How to make screenshots on a computer and mobile phone?

Screenshots or screenshots are called screenshots. Often images of this type must be taken when creating instructions to explain some of the actions. Also, often users create screenshots to save images with the gameplay of computer games. This article is a guide to take screenshots. It examines the built-in Windows tools and third-party software.

Most popular way

Any version of the operating system supports an easy way to create screenshots. It does not require the user to install additional applications. How to make screenshots on a computer without third-party utilities? Follow the instructions:

1. Open the application you want to photograph, or place all the windows on the screen as they should be in the picture.
2. Press the Print Screen button on the keyboard (sometimes it may display PrntScr). If you want to take a snapshot of only one window, make it active and use the keyboard shortcut ALT + PrntScr.
3. Open any graphic editor, for example, Paint. To go to Paint, just expand the Start menu and write the name of the application in the search bar, and then click on its icon.
4. After going to the graphical editor, use the SHIFT + INSERT key combination to insert a screenshot. In some programs (for example, in Gimp), you must first create a canvas using the File menu.
5. At the last stage, just save the result. Most editors use the "Save" item for this, which is located in the "File" drop-down menu.
6. After that, it remains only to choose the format for the future image and the place where it will be copied.

Although this method is the simplest, it is only suitable if the number of screenshots is small. Opening a graphical editor and manually saving an image is not the most convenient set of actions. It also takes a lot of time.

"Scissors"

Using the Scissors program built into Windows is a more convenient way, which also does not require the installation of third-party software.

How to make screenshots on Windows using Scissors? Follow the instructions below:

1. Open the app. To do this, click on the "Start" button, and in the input field, insert the word "scissors", then simply click on the utility icon.
2. In the program panel, click on the arrow next to the text "Create".
3. The user will be given a choice of several options for creating a screenshot. When you select "Full Screen", the application takes a snapshot instantly, capturing on it all the elements located on the desktop. The "Rectangle" item allows you to select a specific area of ​​the screen that will be captured in a future picture. After choosing the "Window" option, the utility will offer to click on the window of any program to save exclusively this element to the image file. The item "Free form" allows you to draw a frame of any shape.
4. After creating a screenshot, “Scissors” will automatically open it in a simple graphical editor. Of course, it is inferior in functionality even to the Paint program. With it, you can send an image by e-mail, draw lines, copy to the clipboard. To save the picture, simply click on the button that looks like a purple diskette.
5. Define the format of the future file, indicate its name and select a save location, then press "Enter".

Since making screenshots using the Scissors utility is more convenient than using the Print Screen key, this option is more popular, although it is not ideal. "Scissors" still require the user to perform many actions to save the final image. And this is not very convenient when you need to capture the screen quickly, or if you need to add additional information to the pictures or upload them to the network.

Faststone capture

Although Windows has built-in tools for creating screenshots, third-party software surpasses them in terms of usability and functionality. One such utility is FastStone Capture. This is a multifunctional application with which you can take a picture of a computer screen. The only drawback of the utility is the lack of Russian localization.

To the question about how to make screenshots on your computer using FastStone, the following instruction will answer.

1. Download the application distribution package from the official website of the developer.
2. Install the utility. Any user can handle this operation - on all screens of the installer just click on the button with the text Next.
3. Run the program. A minimalistic panel is displayed on the PC screen.
4. Click on the right icon in the form of a screen with a check mark, and in the menu that appears, click Settings.
5. In the window that appears, go to the Hotkeys tab.
6. Before taking screenshots, set keys for taking screenshots of various types or remember the default ones.
7. A screenshot is created by pressing the hot key, and then immediately opens in the built-in editor.
8. To save a screenshot, click on the icon with the inscription Save As, then specify the directory for recording the file, format and name, and then press ENTER.

Snagit

Snagit is considered one of the best in the field of screen capture. With it, you can not only take screenshots, but also shoot videos. Snagit allows you to take pictures of different areas: the entire screen, a separate window (even scrolling), a rectangular selection and even menu items. The utility has functionality that allows you to add watermarks and inscriptions to screenshots automatically. The Snagit application has a built-in graphical editor in which you can add arrows, frames, lines, icons, captions, etc. to the finished image.

How to make screenshots on a laptop using Snagit? Follow the steps:

1. Download the utility to the computer and install it.
2. In the panel that opens, click on the Image text located in its left part.
3. Opposite the Selection text, select the type of screen capture: a separate window, a selected area, a menu, etc.
4. After selecting, click on the Capture button. In the case when the option of shooting the entire screen is selected, the panel will go out for a moment, and then the image will open in the built-in editor. If shooting of a rectangular area is indicated, select the place you want to capture in a graphic file, or click on the window if you want to take a screenshot of it exclusively. In the panel, you can turn off the automatic opening of the editor after capturing the screen. It is important that after this, the creation of several screenshots in a row is available without the need to save each separately.
5. When all screenshots are taken, click on the Open Editor caption to open the image editor. In the lower part, all taken pictures will be displayed.
6. To save all the images taken during the session, click on the File text in the upper part of the window, and in the pop-up menu click on Export.
7. Select a session and click on "Next".
8. In the next window, select the effect that should be applied for screenshots, and then click "Next" again.
9. Specify the directory to save and set the format for future files. Click the button that says "Next" again, and then click "Finish."

Screenpresso

Screenpresso is a very simple screen capture utility. How to make screenshots with it? Follow the instructions:

1. Download the utility distribution kit.
2. After starting, accept the terms of the license agreement and click on the text "Start without installation."
3. Click the button in the camera view. Two icons will appear on the screen.
4. Next to the left, click on the down arrow and select the object that you want to save in the future picture.
5. After shooting, a preview of the image will be displayed in the utility panel. No further action is required to save.
6. To go to the directory with images, right-click on any of them, and select "Open Folder" in the menu that opens.

Joxi

If you need to take a screenshot and immediately upload it to the Internet for sharing, the Joxi application will be the best choice.

How to make screenshots with Joxi? Use the following instruction:

1. Download the utility, install it and run it.
2. After the first download, the application will ask you to register. At this step, you need to enter your e-mail and create a password to enter your account.
3. Upon completion of registration, a bird icon will appear in the tray.
4. Before making a screen screen, right-click on the icon. Indicate whether the entire screen should be photographed or only part of it. By clicking on the "Fragment" button, specify a rectangular area, which will subsequently become a picture.
5. After taking the screenshot, a simple editor will appear on the screen. To save a screenshot, click on the checkmark icon on a blue background. At this step, the automatic download of the screenshot to the Internet will begin, after which you can click on the button with the text "Open" to go to the page with the saved image. If the screenshot needs to be saved on the local computer, then in the editor, click on the arrow, which is located next to the icon with a checkmark, then select the "Save" item.
6. When saving the picture to the local computer, you will need to select the future location of the screenshot and set its name.

How to make screenshots on an iPhone?

Mobile devices are getting deeper and deeper into the everyday life of users and, using them, sometimes you also need to take screenshots. To create a screenshot on an iOS device, just click on the Home and Shutdown buttons at the same time. The first is on the front of the phone, the second is on the side. After that, the screen will be filled with white for a moment, and a sound signal will notify the user of the successful creation of a screenshot.

A screenshot will immediately appear in the standard Photo program. In some versions of the operating system, a special album is created to store screenshots. You can work with screen images, as with any other.

Android Screenshots

The Android operating system also has a built-in screenshot tool. To take a screenshot, just press the power off and volume down button at the same time.

To open the created screenshot, just swipe down from the top of the display, and in the unfolded curtain, click on the notification. In some versions of Android, next to the picture in the notification will be the date of its creation and an inscription that the image is a screenshot.

Samsung Phones

Some mobile phone manufacturers, such as Samsung, are changing keyboard shortcuts for basic actions. How to make screenshots on the Samsung?

On most smartphones of this developer, the combination of keys "Home" and "Shutdown" is set for this operation. If this method does not work, simultaneously press the physical "Home" button and the touch - "Back".