How Can I Screenshot Exactly What’s on My Computer?

Today’s newsletter is going to be broken down into two sections. The first section is for PC users and the second section is for Apple (Mac) users. Thankfully for you, I started using a Mac last year otherwise I’d be completely useless on that section. Enjoy!

Taking a Screenshot on PC

You’re going to have a couple of options to take a “Screenshot” when it comes to a PC. There are likely other avenues to do this so please feel free to let me know if you have another way because I’d love to learn.

1. Take a screenshot on a PC by using the “PRTSC” button found on most keyboards. It’s typically on the top right of the keyboard and when pressed will open up the “Snipping tool” which allows you to crop your screen and save it as a picture.

   

   Figure 1: PRTSC on a keyboard. Photo from How to Use the Print Screen Key on a Keyboard (wikihow.com)

2. Press “ctrl + shift + s”. This will bring up another “cropping” tool that allows you to crop any part of your screen. This tool isn’t as advanced as the snipping tool but works in a similar way. I often use this method when adding photos to this newsletter. You can edit or copy your cropped image with this tool.

3. Direct access to the snipping tool is done by going to the search section on your “taskbar” (the bar at the bottom of your screen that shows the open apps). You can search “Snipping tool” and open it from there.

   

   Figure 2: Searching for the snipping tool

4. If you don’t want to use a “cropping tool” you can press the windows button + “PRTSCN” and your computer will screenshot your entire screen without any cropping.

Take a Screen Recording on a PC

1. Open up the snipping tool. Next to the “+ new” button you will see two icons. One looks like a digital camera and the other looks like a video camera.

   

2. Click on the video camera and crop your screen to whatever you would like to screen record.

3. Once you finish cropping, click “start” and there will be a three second timer.

4. When you’re done videoing what you need, click the red square to stop the recording.

5. You’ll be taken to a screen where you can watch, save, or copy the screen recording you just took.

Taking a Screenshot & Screen Recording on Mac Computers

You have a couple of options for Mac computers just like a PC. However, on Mac I’ll admit the shortcuts are simpler.

1. Taking a Screenshot of the entire screen: Press “Shift+Command+3”

2. Capturing a portion of the screen: “Shift+Command+4”

3. Using the screenshot or snipping tool equivalent: “Shift+Command+5.

   1. This tool also allows you to screen record your screen as an added feature.

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