When you need to share something from the computer screen, then you can use many tools. But, you may have to download the third party app and go through a few steps for its setup. However, a snipping tool allows you do more apart from capturing the screen. You would find this tool in Windows Vista and higher versions.
Mac devices come with inbuilt screenshot capturing tools and thus there is no need left for any snipping/ picture capturing and editing tool. Though we have mentioned the approach to download a snipping tool in a Mac based device but it has been told keeping in mind the requirements of a new Mac user only.
Check Also:5 Best Screenshot Extensions for Google Chrome
Steps for Using the Windows Snipping Tool
Step 1: Click ‘Start’ present towards the left hand bottom most corner of the screen.
Step 2: Type ‘Snipping Tool’ in the search box and then click on the result. You may also think about right-clicking on the result to ‘Pin to the Start Menu’ for future access.
Step 3: Once you have launched the tool, go to ‘Options’ and ensure that the boxes, ‘Always copy snips to the Clipboard’,’ Include URL below snips (HTML only)’,’ Prompt to save snips before exiting’ and ‘Show screen overlay when Snipping Tool is active’ are checked.
Step 4: To take a screenshot, you need to click ‘New’. You can also select one of the options displayed in the drop down menu from the arrowhead.
Free-form Snip – This snip aids you to draw any sort of shape and capture the screen accordingly.
Rectangular Snip – This snip helps you to select the content in form of a rectangle.
Window Snip – This snip allows you to capture any open window that’s visible on the screen. This means even that you can take a screenshot of portions within the screen size.
Full-screen Snip – This snip facilitates you take screenshots of the entire computer screen. The feature is useful when you need to capture content from different monitors.
Step 5: Once you have taken the screenshot, you can click on the ‘Save’ option and thereby select the location for storing image.
How to Take a Delayed Screenshot with Windows Snipping Tool?
When Windows 10 was released, additional features were added to the Snipping tool. Apart from everything else, you can set the time for capturing the screen. Simply click ‘Delay’ to select the time from 0 to 5. The digit denoted the time interval between the time you click ‘New’ and the actual time when the screenshot is taken.
How to Use a Snipping Tool for Mac?
Besides pressing a few keys at one instance, it’s easier to take screenshots in Mac with utilities. Here’s what you need to follow. Do note that the Grab tool serves as a snipping tool in Mac OS X.
Step 1: Go to the Grab tool in Applications. Follow the path ‘Applications >> Utilities >> Grab’
Step 2: Once you click ‘Capture’ you need to select one of the options in the drop down menu.
Selection – This option refers to selecting a particular area on the screen.
Window – This can be used to snip a window that’s open on the screen.
Screen – Use this option if you need to capture the entire display.
Timed Screen – This lets you capture after a delayed time interval of 10 seconds.
Step 3: Select the area with the help of a crosshair that could be clicked and dragged on the area you wish to save.
Step 4: Select ‘Save’ from the File Menu and store the image in Tiff format.
Step 5: Enter a suitable file name and click the ‘Save’ button to confirm the action.
Best Alternatives of Snipping Tool
Skitch
Instead of ‘Grab’, you can also use a third party tool known as Skitch to take screenshots. Once you have installed the application in the operating system, there are three ways to capture content.
>> From the Skitch app, you can click on the ‘Screen Snap’ button that’s located on top.
>> You can use the ‘Capture’ option when Skitch is running in the background.
>> You can select the top menu bar icon.
Once you select the heart shaped icon, you have to select the appropriate option from the drop down list.
Crosshair snapshot – Allows you to select content with the crosshair.
Previous Snapshot Area – Select the option in case you want to include the same portion as it was with the earlier screenshot.
Timed Crosshair Snapshot – Permits you to capture after the lapse of few seconds.
Fullscreen Snapshot – Gives you the liberty to capture the entire screen.
Step 6: Finally, click ‘Drag Me’ to store the image anywhere on Mac. Alternatively, you can press ‘Command + E’ or go to ‘File >> Export’ that allows you to select the folder of your choice, specify the image format and quality.
So, these are various options to take screenshots on windows and mac. Hope you guys find this write up useful. Share it with your friends on social media.
Recommended Snipping Tools for Windows and Mac
SnagIt
While the free apps above only capture screenshots, SnagIt can also capture video, and it comes with more robust tools for editing both photos and videos. SnagIt can also make animated GIFs and record audio, and you get a variety of annotation tools. You can try it for free for 15 days, and if you own an older version, you get a 50% upgrade discount.
Greenshot
Greenshot (Windows only) is pretty similar to Lightshot, but it has better cloud support. During installation, you can install plug-ins for Dropbox, Photobucket, Flickr, and others. You can also automate attachment to emails, export to Microsoft Office apps, and highlight or mask parts of the image without having to open an image editor.
What Is Sniping Tool Vista
LightShot
Snipping Tool Mac Download
Lightshot is a free tool you can set to pop up whenever you press the print screen key (Shift-Command-4 on Macs), or it can make print screen automatically create an image file. Lightshot will save either a JPEG or a PNG file, and its image quality slider has 100 increments. Unfortunately, you don't get a preview of what the different slider ranges look like, but most tools of this type have no increments to begin with.