Sometimes you want to show your friends, colleagues, or the IT department what’s happening on your screen or what’s on your screen.
For example, if you want to share a funny or scandalizing conversation between you and someone with your friends, you can capture the screen and share it. Likewise, if there’s an error code on the screen, you can capture the image and send it to tech support so they can remotely help you overcome the obstacle and get back on track. Also, if you are training new team members or explaining how a product works, supporting your verbal explanation with images will help them understand better.
Therefore, screenshots have become part and parcel of life. You’ll need it regularly, primarily if you work remotely and need to collaborate with team members.
Typically, screenshots captured through keyboard shortcuts or by a screenshot application. Different options are available depending on how much screen you want to capture.
- macOS users can capture the entire screen or part by opening the Launchpad > Screenshot > choosing Capture Selected Window, Capture Entire Screen, or Capture Selected Portion Mode from the toolbar. You can also use keyboard shortcuts like Shift + Command + 3 (capture the entire screen), Shift + Command + 4 (screenshot part of the screen), Shift + Command + 4 + Spacebar (capture a specific window), and Shift + Command + 5 (for recording and other screenshot options). Screenshots are saved on the desktop by default.
- Windows users can use the PrtSc button on their keyboard to screenshot the entire screen, and the image will be copied to the clipboard. The image must be pasted on Word, Google Docs, or other applications. For capturing an active window or dialog box, press Alt + PrtSc.
Similarly, you can take screenshots on your Android and iOS devices. You can place the screenshot option as a widget on your home screen or learn the button shortcuts.
Here are Some Tips and Tricks to Up Your Screenshot Game:
- Panoramic Screen Capture
A scrolling screenshot or panoramic screen capture lets you capture what’s not on the screen. For instance, capturing an entire web page, a long text thread, etc. Therefore, you don’t have to scroll through a page to take several screenshots manually. Instead, you can automatically capture the screen and stitch several screenshots to make a single document.
Take a scrolling screenshot on your Mac using third-party apps like Capto. iPhone users can take scrolling screenshots without a third-party app if the phone is running iOS 14. Press the power and volume buttons > touch the screenshot’s floating thumbnail > switch to the Full Page tab to capture the screenshot.
Even Android phones running Android 11 can take an extended screenshot using the standard power and volume down shortcut. This shortcut will generate a normal-sized screenshot, and then you must click on the thumbnail for more options. Next, tap the Capture More option and drag the accented borders in the center to cover as much screen as you want.
- Add Arrows and Text to the Screenshot
This trick may seem like a no-brainer, but most people share screenshots the way it is. If you are explaining something or want to grab attention, you must edit the screenshots before sharing them. Add arrows and text to make them more engaging and meaningful.
You can edit the screenshot using the in-built photo editor and polish the image before sharing it with your team members or clients. This will give more meaning to the captured image, and viewers will know exactly what you are trying to explain or show.
- Croup or Blur Out Confidential and Sensitive Information
When capturing a screenshot, you must be careful not to give away sensitive information. For example, you may unknowingly give away too much information if your email address, credit card number, or phone number is on the screen.
So it would be best to hide the things you don’t want people to see. After taking the screenshot, you must crop the image or blur out confidential information.
- Resize Screenshots
Screenshots must resized before sharing them to ensure the image not pixelated or blurred. You must not stretch the image too much, but it must captured to the perfect size. You can use image editing software to resize the screenshots so that all the image information is seen. Then, you can add the image back to your presentation, document, or email.
Besides these, you must always be clear regarding why you are capturing the screen. You must not show too little or show too much. The captured image should align with what you explain or want to show the recipients.
The Bottom Line
Capturing the screen is an art, and it can make your presentation much more engaging or give meaning to verbal text. So be sure to capture the right image and edit it before sharing.
