I. Introduction
Print Screen, or “PrtScn” for short, is a function available on most Windows and Mac computers that captures an image of your computer screen. Knowing how to use this function is useful for a variety of reasons, such as demonstrating how to perform an action, capturing a funny meme or important information that you don’t want to forget.
II. Step-by-Step Guide on How to Capture Computer Screen Using Print Screen Function
The Print Screen function allows you to capture an image of your current screen. Here’s how to do it:
A. Entire Screen on Windows
To capture the entire screen on Windows, press the Print Screen button. The image is automatically saved to your clipboard.
B. Entire Screen on Mac
To capture the entire screen on a Mac, press Command + Shift + 3. The image is automatically saved to your desktop.
C. Specific Portion of the Screen on Windows and Mac
To capture a specific portion of the screen on both Windows and Mac computers, press the Print Screen button and then press Shift + left click and drag the cursor over the area you want to capture. Once you release the mouse button, the image is saved to your clipboard or desktop, depending on the operating system you’re using.
D. Saving the Captured Images
To save the captured image, paste it into a program like Microsoft Paint and save the image as a JPEG or PNG file.
III. Comparison of Various Screen Capture Tools Available for Windows and Mac Devices
Besides the built-in tools, there are also third-party screen capture tools available. Here’s a comparison of some of the most commonly used options:
A. Built-in tools
- Snipping Tool (Windows): Allows you to draw on screen captures, crop images, and share the images directly from the program.
- Grab (Mac): Provides the capability to capture the entire screen, a specific window, or a selection of your choosing. It has built-in editing features similar to the Snipping Tool.
B. Third-party software
Some of the popular third-party screen capture software for Windows and Mac include Snagit, Greenshot, Lightshot, and Skitch, which provide more advanced editing tools and additional features like scrolling screenshots or annotations.
IV. How to Use Snipping Tool to Crop and Edit Screenshots on Windows Computers
The Snipping Tool is a built-in screen capture tool available in Windows. Here’s how to use it:
A. What Is the Snipping Tool
The Snipping Tool is a program in Windows that provides basic image editing functions, including cropping, highlighting, and handwriting recognition.
B. How to Use the Snipping Tool
Press the Start button and enter “Snipping Tool” in the search box. Click “Snipping Tool” from the search results to launch the program. From there, you can choose from four different snip options: Free-form Snip, Rectangular Snip, Window Snip, and Full-screen Snip. Once you’ve captured your snip, you can annotate or save the image as a file.
V. Detailed Guide on How to Take a Screenshot on Android and iOS Devices
Screenshots are particularly important for mobile devices, whether it’s to capture important information or a funny meme. Here’s how to take screenshots on both Android and iOS devices:
A. Screenshot on Android Device
To take a screenshot on an Android device, hold down the power button and volume down button at the same time until the screen flashes. The image is saved in the Gallery app and can be found in the Screenshots folder.
B. Screenshot on iOS Device
To take a screenshot on an iPhone or iPad, press and hold the side button and the volume up button at the same time until the screen flashes. The image is saved in the Photos app and can be found in the Screenshots album.
VI. Tutorial on How to Use the Print Screen Function to Capture Specific Portions of the Screen or Multiple Monitors
Did you know you can also use the Print Screen function to capture multiple monitors and specific portions of the screen? Here’s how to do it:
A. Capture Specific Portions of the Screen
Hold down the Windows key and Shift key and press S on your keyboard to activate Screen Sketch. Highlight the area you want to capture and release the mouse button when you’re done. Your selection is saved to the clipboard and can be pasted into other programs as needed.
B. Capture Multiple Monitors
Press the Windows key and Print Screen simultaneously to take a screenshot of all of your monitors. The image is saved to your Pictures folder in a “Screenshots” subfolder.
VII. How to Use Third-Party Software to Capture Scrolling Screenshots or Screenshots of Web Pages
While built-in tools and the Print Screen function are useful, sometimes third-party software provides even more advanced functionality. Here are some third-party software options for capturing scrolling screenshots or webpage screenshots:
A. Why and when to use third-party software for screen capture
Third-party screen capture software often provides additional functionality not found in built-in tools or the Print Screen function. For example, some programs allow you to capture scrolling screenshots, while others can capture entire webpages or annotate images.
B. Third-Party Software Options
Some popular third-party software options for capturing scrolling screenshots or webpage screenshots include Snagit, Greenshot, and Lightshot on Windows, and FireShot and Nimbus Screenshot on Chrome browser.
VIII. Conclusion
Capturing your computer or mobile device’s screen is an essential skill. The Print Screen function, built-in tools, and third-party software provide a variety of options for capturing the screen. We’ve covered how to use these tools on different devices and given tips to help you get the most out of your screenshots.
