How to Take a Screenshot

How to Take a Screenshot on a Windows 10 PC

There are a few ways you can take a screenshot on a personal computer. Here are the few that are built right into the system. The most common way is to push the button–

PrtSc (PrtScrn), automatically saving the screenshot as a PNG file to: Pictures > Screenshots

Or you can open the application accessible through the Windows app menu:

Paint and push these buttons to paste to the page: Ctrl + V, allowing you to edit and save how and where you want.

However, another way is using the application you can find through the app menu:

Snip & Sketch or Windows + Shift + S changes the cursor to a small toolbar at the top of the screen. From here you can select a rectangle, a freeform clip, or clip the entire screen. Then that clip appears as a thumbnail in the lower right corner of your screen. Click to edit, save in PNG, JPG, or GIF files, or share it. 

How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac

If your Mac isn’t upgraded to Mojave or Catalina you have the following options for capturing a screenshot as a PNG file saved to your desktop–

Shift + Command + 3 to screenshot the entire screen

Shift + Command + 4, dragging the cursor to outline the area you want to capture.

Shift + Command + 4, pressing the spacebar and turning the cursor into a camera which you hover over the window you want to capture. When it highlights the area you want, click on it.

Command + Shift + Z, gives you timed screenshots so you can put everything in place.

However, if you have upgraded to Mojave or Catalina there is an app for it that you can open using:

Shift + Command(⌘) + 5 or Launchpad>Other>Screenshot 

This application allows you to capture the screen, a window, or a specific selection or to capture all or part of a video, which you can then use to amuse your friends with a kitten antic or to teach your employees how to use software. You can even set it to record you as you move through screens and move around your cursor to point out different key parts. Use the icon in the corner to click, edit, and save where you want.

How to Take a Screenshot on iPhone

Sometimes you find something as you work or play on your phone that you want to share with friends or that you want to remember for yourself in case you can’t find that screen again. To take a screenshot on an iPhone simply press:

Side Button + Volume-Up Button or Home Button, depending on how old the phone is.

The screenshot shows up in the lower-left corner for a moment, giving you an opportunity to draw on it, save in different file formats, and share it. Just push Done when you are finished. It will want to know if you want to keep it or not. If you keep it will go to the iPhones photos application or its screenshots file.

But don’t stop there. Record a video of your iPhone or iPad screen when you add the widget:

Screen Recording from your iPhone or iPad Control Center settings. Then tap:

Record to save a video to your camera roll. Create a video showing all the steps you go through to create a digital art piece or practice a function of an application.

How to Take a Screenshot on Android Phone

There are two ways to screenshot your Android phone if you have Android 9 or 10–

Press and Hold Power Button or Press and Hold Power Button + Volume Down Button and a pop-out window with icons appears, giving you the option to screenshot that funny meme or a job opportunity you want a friend to know about. To find your screenshots, go to:

Photos and tap on the three parallel lines in the top left corner to select:

Device Folders > Screenshots

Another way to capture a screenshot is using:

YouTube Gaming App by Installing the YouTube Gaming and clicking:

Go Live Button to adjust the video settings. As it records in the background, show them that cool game app move or a series of moves on your screen. It works in the background and allows you to share it to YouTube or save it to your Photos app.

How to Take a Screenshot Using Software

Not satisfied with the basic settings? Here are just a few of the many applications for PC, Mac, Android, or iOS that you can obtain either for free or paid. They offer a lot more options in saving, sharing, extending, and annotating your screenshots.

Lightscreen is a system tray convenience with multiple options for saving and sharing, including precise sizing options. It is free for use on Windows or Linux.

Skitch partners with Evernote, allowing annotation and easy sharing of screens. The application is free but Evernote is not. Use it on Macs, iOS, or the web.

Jing is another application which allows screenshots and screen recordings to annotate and share such as tutorials. It is free to use with Windows or Mac.

Snagit allows rolling screenshots along with various other captures, annotating to create tutorials and more. You pay $50 for its use with Windows or Mac, but you get what you pay for here.

Pinpoint is an iOS application that allows you to import, annotate, and include visual boxes around relevant information. It is free or pay $1 and get the extra markup tools.

How to Take a Screenshot Using Browser Extensions

Some browsers have extensions that allow you to easily find the tools you need to take those screenshots.

Evernote Web Clipper allows you to annotate, using arrows and highlights. Just click it and select Screenshot, dragging your mouse over the part of the page to save. Then annotate, save, or share from there.

Inspect Element is a really good application for keeping your sensitive information on a page safe. Just right-click on a webpage, click Inspect, then click the selector tool and click on the part of the webpage you want to change. Replace that text with whatever generic information you want.

Chrome’s Developer Tools are opened by pressing Alt + Command + I on a Mac or Ctrl + Shift + C on Windows. To capture a full-page screenshot of a website, click on the mobile divide icon in the far left corner and the three-dot button before selecting Capture Full-Size Screenshot.

Lightshot is a Firefox browser extension for capturing screenshots. Create or open an account with Firefox and add the extension. When you do it will appear on your toolbar from then on, giving you the opportunity to capture any selected area, including video and flash, edit, and save. You simply push the icon on the bottom of the screen, click and drag to highlight the area and release.

Using these tools, look smart, showing off your advanced skills, or have fun, showing off your pension for fun. You are just a screenshot away from not having to write down or remember solutions or puns.

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