How to Screenshot on Windows

How to Screenshot on Windows

Are you figuring how to screenshot on Windows? Screenshotting is an easy action and in the following article, we will guide you through several ways you can take screenshots on your Windows OS.

1. Default Windows Screenshotting

Step 1: Image Capturing

Taking screenshots is very easy and now we will go over the default way you can do it without installing any third-party programs.

Firstly, you will need to visually capture the screen by pressing the “Print Screen” button which you can usually found in the upper-right corner of the keyboard.

The button is usually labeled as “PrtScr” and pressing it will automatically screenshot your entire screen. Additionally, if you want to screenshot an individual window you can use the alt+Prtscr shortcut.

If you are a laptop user, you might need to use one of the fn+Prtscr or the Windows key+PrtScr shortcuts that will give you the option to save your screenshot immediately in the desired folder.

Once you have screenshotted the content on your respective device, the screen will turn gray for a short time to inform you that you took a screenshot. However, if you are unsure that your screenshot was taken, you can always check your default storage location.

Step 2: Editing in Paint

After finishing the first step, you completed the screen capturing process. As a result, your screenshot will be saved, and by simply copying it, you can use the image in various forms of internet communication.

However, if you did not like a certain detail of your image, you can easily adjust it. The most reliable program for this action is luckily the one that comes installed with Windows OS, which is Microsoft paint.

You can find this program easily by typing “paint” in your search bar if you are running Windows 10. Alternatively, if you have Windows 8 or type paint in the search bar in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

For Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 users, paint can be found after typing “paint” in the search box after clicking on the Windows button in the lower-left corner.

Step 3: Pasting in Paint

Once you have opened the paint application, you will need to reaccess your screenshot by copying it and pasting it.

You can use the copy-paste options by right-clicking your mouse or using the Ctrl-c and Ctrl-v shortcuts on your keyboard.

After you have successfully pasted the picture in Paint, you can rotate it, crop it, resize it, or even draw something if you want to.

Step 4: Save and Access

Moving on, you will need to save the picture on your device. Firstly, you will need to click the file option in the upper-left corner, then save as.

After completing those steps you will need to name your new picture and choose the type of image format.

The most common format you will use is JPG, but there are other formats available depending on the situation. Voila!

After you’ve chosen the desired format, your new image will be saved and ready for usage. This form of screenshotting is convenient if you do not want to bother yourself with installing any third-party programs.

2. Snipping Tool

The second tool we’ll discuss is the one that comes integrated into the Windows installation, named Snipping Tool. Its usefulness lies in the fact that it is automatically installed with the default Windows package and the fact that it is really easy to use.

Using the Snipping Tool

Firstly, you will need to find this tool by clicking on the start button in the bottom-left corner and searching the “snipping tool” in the search bar.

Once opened, you will be able to choose various shapes in which you can perform your screenshot.

The options available are free-form, rectangular, window, or full-screen which can alter the shape of your screenshot.

In the end, the snipping tool is a fancy version of the default Windows screenshotting tool but ultimately lacks versatility in comparison to other screenshotting applications.

3. Greenshot

Greenshot is a great alternative application that is equally easy to use as the tools previously mentioned and is quite versatile too.

The application can be accessed via the assigned key on your keyboard, or opening the application manually and taking a screenshot.

The tool takes screenshots of your entire screen, a certain window, or a region you require. It has neat features that can forward your screenshots onto Microsoft Office or Imgur, which can be effective in everyday usage.

Additionally, Greenshot offers you some useful options like the screenshot delay in which you can alter your screenshot if you prefer.

It can also perform basic actions such as copying, pasting and sharing the screenshot. Overall, Greenshot is a great application for casual users and it certainly helps that the application is completely free.

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4. Lightshot

While both default Windows screenshotting and Greenshot are a reliable option for short-term screenshotting, Lightshot is a useful third-party application specifically catered for more business-oriented screenshotting with various editing options.

Another advantage is that the software is very beginner-friendly and can be used both casually and professionally. In the following segment, we will guide you through its features.

Step 1: Image Capturing

When you first install Lightshot, it is going to replace the default key that was previously used for screenshotting, which is PrtScr in most cases. After clicking the button, your screen will become gray and you will be able to crop the image as you desire.

Step 2: Lightshot’s Features

The main advantage of Lightshot is the wide palette of editing options upon cropping the screenshot. Once you have cropped the image, Lightshot will offer you various options such as sharing the image to Google, social media, printing and much more.

Additionally, you can copy (Ctrl-C), save (Ctrl-S), or maximize (Ctrl-A) a screenshot. Another interesting feature the software allows is directly uploading the screenshot upon editing by using the Ctrl-D shortcut.

When uploaded, you can freely share the link of the screenshot by copying it which may be more convenient in situations where you want to share the screenshot with a large number of people.

I would certainly recommend Lightshot as its usage varies from both casual and professional.

Additionally, another nice fact is that the application is completely free of charge.

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