Taking Screenshots With Snipping Tool

Thomas Lucero
2 years ago

Screenshots can be a lifesaver when trying to showcase or save information from your computer screen. They are crucial for professionals and individuals alike, and having a reliable screen capture tool is essential. Fortunately, Windows has its in-built Snipping Tool which provides a user-friendly and convenient solution for capturing various types of screenshots. 

In this article, we will explore the features and benefits of using Snipping Tool to take screenshots on Windows. This guide will cover everything you need to know to use Snipping Tool effectively, including tips for creating, annotating, and saving screenshots, as well as troubleshooting for any errors that might occur during the process.

Table of contents:

What it Is and How to Use it

Snipping Tool is a Microsoft Windows screenshot utility included in Windows Vista and later. It can take still screenshots of an open window, rectangular areas, or the entire screen. The captured image can then be annotated using a pencil or highlighter tools and saved as an image file. Snipping Tool also allows users to capture screenshots from a web page that scrolls vertically or horizontally. 

  • To use the tool, open the Start menu and type “snipping tool” into the search bar. When it appears in the search results, click on it to launch the snipping utility. The default mode for taking a screenshot is free-form; however, other modes are available such as rectangular, window and full-screen. 
  • To take a screenshot, click on the desired mode and then drag your cursor across the area you want to capture. Once you have captured the image you can annotate it using tools like a pen or highlighter. When finished, click “Save As” and select where you would like to save the image. The file will be saved as either a JPEG, PNG, GIF or HTML format. 

Snipping Tool is an easy-to-use utility that allows users to quickly capture screenshots of open windows or entire web pages with just a few clicks.

Types of Screenshots

Screenshots are an incredibly useful tool for capturing, saving, and sharing information from computer screens and mobile devices. They can be used to capture images of webpages, documents, edited photos, videos, conversations on social media platforms — almost anything displayed on a device’s screen. There are several types of screenshots depending on the platform you’re using and the task at hand. 

  • The most common type is a “full page” or “screen capture.” This is when you take a picture of your entire device’s screen (including menus and icons) by pressing two keys simultaneously (usually Command + Shift + 3/4). This type of screenshot is great for capturing what someone else has written or seen online. 
  • Another popular type of screenshot is a “partial page” or “cropped image.” This is when you take a picture of part of your device’s screen rather than the entire thing. To do this, select the area you want to capture by pressing Command + Shift + 4 and then dragging the cursor across the desired section. This type of screenshot is especially useful for highlighting specific parts of webpages or documents. 
  • Last but not least, there are “delayed screenshots,” which are especially handy for capturing menus that appear onscreen briefly (like drop-down menus). Delayed screenshots allow users to set a timer before taking the shot — usually 3 seconds — giving them time to access whatever menu they’re after and take the picture at just the right time. 

Knowledge of all these types of screenshots will help you capture the exact information you need, when and where you need it.

How to Take a Full Screen Screenshot with Snipping Tool

Snipping Tool is a useful tool for taking screenshots of your computer screen. It makes it easy to capture the entire screen, or just a portion of it. Here’s how you can use Snipping Tool to take a full-screen screenshot: 

  1. Open the Snipping Tool by pressing Windows key + R, type in “snippingtool” and hit Enter. 
  2. Once the tool has opened, select “New” from the dropdown menu at the top left corner of the window. 
  3. Your cursor will turn into a crosshair; use this to highlight and select your entire desktop area. 
  4. When finished selecting, click on ‘File’ and choose the ‘Save As’ option. 
  5. Choose a location to save your screenshot, enter a name for it, select the file type (JPEG, PNG or GIF) and then click ‘Save’.

In conclusion

In conclusion, taking screenshots with the Snipping Tool is a simple but effective way to capture whatever you’re working on in Windows — whether it’s for troubleshooting, documentation or just for fun. With these useful tips, you can make sure your screenshots are captured quickly and accurately so that you can quickly get back to work.