There are a couple of reasons you might want to take a screenshot
(a.k.a., screen capture or screen grab) of your desktop or an
application window. One of the most common is to send the image to
tech support to show a problem you’re experiencing. Whatever your motive, here’s how to take a screenshot on both Windows and Mac.
Take a Screenshot on Windows
Look for the
Print Screen key on your keyboard, which might be labeled
PrtScn.
- To capture the entire screen (everything you see on the screen, including all open windows), press the PrtScn button. This screenshot will be placed in your clipboard.
- Alternatively, to capture just the active or foremost window, press Alt+PrtScn.
- Next, open an image editing program like Microsoft Paint and either
go to the Edit menu then select Paste or, for a faster method, hit Ctrl+V to paste the image into the program.
- Go to the File menu then choose Save As and save the image to a folder so you can later attach it to an email (or support request).
Using the Snipping Tool
- Click Start, then All Programs, then Accessories, and then Snipping Tool.
- Click the down arrow next to the New button to select your snipping type.
- Then use your mouse to select the area of your screen or window you want to capture.
- You can also use the Snipping Tool to capture a menu option, such as
a drop-down that normally disappears when your mouse button is released
or the Start menu image you see at left. To do this, press ESC after opening the Snipping tool, then go to or activate the menu you want to capture. Finally, press Ctrl+PrtScn to capture the menu.
- To draw over or highlight parts of the screenshot, click the pen or highlighter buttons in the menu.
Once you’ve got your screenshot you can save it, email or copy it for pasting into another application. Source: lifehacker.com