You do not know how to take screenshot on PC? Here we show you several ways to do it. Easy, simple and fast!
How to take screenshot on PC?
Screenshots, also called Screenshots, are a useful and necessary tool for any computer user. With them it is possible to retain information of interest when we surf the internet, or we can also show the content of our screens to other people without the need for them to be by our side.
Today, almost all computers have basic tools for this. However, not all people know how it works or knows how to take screenshot on PC. Next, we will show you the various possibilities in this regard.
Windows
The first and easiest method of all is using the computer keyboard. In this case, the first thing to do is make sure that we are in the window we want to capture and that it is displayed clearly.
If we look closely, in the upper right part of the keyboard, next to the function key F12, there is a key identified as Print Screen, in some cases Prt SC Sys Rq. By clicking on it, we automatically obtain a screenshot of the screen.
In this regard, it is important to note that if we have several windows open at the same time, the shot will see the screen as a unit.
On the other hand, if what we want is to obtain an image of only a portion of the active screen, we must use the command: Alt + Print Screen. It is important to position ourselves precisely on the window that we want to highlight.
Either way, the resulting image will be saved in PNG format on the computer's clipboard, and never automatically. It can also happen that it is deposited directly in the Screenshots folder when we have the Dropbox application. It works the same with Microsoft's OneDrive, only that it is necessary to activate this option the first time we use it.
This is achieved by following the sequence: Settings> Backup> Screenshots.
Now, the second step is to paste the screenshot into a new document in the Paint program. The application must be opened before capturing the image.
Once this is done, we go to the blank page, we are located in the upper left part of the screen, and we click on the Paste option. It is also possible using the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + V.
The last step is to save the capture, which we achieve by selecting the File option, also located at the top of the window, followed by Save as.
In this part we are asked to write the name that we want to give to the image, in addition to selecting the type of file. By default, the program saves the capture as JPG, but it is possible to change the format to PNG, BMP, GIF, among others. Finally, we click on the Save option.
To meet our goal, we can also use the Windows key, located at the bottom of the keyboard between the Ctrl and Alt keys. In this way, if we execute the Win + Print Screen command, we get a screenshot of the entire screen. Unlike the previous two modes, with the use of this shortcut it is possible to directly save the image as a file.
Automatically, it is saved within our computer, in C: Users> Username> Screenshots images.
On the other hand, you can also use the shortcut Win + G, which opens the Games window. Once inside, we select the Screenshot option. The image that is generated is automatically saved in the location: C: Users> User names> Captures videos. It is important to take into account that to carry out this action, it is necessary to have the screen capture function of the game bar configured.
It is also possible to use the Win + H command, which captures an image of the full screen and at the same time shares it through online services, such as social networks or email. The only requirement is that these applications are installed on the computer.
The last keyboard command that we can use to take screenshots is, Win + Alt + Print Screen. The resulting image is stored in the same address described in the previous paragraph.
To learn more about keyboard shortcuts, we invite you to read the article on control keys. There you will find the use of a large number of commands.
In any of the cases where the image is saved locally as a file, after identifying its location, it can be viewed through the Photos application. It is also possible to move it around, attach it to an email message, store it in the cloud, etc.
Another simple alternative to capture a screen image is using the Snipping Tool, but this is only possible if we have the Windows 10 operating system.
Basically, Snipping Tool is a snipping tool, designed to define and capture images, or parts of them, without using the keyboard.
In this way, all that is needed is to open the program and choose one of the available alternatives. These are: Freeform Capture, Windows Capture, or Rectangle Capture.
Another important feature of this attractive application is the possibility of configuring it to automatically delay the capture time, which is really useful if what we want is to capture a precise moment during the reproduction of a certain video or animation.
Additionally, it is possible to select the Crop and annotate option, through which we capture an image that can be viewed in thumbnail, and then edit it directly through the application.
Similarly, the Windows 10 update has a similar application, called Snip & Sketch. The first step is to open the program and go to the top left of the screen. There, we click where it says New.
In the menu that appears on the following screen, we must select one of the three possible types of capture: full screen, free form or rectangular. The image is loaded into the application, after which we can make use of other tools located in the upper part of the window, to proceed to annotate it. The image goes directly to the clipboard of the computer.
Mac OS X
If our computer has a Mac OS X operating system, the only possible way to take screenshots is by using the keyboard. Well, this type of computer lacks a specific key to capture images.
To do this, we press the Command + Shift + 3 keys. This command captures the entire screen and saves the image as a local file, which it places on the computer desktop. By default, it names it Image, followed by the day and date.
If we want to save the image on the clipboard instead of on the desktop, then the correct thing to do is to perform the following sequence on the keyboard: Command + Shift + 3 + Ctrl.
As these are local files in both cases, these can be changed location, attached as part of an email message, shared on social networks, etc.
Other apps
Sometimes it is necessary to resort to external applications, either because our computer does not have the basic tools described above, or because it is not possible for us to use keyboard shortcuts. From now on we will teach you how to take screenshot on PC through third applications.
The vast majority of alternatives with which you can take screenshots are free, and offer other types of additional functionalities. Here are some of them:
Apowersoft
It is a free application, compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems. It allows you to freely choose the image fragment you want to capture. Also, images can be cropped round.
Images are saved as local files, and can be moved around, emailed, printed, shared on social media, and hosted in the free cloud.
DuckCapture
It is a free application that allows multiple captures, that is, it offers the possibility of grouping and editing various parts of the same capture in a single image. It is only compatible with Windows.
You can also capture full or partial screens. It has graphic and text elements, blur filters, among other useful image editing tools.
Greenshot
It is a free tool, distributed with an open source license, and compatible with Windows and Mac. It allows you to capture very long pages. In addition to the simple editing options available, you can highlight certain parts of the image with a text marker. It also has a filter to hide reserved content.
The images are stored as local files, which can be manipulated. In addition, they are susceptible to editing tools, such as: the incorporation of graphic elements and text, blur filters and size adjustments.
Grackle
It is a proprietary application, compatible with Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. In addition, it has extensions for Chrome and Firefox, and it can also function as a mobile application. Its use is completely free.
Additionally, it allows you to create videos and animated GIF files. The images are stored as files, which allows them to be shared through various internet services, including: the cloud computing, social networks, etc.
It has editing elements, such as: incorporation of graphic and text elements, and size adjustments.
Icecream
It has two presentations, the free and the Premium, in both it is possible to make multiple captures from several fragments. With the free version, images can be enriched with comments and photographs taken with the computer's camera can be incorporated. While the Premium version allows you to enlarge the image during screencast recording, being also capable of adding a personal watermark.
Additionally, the Premium version is useful for creating tutorials. The application is compatible with Windows and Mac, and stores images as local files.
Lightshot
It is a free, lightweight, multiplatform application that is compatible with Windows and Mac. In addition, it has extensions to work in Chrome, Firefox, IE and Opera. You are free to choose the areas we want to capture and you can make image adjustments directly from the program. For complex edits, you can do them online.
It stores the images as files, and can be shared through various internet services. The feature that differentiates this tool from others is the ability to search for similar images on Google.
Monosnap
It is a truly simple application and it is free to use. It includes basic image editing functions and allows you to add comments in the form of text, or as audio recorded through a microphone. You can record screen videos and add images directly from your computer's webcam.
It is compatible with Windows and Mac, and saves images as files. They support various formats, such as: FTP, SFTP, WrbDAV, which can be stored through their own servers or through the computer cloud.
ScreenshotCaptor
This tool is free and designed to work only with Windows. It is possible to capture entire screens or parts of them. You can also capture multiple independent screens. It has an extension that makes it possible to record screens in the form of videos. It allows to incorporate cliparts, at the same time as it has a collection of frames.
The images are saved as local files, being possible to move them to other locations.
sharex
It is a free, open source program, compatible with Windows. It is a fairly complete application that brings together all the functionalities of the other tools of this type, such as: image capture options by fragment, window, screen, auto scrolling, screencast, gif, etc. In addition, it has voice recognition, an aspect that distinguishes it from the rest of the applications.
Save the images as local files, and can be shared through your own servers or local servers.
Skitch
It is an application available only for iPhone devices, although initially it was compatible with multiple platforms. Its use is free, but it requires to be downloaded from the application store. It allows the creation of custom captures, fragment or screen type. Images can be kept stored on the same device or they can be shared.
It includes graphic and text elements, as well as blur filters and size adjustments.
7capture
It is open source software, that is, it can be modified. It is free and compatible with Windows. Images can be captured whole or by fragments.
The images are saved in local files, in any location on the computer or on the clipboard.
Snagit
It is a program with a paid-use license, compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems. It has functions for capturing images and video, as well as cropping and editing settings, such as: watermarks, stamps, arrows, among others. It is possible to record comments through microphones.
The images are saved in PDF format, including the links. Includes the option of panoramic images.
Ashampoo Snap
It is a portable and multilanguage application, designed to capture images and videos from the screens. It has voice recognition and allows the incorporation of images directly from the computer's camera.
It includes multiple editing options, with more than 50 effects to apply. Additionally, it saves the editing history so as not to lose the original image.
The images can be shared through social networks and emails, as well as they can be stored in the cloud computing from the same device.
For more details on storing information in the cloud, you can read the article types of cloud computing.