and drag this plus sign over the area of the image you want to save.
Step 3. Open the image file to edit it
You can double-click the image file on the desktop to open it. From there you can edit, crop, or rename it using an image-editing application.
By clicking on an image file name and hovering the mouse cursor over it, you can rename the image directly on the desktop
Method 3 of 3: Using Other Ways to Capture Screen
Step 1. Use GIMP to take a screenshot
GIMP is an open source image editor with features for screen capture. You can do two ways to capture the screen using GIMP.
- Click " File " → " Create " → " Screenshot ".
- Press Shift and F12 at the same time.
Step 2. Take a screenshot on Linux using GNOME Desktop
The " Prt Sc " method described in the Windows section usually works on Linux too. However, Linux actually has its own ways to take screenshots with more options:
- Click "Applications"
- Click "Accessories", then search for "Take Screenshot".
- You will be given a variety of options, from screen size to delay settings.
Step 3. Take a screenshot on iPhone by pressing the Home and Power buttons simultaneously
If both buttons are pressed at the same time, the device will flash and the screenshot will be saved in Photos, which can be accessed at any time.
Step 4. Take a screenshot on Android device by pressing Volume and Power button at the same time
Many Android devices bring up a "Screenshot" option when you click the Power button.
- Android phones running the Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 operating system provide this option, but older versions of Android don't.
- If you have a device that doesn't have a screenshot feature, download the app on the Google Play Store. Type "Screenshot" in the search field and download the free app you like.
Tips
- From now on, try to practice taking screenshots so you're ready to do it the next time you come across an image you like.
- The image you get when you press Print Screen will be as big as the screen. Maybe you need to trim or shrink it.
