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Apple’s MacOS has a plethora of built-in tools and features that enable users to accomplish many computing tasks with ease. One of these features is the screenshot tool. Screenshots are illustrative and straightforward ways to explain and share computer tasks and issues. Whether you’re a graphic designer, a social media manager or just an everyday computer user, MacOS allows you to capture your screen in different ways.
In this blog post, we delve deep into how to screen shot with a Mac, by exploring various techniques and tools available within the MacOS. We’ll provide you with step-by-step guidance, including pictures, to make it easy for you to follow along.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Screen Shot on a Mac
Screenshots have a variety of purposes and are a common means of communication in the digital world. Here are some reasons why you need to screen shot with your Mac:
1. Illustration of a point
Sometimes, when communicating over a conversation, you may want to illustrate a point and provide visual examples. Screenshots are the perfect way to convey that message.
2. Reporting a bug
If you encounter an error or an issue with a program or application, a screenshot can help you demonstrate the problem visually to a support team for further analysis and troubleshooting.
3. Social Media
Screenshots help to create visually appealing content for social media platforms. They can be used for sharing or reporting, for instance, on Twitter, if you want to point out a problem in a particular tweet, you can share a screenshot.
4. To take Notes
Screenshots can also help you to take notes quickly by capturing something you may want to review and reference again later.
Method 1: Using Keyboard Shortcuts
The easiest and quickest way to screen capture with a Mac is by using keyboard shortcuts. The Mac has three keyboard shortcuts specifically for taking screenshots. The three keyboard shortcuts allow you to take full-screen screenshots, screenshots of a selected area, and screenshots of active windows. Here’re the steps for the three keyboard shortcuts:
Taking a screenshot of the entire screen
Step 1: Press Command + Shift + 3.
Step 2: You will observe a camera’s shutter sound, and the captured screenshot will appear on the desktop in .png format.
Taking a screenshot of a portion of the screen
Step 1: Press Command + Shift + 4.
Step 2: Your mouse cursor will transform into a crosshair at the center of the screen.
Step 3: Drag the box over the area you want to capture.
Step 4: Release the mouse button after you have finished capturing the desired area.
Step 5: The captured screenshot will appear on the desktop in .png format.
Taking a screenshot of an Active Window
Step 1: Press Command + Shift + 4; then, press the Spacebar.
Step 2: The cursor will transform into a camera.
Step 3: Hover the cursor over the active window you wish to screenshot.
Step 4: Click on the active window, and the screenshot will capture the entire window.
Step 5: The captured screenshot will appear on the desktop in .png format.
Pros:
– Quick and easy keyboard shortcuts
– No additional software is necessary to install
– Fast and straightforward
Cons:
– Not the most flexible, it might be hard to isolate the specific area, especially for beginners
– Pictures with short text or menu commands can be difficult to capture
Method 2: Via the Screenshot Tool
MacOS has a built-in app called "Screenshot," located in the Utilities folder. The Screenshot Tool offers more flexibility as it can capture screens based on the selected options. Here are the steps to access this tool:
Step 1: From the Finder, click on the Go menu and navigate to Utilities.
Step 2: From the Utilities folder, Click on the Screenshot app.
Step 3: Choose to capture a Full screen, Selected portion, or Window.
Step 4: The captured screenshot will appear on the desktop.
Pros:
– Offers more flexibility than keyboard shortcuts
– Ideal when you need to capture hard-to-reach areas of the screen
– It provides an option for timed screenshots that includes a countdown timer.
Cons:
– The app can be challenging to locate for users who do not know where it is stored.
Method 3: Using Third-Party software
There’s a variety of third-party software available, and you can download and install them on your Mac to obtain more features, tools, and flexibility for screenshotting. Some of the software includes Lightshot, Cloud App, and Snagit. Here’s how to install and use Lightshot:
Using Lightshot Software
Step 1: Navigate to the official website of Lightshot Software and download the software for Mac.
Step 2: Once downloaded, install the software.
Step 3: Launch the Lightshot app by clicking the icon located in your Mac’s dock.
Step 4: The Lightshot interface will pop up. The program will allow you to select area and even blur out part of the screenshot.
Step 5: Click on ‘Save’ or upload to the cloud to share or copy the link.
Pros:
– Provide advanced screenshotting options
– Expand beyond the capability provided in MacOS native methods
– Third-party software can be integrated into other software and programs
Cons:
– Additional software must be downloaded and installed, which can slow down the system.
– Third-party software requires storage space that could affect the performance of your Mac
What to Do If You Can’t Screen Shot on Your Mac
Unforeseen system functions or errors can hamper the Mac screen’s capturing. Here are fixes:
1. Restart the computer
Restart your Mac computer, and then try taking the screenshot again with any of the three methods.
2. Check your keyboard settings
Sometimes, keyboard settings can interfere with the screenshot feature. Check if the function keys have been modified or assigned to some other function.
3. Update MacOS
Update your Mac operating system to the latest version. Keeping your OS up to date is essential because MacOS updates often fix many issues and improve and optimize system performance.
4. Check the Storage on Mac
Finally, check your storage. If your system does not have enough available storage space, it can cause many errors, including the inability to capture screenshots.
Bonus Tip
To speed up the process of saving a screenshot, you can customize the location where the screenshots are saved.
Customizing Screenshot Storage Location
Step 1: Launch Terminal located in the Utilities folder.
Step 2: Type the following command defaults write com.apple.screencapture location and Add your desired capturing location.
Step 3: Hit Enter.
5 FAQs
Q1: How do I Change the Screenshots File type to JPG or GIF?
A: By default, the screenshots created on a Mac is a PNG file. However, you can change it to JPG or GIF using Terminal. Type in the following command into the Terminal defaults write com.apple.screencapture type image_format. Replace the ‘image format’ value with your desired file type (i.e., PNG, JPG, GIF).
Q2: Can macOS Screenshot Scrollable Windows?
A: Screenshots, by default, can’t capture and extend to a scrollable window. However, some third-party apps like Snagit allows capturing scrollable windows.
Q3: Can I Take Screenshots Without a Keyboard in MacOS?
A: Yes, using the Screenshot app, you can capture screenshots without using a keyboard. However, for third-party apps like Lightshot, you will require a keyboard shortcut.
Q4: Where are screenshots saved on a Mac?
A: Screenshots taken through various methods are saved on the desktop, except when you’ve changed the settings.
Q5: Can I edit screenshots on a Mac?
A: Yes. By default, the Preview app on a mac can edit and modify screenshots by using the editing tools on the toolbar. Other third-party apps like GIMP and Photoshop provides more advanced options for editing screenshots.
Final Thoughts
MacOS provides different ways to carry out different computer tasks, and taking screenshots is not an exception. The three methods discussed in this guide offer flexibility, convenience, and reliability when creating screenshots. By following the steps provided, you will be able to take high-quality screenshots and make workflows easier and more comfortable. Remember, if one method does not work, you can always rely on the other two over time, and with practice, you will be able to fine-tune your technique.{"@context":"https://schema.org”,"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":" How do I Change the Screenshots File type to JPG or GIF?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" By default, the screenshots created on a Mac is a PNG file. However, you can change it to JPG or GIF using Terminal. Type in the following command into the Terminal defaults write com.apple.screencapture type image_format. Replace the u2018image formatu2019 value with your desired file type (i.e., PNG, JPG, GIF). "}},{"@type":"Question","name":" Can macOS Screenshot Scrollable Windows?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" Screenshots, by default, can’t capture and extend to a scrollable window. However, some third-party apps like Snagit allows capturing scrollable windows. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":" Can I Take Screenshots Without a Keyboard in MacOS?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" Yes, using the Screenshot app, you can capture screenshots without using a keyboard. However, for third-party apps like Lightshot, you will require a keyboard shortcut."}},{"@type":"Question","name":" Where are screenshots saved on a Mac?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" Screenshots taken through various methods are saved on the desktop, except when you’ve changed the settings. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":" Can I edit screenshots on a Mac?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" Yes. By default, the Preview app on a mac can edit and modify screenshots by using the editing tools on the toolbar. Other third-party apps like GIMP and Photoshop provides more advanced options for editing screenshots. "}}]}
