A screenshot is an image captured of what is displayed on your computer screen. Mac offers several methods to take a screenshot, making it easy to capture anything on your screen. Whether it’s for personal or professional use, you can capture the exact image you want in just a few clicks.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Screenshots
- To take a screenshot of the entire screen, press “Command + Shift + 3”.
- To take a screenshot of a selected portion of the screen, press “Command + Shift + 4”.
- To capture a window or menu dropdown, press “Command + Shift + 4”, then press the “Spacebar”.
Taking a Screenshot of the Entire Screen
The easiest way to take a screenshot of the entire screen is by using the keyboard shortcut “Command + Shift + 3”. This will capture an image of everything displayed on your screen, including your desktop and any open windows.
Taking a Screenshot of a Selected Portion of the Screen
To capture a specific area of your screen, use the keyboard shortcut “Command + Shift + 4”. Your cursor will change to a crosshair, which you can use to select the portion of the screen you want to capture.
Capturing a Window or Menu Dropdown
To capture a window or menu dropdown, press “Command + Shift + 4”, then press the “Spacebar”. Your cursor will change to a camera icon, which you can use to select the window or dropdown you want to capture.
These are the most common methods to take a screenshot on a Mac. Give these a try and see which method works best for you.
Taking a Screenshot with Preview
Preview is a built-in application on Mac that allows you to view and edit images and PDFs. It also provides a simple way to take a screenshot. To use Preview to take a screenshot, follow these steps:
- Open Preview.
- From the “File” menu, select “Take Screenshot”.
- Choose to take a screenshot of the entire screen, a selected portion, or a window.
- The screenshot will be saved to your desktop.
Using the Grab Application
Grab is another built-in application on Mac that allows you to take screenshots. To use Grab to take a screenshot, follow these steps:
- Open Grab.
- From the “Capture” menu, select the type of screenshot you want to take.
- Once you have taken the screenshot, it will open in the Grab window.
- Save the screenshot by selecting “Save” from the “File” menu.
Screenshot Using the Terminal
The Terminal is a text-based interface for interacting with your Mac. It also provides a way to take screenshots. To use the Terminal to take a screenshot, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal.
- Type “screencapture” followed by the desired parameters.
- The screenshot will be saved to your desktop.
Capturing a Timed Screenshot
To capture a timed screenshot, follow these steps:
- Open the Grab application.
- From the “Capture” menu, select “Timed Screen”.
- The Grab window will disappear for 10 seconds, allowing you to set up the desired screenshot.
- After 10 seconds, the screenshot will be taken and opened in the Grab window.
Saving and Sharing Screenshots
Screenshots can be saved in various formats such as PNG, JPG, and PDF. To save a screenshot, simply select “Save” from the “File” menu in the application you used to take the screenshot. To share a screenshot, select “Share” from the “File” menu and choose the desired sharing method, such as email or airdrop.
Editing Screenshots on Mac
Screenshots can be edited using various applications such as Preview, Photoshop, and GIMP. Preview provides basic editing tools such as trimming and adding text, shapes, and arrows.
In addition to Preview, there are other third-party editing applications such as Photoshop and GIMP that offer advanced editing tools. Whether you prefer using the built-in Preview application or a third-party editing tool, knowing how to edit screenshots on a Mac can help you create high-quality images for personal or professional use.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Screenshot Editing
Preview provides several keyboard shortcuts for editing screenshots:
- To trim a screenshot, select it in Preview and press “Command + K”.
- To add text to a screenshot, select it in Preview and press “Command + T”.
- To add a shape or arrow, select it in Preview and press “Command + Shift + A”.
Trimming Screenshots in Preview
To trim a screenshot in Preview, follow these steps:
- Open the screenshot in Preview.
- Select “Tools” from the top menu.
- Choose “Rectangular Selection”.
- Use the selection tool to select the portion of the screenshot you want to keep.
- Press “Command + K” to trim the screenshot.
Adding Text, Shapes and Arrows to Screenshots
To add text, shapes, or arrows to a screenshot in Preview, follow these steps:
- Open the screenshot in Preview.
- Select “Annotations” from the top menu.
- Choose the desired annotation tool, such as “Text”, “Shape”, or “Arrow”.
- Use the annotation tool to add the desired elements to the screenshot.
Conclusion
In conclusion, taking a screenshot on a Mac is a straightforward process that can be done using various built-in applications such as Preview, Grab, and the Terminal. Each application offers different methods for taking screenshots, including capturing the entire screen, a selected portion, or a timed screenshot. Screenshots can also be saved and shared in various formats, and even edited using applications like Preview. Whether you are capturing a screenshot for personal use or for sharing with others, knowing how to take a screenshot on a Mac is a valuable skill to have.
People Also Ask
What is the screenshot shortcut on a Mac?
A screenshot is an image captured of your Mac’s screen. Taking screenshots on a Mac is easy and can be done using various built-in applications, keyboard shortcuts, and third-party tools.
Keyboard Shortcut: One of the quickest ways to take a screenshot on a Mac is by using keyboard shortcuts. The most commonly used shortcut is “Command + Shift + 3”, which captures a screenshot of the entire screen. If you only want to capture a portion of the screen, you can use the “Command + Shift + 4” shortcut and select the desired area using the cursor.
Another shortcut is “Command + Shift + 4 + Spacebar”, which captures a screenshot of a selected window or menu. The screenshot will automatically include a drop shadow to help highlight the selected area.
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