Now, more than ever, there’s been an increase in the use of text and images methods to convey a message to people. Visual communication has become the preferred choice of putting a message across in a clear and succinct manner.
I'm trying to find information how do we take a screenshot on Windows 7 that will actually create a screenshot file like.png in to your desktop like on mac where you can do it by pressing commandshift+4. In windows all I know is that I can do it by press press PrtScn = Windows captures the entire screen and copies it to the clipboard. Or for the Active windows I can just do hold Alt.
In the recent past, the use of screenshots has gained popularity as a quick and convenient way of communicating ideas and illustrations. Since the advent of Windows Vista Operating System, the screenshot feature has come in handy and remains the most convenient way of capturing and saving a picture on your desktop. Modern PCs using Windows 7, 8, 10 and other operating systems like Mac and Linux come equipped with inbuilt tools for taking screenshots.
So, what is a screenshot?
- Screenshot in Bootcamp Hi! I have a MacBook with Windows 7 Home Premium on the Bootcamp side. I am trying to take a screen shot on my MacBook keyboard on the Windows 7 side--I have tried every combination of commands on every Apple board, and it is not working for me, nor do I have the Snipping tool.
- PicPick is a Windows tool for screenshots, and it enables you to capture, edit and share images. PicPick is highly customizable, and it lets you configure things like hotkeys and image quality. PicPick is highly customizable, and it lets you configure things like hotkeys and image quality.
A screenshot is a digital image of a monitor or part of a PC monitor. It’s created by an application software running in Operating Systems like Windows 7, 8, 10, Android and iOS or by pressing a combination of keys on the keyboard.
Before we delve deeper into the screenshot tools, it’s prudent to ask ourselves: Why are screenshots important?
Note: Screenshots are the most convenient and simplest way of showing part of your screen to your readers or clients in a clear and concise manner. They come in handy when you want to capture an image on your screen or during presentations and show your clients exactly what you mean. You visually convey your message succinctly and straight to the point.
Screenshots make it easier to drive your point home and dispel any ambiguity or incoherence. Most software download guides, manuals and technical tutorials rely heavily on screenshots to make it easier for clients to follow the instructions and get it right. Research has shown that someone is likely to have more recollection of a visual presentation that a verbal one, hammering the point home about the significance of screenshots in Windows 7, 8 and 10.
Students too have relished the powerful screenshot feature in sharing information with their peers. They take notes by screenshotting online articles and using them as a reference for online assignments. People nowadays relish taking screenshots of funny social media posts on Facebook, Twitter and share outrageous posts and gaffes made by notable political figures and key media personalities and celebrities. Screenshots have also played a key role as an FBI tool and for sharing hot gossip.
In this article we will answer the questions that most users ask themselves when needing screen capture software, like: How to take a screenshot on Windows? How to screenshot on PC? What is a Windows screenshot? What is a Screenshot on PC? And how do you take a screenshot on a PC?
Ways to Take a Screenshot on Windows
Windows PCs (7, 8, 10) make it easy and convenient to take screenshots irrespective of the device you are using. You are spoilt for choice as there are many ways you can go about this without breaking a sweat from using the built-in snipping tool to a myriad of keyboard shortcuts and free applications. Let’s delve deeper and see how this can be accomplished. These are some ways of how do you take screenshot on a PC with Windows Operating Systems.
1. Taking a Screenshot Using the Snipping Tool
Windows Operating Systems (7, 8, 10) come with a built-in application for taking screenshots called Snipping tool. It can capture all or part of your PC screen. It’s a versatile app and can capture the following types of snips:
- Full-screen snip – This mode makes a capture of the entire screen (also known as Windows screenshot).
- Rectangular snip – This mode gives you a cursor which you can drag around your screen to capture a rectangular area.
- Free-form snip – This mode allows you to draw a free-form shape around an object.
- Window snip – This allows you to select your preferred dialogue box or part of a window e.g. browser that you want to capture.
Opening the Snipping Tool
On Windows 7 or 10:
Hit the ‘Start’ button and type ‘Snipping Tool’ in the search box that appears, click on the Snipping tool icon to launch the program.
On Windows 8:
Using a mouse, point to the lower right corner of the screen and move the mouse pointer upwards and click search. Type Snipping tool in the search field that appears and select it. We can find some useful tips for taking screenshots in Windows over CNET, “3 tips for taking faster screenshots in Windows 10”.
Capturing a Snip on Windows 7, 8 and 10
After launching the snipping tool application, select ‘mode’ and a drop-down list of the 4 modes you wish to pick appears. Select your preferred snip and select the area you wish to capture. This will allow you to make a screenshot on PC.
Capturing a Snip of a Menu
- After launching the snipping tool program, open a menu that you want a picture of. When using Windows 7, hit the Esc key first before opening the menu.
- Press the Ctrl + PrtSc keys. This captures the entire screen including the open menu.
- Select the drop-down arrow adjacent to the snipping mode and select ‘Window Snip’. A mouse pointer with a hand symbol will appear and all you need to do is to point to the menu you wish to capture.
How to Annotate a Snip
After capturing the snip, you can scribble or write on or around it using the highlighter or Pen tools. If undesirable, you can use the eraser to efface the lines that you’ve scribbled.
Saving a Snip
After capturing the snip hit the Save button.
In the Save As dialog box, type your desired file name and select Save.
In the Save As dialog box, type your desired file name and select Save.
How to Remove the URL from a Snip
After capturing a snip from a browser and saving it as an HTML file, the URL still appears below the snip. To prevent this from happening, follow the below steps:
- Select the ‘Options’ button.
- In the dialog box that appears, clear the ‘Include URL below snips’ (HTML only).
Sharing the Snip
To share the snip as an email attachment, locate the ‘Send snip’ button and select the drop-down arrow adjacent to it. This will present two options of sending it as an email attachment.
Keyboard Shortcuts Used in Snipping Tool Application
- Alt + M – Choosing a snip mode
- Alt + N – Create a new snip in the same mode as the last one
- Alt + D – Delay the capture by 1-5 seconds
- Ctrl + C – Copying the snip to clipboard
- Ctrl + – Saving the snip
2. How to Take a Screenshot of Your Entire Screen on Windows 7, 8 or 10 Using Keyboard Shortcuts
- On your keyboard, press the fn + PrintScreen key (abbreviated as PrtSc) key to copy your current screen. This will automatically save the screenshot in the OneDrive pictures folder.
- If you wish to paste it into a Microsoft Word Document or a blank document in any editing application press Ctrl + V to paste it into an image editor or into a blank Microsoft Word Document.
- For MS Paint, click on the Paste tab and select the paste option in the drop-down menu that appears.
Windows 10 machines come with a new screenshot capture combination. For those whose keyboard comes with an fn key, hit the Windows key (Windows Logo) + fn + PrtSc key to save the screenshot automatically in the Photos folder eliminating the need of pasting it into a blank document.
The screenshot captures are saved in the following location: This PC > Pictures > Screenshots
3. How to Capture and Save a Screenshot to the Pictures Folder of OneDrive (Windows 7, 8, 10)
If you are running Windows 10 with OneDrive installed on your system, you have an easy convenient way of capturing and storing your screenshots in the cloud. Upon hitting the combination fn + PrtScn key, OneDrive will pop up a notification informing you that your screenshot has been saved to the Pictures folder. Below is the full path.
C:Usersaccount_nameOneDrive
PicturesScreenshots
PicturesScreenshots
Alternatively, you can press the Windows key + fn + PrtScn button to save the screenshot directly to Pictures folder without pasting it anywhere else.
Alt + Fn + PrtScn also does the trick and similarly saves the screenshot in the OneDrive Pictures folder.
Alt + Fn + PrtScn also does the trick and similarly saves the screenshot in the OneDrive Pictures folder.
4. Taking a Screenshot on Microsoft Surface
Method 1:
The easiest and most convenient way of taking a screenshot on your Surface Pro 3 device is to tap and hold down the Windows key at the front and simultaneously pushing down the volume down button. The screen is captured and saved to the ‘Screenshots’ folder inside the Pictures library.
The easiest and most convenient way of taking a screenshot on your Surface Pro 3 device is to tap and hold down the Windows key at the front and simultaneously pushing down the volume down button. The screen is captured and saved to the ‘Screenshots’ folder inside the Pictures library.
This PC > Pictures > Screenshots
Method 2:
If there’s a PrtScn key on your type cover, you can equally take a screenshot by pressing and holding down the Windows key and hitting the PrtScn key. The shot will be saved to the ‘Screenshots’ folder as mentioned earlier in Method 1.
If there’s a PrtScn key on your type cover, you can equally take a screenshot by pressing and holding down the Windows key and hitting the PrtScn key. The shot will be saved to the ‘Screenshots’ folder as mentioned earlier in Method 1.
Method 3:
Alternatively, you can press the PrtScn key. This will save the screenshot to the ‘Screenshots’ folder in the Pictures Library. If OneDrive is installed, it will be saved in the Pictures Library on OneDrive.
Alternatively, you can press the PrtScn key. This will save the screenshot to the ‘Screenshots’ folder in the Pictures Library. If OneDrive is installed, it will be saved in the Pictures Library on OneDrive.
Method 4:
If you want to take a screenshot of just the active window on your screen, press and hold down the Alt key and hit the PrtScn key. This will automatically be saved in OneDrive as discussed in Method 3.
If you want to take a screenshot of just the active window on your screen, press and hold down the Alt key and hit the PrtScn key. This will automatically be saved in OneDrive as discussed in Method 3.
Method 5:
If you double-click the top button of your surface pen, the screenshot of the desktop will be saved in the screenshots folder on OneDrive. Moreover, this method presents you with an option of immediately cropping your image.
If you double-click the top button of your surface pen, the screenshot of the desktop will be saved in the screenshots folder on OneDrive. Moreover, this method presents you with an option of immediately cropping your image.
Method 6:
Finally, for a more precise screenshot, you can use the snipping tool feature that can capture part or the whole window area. Type ‘Snipping Tool’ in the search bar or Cortana and launch the application. This has been discussed in earlier examples.
Finally, for a more precise screenshot, you can use the snipping tool feature that can capture part or the whole window area. Type ‘Snipping Tool’ in the search bar or Cortana and launch the application. This has been discussed in earlier examples.
Note: Some of these methods can be found on Digital Trends: “Immortalize your Display” or even from Windows Blog: “How to take a screenshot on your Windows 10 Surface device”.
Top 6 Popular Applications to Take a Screenshot on a PC
Apart from the default built-in Windows applications, there are free and premium apps that can equally come in handy. As mentioned over Creative Market “Best Screenshot Apps for Mac & Windows”. Let’s have a look at some of them that you can download at any moment:
1. Nimbus Screenshot
Price: Free
This is available as a plugin for Chrome and Firefox and as a desktop application in Windows. It allows users to take screenshots of the entire browser window, part of the window or an entire webpage.
It also offers capabilities such as annotating and editing of Windows screenshot taken. Thereafter, images can be saved on your drive or uploaded to cloud for easier sharing. Download its desktop application, it comes with a screencasting tool for recording videos.
2. Lightshot
Price: Free
This works for both Windows and Mac.
The application sits in the system tray until needed. It comes with an editor for annotating (adding notes & highlights). A free account can be created by users to enable them to upload the shots to printscrn.com and create an online gallery for reference and secure backup.
The application sits in the system tray until needed. It comes with an editor for annotating (adding notes & highlights). A free account can be created by users to enable them to upload the shots to printscrn.com and create an online gallery for reference and secure backup.
3. PicPick
Price: Licensed per user and comes with Technical support, auto update, lifetime upgrade and can be used for both commercial and personal purposes. Starts at $29,99.
It’s a full-featured screen capture tool, that allows a user to capture and edit screenshots using numerous integrations such as crosshairs, protractor, and pixel ruler to mention just but a few. You can also add annotations, arrows, and shapes in the built-in editor.
Moreover, it’s a portable program that can be downloaded on a flash disk and executed without the need for installation.
Moreover, it’s a portable program that can be downloaded on a flash disk and executed without the need for installation.
4. ShareX
Price: Free
This is an intuitive screen capture tool with numerous integrations & extensive editing features that allow you to edit, annotate and save screenshots.
5. GreenShot
Price: Free
It’s a lightweight capture tool and editor packed with numerous convenient features and a built-in editor for annotations and highlighting sections of the screenshots.
6. TinyTake
Price: Free (For 5-minute-long videos)
It’s a versatile screen capture and video recorder tool that also allows you to edit screenshots and add annotations. You can capture part or the entire screen of your desktop either as videos or screenshots. Images can be stored in the cloud for backup and ease of access.
How to Recover Deleted or Lost Screenshot
Now that you know how to take a screenshot on multiple versions of Windows, you need to learn how to restore your favorite and valuable screenshots if they get accidentally deleted with the help of data recovery apps like Disk Drill.
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While you may not think about data recovery often, you should. If you don’t maintain regular backups, losing your data may be very painful, but not only that, imagine losing your important college thesis or work related documents without been able to recover them.
Dis Drill is a complete, easy-to-use recovery solution trusted by hundreds of thousands of Mac and Windows users every day. Our software is also capable of creating real-time backups of your data for free using Recovery Vault and Guaranteed Recovery features, and can be used to recover lost data with our state-of-the-art recovery engine. Don’t lose your important files, save them with Disk Drill!
Dis Drill is a complete, easy-to-use recovery solution trusted by hundreds of thousands of Mac and Windows users every day. Our software is also capable of creating real-time backups of your data for free using Recovery Vault and Guaranteed Recovery features, and can be used to recover lost data with our state-of-the-art recovery engine. Don’t lose your important files, save them with Disk Drill!
Download Disk Drill now to start protecting your data, or get back to it when you need a data recovery software.
-->Jun 21,2018• Proven solutions
Screenshots are an essential part of every design process, but it is quite complicated to capture them manually. If you often need to handle multiple programs to edit, capture and annotate screenshots on your system; it is good to look for an all in one solution.
Snapping a screenshot is not as simple as capturing a picture of the desktop; when you need it for a professional purpose, it is important to ensure its right meaning and appropriate demonstration. But the great news is that market is loaded with so many awesome screen capture tools that are developed with multiple features for designers to get their job done instantly. In this technology-rich world, there is no need to press multiple keys to capture a screenshot and then spend hours on paint to edit it. Today, you can use customizable screengrab solutions to get ideal shots.
Price | Works with | Capture Video | Share | |
---|---|---|---|---|
ShareX | Free | Windows | Y | Dropbox, FTP, OneDrive, Google Drive, Imgur, Twitter, etc. |
Greenshot | Free | Windows | / | Email, printing, and clipboard, etc. |
TinyTake | Free | Windows, Mac | Y | MangoApps |
PicPick | $21.99 - $8.99/user | Windows | / | Web, FTP, email, Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive, Facebook, Twitter, Evernote, etc. |
Lightshot | Free | Windows, Mac | / | / |
Nimbus | Free | Windows, Mac | Y | Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. |
Snipping Tool | Free | Windows | / | Clipboard |
Skitch | Free | Windows, Mac | / | Email, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. |
ScreenPresso | Free | Window | Y | FTP, Facebook, Twitter, Imgur, Dropbox, Evernote, OneDrive, YouTube, Google Drive, Email, etc. |
SnagIt | $50 | Windows | Y | Email, Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. |
Screenshot Captor | Free | Windows | / | |
Steam | Free | Window, Mac | / | Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter. |
Gadwin PrintScreen | Free | Windows | / | Email, print |
SnapCrab | Free | Windows | / | Evernote, Twitter, Facebook |
FastStone Capture | $19.95 | Windows. Web | Y | / |
Below we have discussed essential details about top 15 screenshot software tools to ease your selection:
1. ShareX:
Pros:
- Able to handle scrolling capture and webpage capture for any web address.
- Free and open source tool.
- Can upload captured screenshots on 80 different destinations.
Cons:
- Little complicated to handle for beginners.
Main Features:
Shots captured with ShareX can be uploaded to multiple destinations including Amazon S3, FTP servers, and Dropbox, etc. It can also capture shots when you are scrolling down on windows. ShareX handles numbers of operations automatically like capture, upload, save to hard drive, and can add watermarks as well. This tool is also integrated into many online services like Flickr, Imgur, and various cloud storage providers.
2. GreenShot:
Pros:
- Works perfectly with the easy to use shortcut keys.
- Assists in screenshot customization.
- Runs perfectly on your system tray.
Cons:
- Does not have built-in annotation options.
Main Features:
This open source and free to use application works perfectly on Windows where designers can handle things easily with customizable keyboard shortcuts. This tool can capture the whole screen of your desktop or can also be limited to a specific window or region on the screen. Once you capture the screenshot, this app can help you to save it automatically, open in any application of Microsoft Office, image editor or upload instantly to Imgur for easy sharing.
3. TinyTake:
Pros:
- It allows easy capture for image and videos as well.
- Keeps a history of old work.
Cons:
- Image quality needs some improvement.
Main Features:
This free screenshot tool works perfectly on Mac and Window systems and allows users to capture images from the screen. Abilities of TinyTake are not just limited to that rather it also allows users to record all screen movements in the form of videos. It also provides annotation service. The great news for users is that it keeps a history of all captured shots so that they can be referenced in future.
4. PicPick:
Pros:
- Slick interface with plenty of features.
- Available for personal as well as business use.
Cons:
Mac For Windows
- Expensive solution.
- Does not support Mac platform.
Main Features:
This screengrab tool works perfectly with the window systems and allows users to capture, edit as well as share images with its easy to handle interface. You will be happy to know that PicPick is a highly customizable app that allows users to customize hotkeys to make things easier on screen. This screen capture tool also assists in developing finest image quality after editing. However, you have to pay around $21.99 to $8.99 per user to access its features. Screencaps can be saved to the system, opened in an external editor or can also be shared on social media platforms.
5. Lightshot:
Pros:
- Easiest screen capture app.
- Instant sharing and editing.
Cons:
- Loaded with basic features only.
Main Features:
Lightshot is available for free, and it works perfectly on Window and Mac systems. This app allows users to share and snag screengrabs instantly. Even beginners find this app easier to use with its basic and simplistic interface that is loaded with numbers of attractive features. Lightshot also allows users to upload images online by creating a free account on printscrn.com so that they can be referenced anytime from this online backup.
6. Nimbus:
Pros:
- Latest Google chrome plugin.
- Combination of screenshot and screencast abilities.
Cons:
Mac Os Screenshot Window
- Not yet found.
Main Features:
This freely available screengrab tool can be used on Windows and Mac platform; the great news is that this app works as a Google Chrome extension; it means you can access it anytime, from anywhere without making efforts to download any file. It allows users to capture web pages as well as videos from device screen. Users are allowed to add comments on the video screencasts, and this platform is also loaded with impressing annotating and editing capabilities.
7. Snipping Tool:
Pros:
- Can save images in numbers of file formats.
- Simple annotation tools.
- Easy image editing.
Cons:
- Limited customization options.
Main Features:
This window-based screenshot app is convenient to use with its built-in editing tools. This powerful software not only works for grabbing full screen rather at the same time, but it also allows taking an instant shot of current window or rectangles. Users can also select the snipping area using a mouse.
8. Skitch:
Pros:
- Best tool for designers with advanced annotation abilities.
- It is known for its grandfathered status.
Cons:
- Little difficult for beginners.
Main Features:
This awesome app is designed by Evernote, and it works perfectly on Window and Mac systems. You can start using it for free and capture high-quality shots from the computer screen. It also possesses advanced annotation abilities that allow users to edit new shot or existing image with the help of text and other effects. This app is recommended for all those who want to handle advanced design projects.
9. ScreenPresso:
Pros:
- Interactive interface with wide range of features.
- Can be installed or used in the portable
- Impressive editing abilities.
Cons:
- Beginners need more time to learn its extensive features.
Main Features:
This freemium screenshot tool also allows users to capture videos. The simple editing and transformation tools can be used on still images as well as on watermarked videos. With shortcut keys, you can easily capture full screen, any active window or a small region using magnifier tool. It has advanced annotation tools available for free; however, the premium version provides additional services in the form of OCR, ability to record system audio and assists in removal of watermarks.
10. SnagIt:
Pros:
- Heavy duty application with impressive features.
- Easy to use screenshot controls.
Cons:
- Expensive tool.
Main Features:
Here is another standalone and heavy-duty screen capture tool that is capable enough to capture full screen from the desktop, any active window, certain selected area, particular object, and video as well. This OneClick tool allows easy pinning on top of the windows to manage quick screenshot needs. Along with this, SnagIt is loaded with impressive editing and annotation tools including tagging, sorting and sharing abilities. The only trouble is you need to pay $50 to gain access to the awesome features of this tool.
11. Screenshot Captor:
Pros:
- Wide range of capture options.
- Built-in tools for quick editing.
- Highly customizable.
Cons:
- Complicated interface.
Main Features:
It is not just a simple screenshot app rather it can also capture images via webcam and includes numbers of scanning tools to develop to notch documents. You will be surprised to know that this screengrab tool can even capture the content of a scrolling window. It can be used to splice areas out of the screenshots, can annotate as well as work with other advanced image editing tools. With all such awesome features, it is available for free but make sure you use it regularly to develop fluency with its hi-tech interface.
12. Steam:
Pros:
- Along with steam, it can also capture non-steam games as well.
- Works perfectly with hardware acceleration.
Cons:
- This tool is suitable for games only.
Main Features:
There is no doubt to say that Steam is designed especially for the crazy gamers and assist them in capturing screenshots of adventurous moments on screen. This tool is not restricted to the games that are available through steam rather it can be used on anything that you prefer to add manually to your library.
13. Gadwin PrintScreen:
Pros:
- It is loaded with customizable export options.
- User-friendly
Cons:
- Lack of editing tools.
Main Features:
With a simple and feature-rich interface, Gadwin PrintScreen is a handy tool where most operations can be completed with hotkeys and with mouse cursor as well. However, the image editing and annotation options are available with the paid version (US$24.95) only. This tool can help you to save images in numbers of formats, add shadows, watermarks or resize them with ease. In short, this tool has extendable features that ease screengrab process for designers.
14. SnapCrab:
Pros:
- Numbers of pre-built social features.
- Instant screen capture abilities.
Cons:
- Can handle few basic needs only.
Main Features:
SnapCrab allows users to capture shots from the screen with just a few clicks. The pre-built social features allow easy sharing of shots to various platforms online. Users love to capture and post images to the tweeter with interesting tweets. SnapCrab allows users to make their content visible to people on different networks online.
15. FastStone Capture:
Pros:
- Supports multiwindow capture and multi-level menus.
- Can handle numbers of file formats.
- Interactive floating toolbar.
Cons:
- Not yet found.
Main Features:
This classic, all-in-one app comes with 30 days free trial, and the paid version can be obtained by paying $19.95 only. This shareware screenshot capture tool is known for its impressive floating toolbar that supports quick capture modes. Users can also access hotkeys to enjoy one-button screen capping. The most interesting thing to know about FastStone Capture is its ability to capture multiple windows and multi-level menus. One can also record screen movements in the form of videos and annotate images with arrows, objects, and text, etc. Screenshots can be saved in multiple file formats.
Conclusion:
If you are searching for an advanced screen capture software, it is better to pick any of the listed above by analyzing features that are suitable for your needs. Most of these tools are available for free, and many don’t even require installation so you can start using them anytime to create awesome screenshots with easy customization abilities. Once your screenshots are ready, you can save them for future use or share them directly via social media platforms.
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