Screen Capture in Windows

Applies to Windows 7 and Vista

Did you ever want to "take a picture" of the screen or part of the screen in front of you. The process has a nickname of a "Screen Dump" but is also be referred to as a Screen Grab, Screen Clip, Print Screen, Screenshot or Screen capture.

There are a number of ways of doing this, here are just a few ...

Print Screen
Using OneNote
Sniping Tool
Using Snagit

Print Screen (available on your PC)

The simplest method for capturing a screen is using your PC Keyboard.

To do this

  • For the Full Screen, press the Print Screen key on the Keyboard.

    • This puts the screen in your Clipboard
    Note: Can be a shared key, so you may need to make sure your "F Lock" or "Scroll Lock" is turned on/off
  • Print Screen can also be the default shortcut to open Snagit capture
  • For one window, press Alt and the Print Screen key on the Keyboard. This puts the top screen in your Clipboard.
    • Note: Don't hold the Alt down too long before pressing Print Screen as it will activate the shortcut letters
  • Open your document (e.g. Word)
  • Paste (Ctrl V) the screen will be pasted. If you have two screens both screens will be pasted.

Using OneNote

OneNote is a small program in the Office program. OneNote lets you define exactly what area you need to copy. You need to have OneNote opened in the background, which is indicated by the OneNote icon in the system tray.

To use OneNote

  • Make sure OneNote is open
    • .
  • Press the Windows Key and the letter S 
    The whole screen will become a bluish/washed out colour
  • Use you mouse to outline the required area (draw a box around) and release the mouse
  • A oneNote box may appear, if so click Copy to Clipboard
  • Open your document (e.g. Word) and Paste (Ctrl V)

Sniping Tool (available on your PC)

Sniping Tool is another simple small program for capturing screen information. The added benefit of Sniping Tool is that it allows you to save the capture as an image (jpg, gif, png)

To use Snipping Tool

  • From the Start menu (on the Task Bar)
  • Choose Snipping Tool. The whole screen will become a washed out colour and a small version of the snipping tool program will appear with some basic instructions.
  • Use you mouse to outline the required area (draw a box around) and release the mouse The area captured will appear in the program and also stored in your Clipboard.

    •  
  • If you want to paste the object;
    • Open your document (e.g. Word) and Paste (Ctrl V)
  • If you want to save the object;
    • From the File menu, choose Save As

Using Snagit

Snagit is a program that specialises in capturing images, text or video. Snagit comes as a stand-alone program or can be bundled with other programs such as Lectora as their capture tool.The added benefit of Snagit is that it allows you to modify the captured image and it can also save the capture as an image.

To use Snagit

  • Open Snagit.(It may automatically open if you use the Print Screen key)
    This is the first window and has different menus to the capture window.
  • Make sure Image (1) j is selected and click the large Capture button (2)
    the screen will turn a washed out colour with a large Cross Hair.


    •  
  • Place this cross hair at the start of your required area.
  • Click, Hold and Drag a box around the required area and release the mouse.
    A larger capture window will open with your captured area.
  • You can modify the image with the tools provided.

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  • If you want to put it on the Clipboard to paste in another area simply choose Copy.
  • If you want to save it as a photo,
    • From the File menu, choose Save As, choose Standard Format.