A screenshot is an image that can be made in one click. A special snapshot shows the screen or the working window at a specific point in time. This option was introduced in Windows 7 to provide an easy way to share the needed information.
Let us discuss why we need screenshots and what the possible ways to make them on your computer or laptop are. Here, we consider the most relevant techniques for the Windows operating system.
Contents
What Are the Reasons to Get Acquainted with This Tool?
Users utilize this tool to capture individual blocks of websites, parts of the interface, and applications. The solution is indispensable for:
- interface developers
- teachers dealing with the creation of manuals
- bloggers specializing in reviews of stores and digital platforms
- professional designers.
It is useful for those who constantly share screenshots to learn the secrets of using built-in and alternative applications. The flexibility and main features of such products are varying a lot. So, one can utilize diverse tools for different situations according to the aim.
Manual for Your Computer or Laptop: Basic Methods
First of all, to take an image of the screen on your computer or laptop, it is not necessary to install an external program. A novice user can benefit from the system features.
Users can find and open the cropping tool via the search function or activate the hot mode with a keyboard. Each of the algorithms in its own way is suitable for different modes of operation.
Easy Way
If you are interested in the whole picture that you see, use the combination Win (with a flag) and Print Screen. The latter is generally easily found, and you will never miss it.
The picture will be taken by the system immediately and saved to your hard drive. The PNG format is usual for this option. You will then find the obtained results in the same place as all your pictures.
Keyboard Shortcuts and Paint
In all the versions of the Windows operating system, you can use such a button as Prt Scr. When you press it, there will be two options:
- Using just it, the entire image is captured.
- Your active part is captured by pressing a combination Alt + Print Screen (Prt Scr).
After this simple action, the obtained result is placed on the clipboard or RAM.
Then, you have to select one of the options to retrieve and save a snapshot from system memory:
- If you wish to work further with the obtained image in some program, just open it and press Ctrl + V (insert).
- Open Paint (MSPaint), insert it, and save using a combination of Ctrl + S. In this case, you select the place for saving by yourself.
One can also utilize the following ways to find the Paint (MSPaint) program:
- Press Start, then Run, type MSPaint, and click Enter. Or launch it by using the Windows key combination + R.
- Click Start, then choose All Programs, then – Standard, and here is the needed program.
No matter which option you select, the result is going to be quite the same. If you do not have any special or editing tasks, that will be right enough for a quick capturing of interesting information.
Scissors
The so-called Snipping Tool is a built-in option that was launched in the process of OS development. The developers created it for users who do not wish to open the graphics editor every time they need to use this tool. In general, the app partially replaces the standard Paint, which is considered a more flexible counterpart.
To use this option, find it using the search. The algorithm of its utilization is the following:
- After clicking Create, select the area to be screened.
- Edit the obtained image if you would like to change something (you can add lines and highlights).
- The last step is to save the document that you get. You can utilize the shortcut Ctrl + S, then fill in a name and a place where you then want to find your picture.
Generally, it is in *.PNG format. If this option is not suitable, there is an alternative — TIFF, .PDF, or popular .JPG. You can select one of them while saving it.
In the tenth version of this OS, materials are allowed to be integrated into some Internet services, for example, into email messages.
Windows Key + H
This combination is used to send the captured screen as an attached file via email or save it to the cloud. After pressing them, a panel with a list of applications available for use is activated: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneNote, or others. When uploading, you should immediately open access to the file.
Snip and Sketch program
The developers of Windows 10 have recently added another app called Snip and Sketch. It allows capturing some area, window, or the whole image that is interesting for you. It is similar to Scissors but can replace it because of its convenience.
To begin working with it, press Win + Shift + S or look for the program by name using the system search. After launching it, select the area of interest using the tools that appear on the display.
To see a picture, open Paint and press Ctrl + V. Once the image appears, you can begin editing, change everything that you wish, and then save the result.
If these options are not enough for you, or more powerful editing tools are required, search for third-party programs. There is a great variety of them; many programs are free and even do not require installation. Some options work together with a web browser. Everything depends on your needs and the frequency of use of this service.
In a nutshell, be sure that you can always create a beautiful screenshot very quickly and share it with colleagues or friends very easily. Use the built-in tools for Windows or give a try to other existing programs.