Screen shot is a vital feature that is often needed by Mac users in their daily lives for various reasons such as taking snapshots of videos, images, or even troubleshooting. However, for some Mac users, the process of getting a screen shot on a Mac can be a bit of a challenge. In this article, we will guide you through the process of taking a screen shot on your Mac easily and efficiently.
Steps to get a Screen Shot on a Mac
Step 1: Understanding the Different Types of Screen Shots on Mac
Before we start with the steps to get a screen shot on your Mac, it is essential to understand that there are various types of screen shots that you can take on your Mac. The four most commonly used types are:
– Full Screen Shot
– Selected Window Shot
– Selected Area Shot
– Timed Screen Shot
Each of these four types of screen shots requires different steps and methods. Therefore, it’s necessary to choose the type of screen shot you want to take before proceeding with the following steps.
Step 2: Full Screen Shot on a Mac
The full screen shot option lets you capture the entire screen, including the menu bar, dock, and everything else visible on the screen. To take a full screen shot on your Mac, follow these steps:
1. Click on the Command + Shift + 3 keys on your keyboard simultaneously.
2. Your Mac will automatically capture the full screen, and you will hear a shutter sound.
3. Your screen shot will then appear on your desktop as a .png file.
Step 3: Selected Window Shot on a Mac
With the selected window shot option, you can capture the particular window that you select with your cursor. To take a selected window shot on your Mac, follow these steps:
1. Click on the Command + Shift + 4 keys on your keyboard simultaneously.
2. Your cursor will then turn into a crosshair pointer that you can move around on the screen.
3. Click on the window you want to capture with your cursor.
4. Your screen shot will then appear on your desktop as a .png file.
Step 4: Selected Area Shot on a Mac
The selected area shot option allows you to capture only a specific area of your screen that you choose with your cursor. To take a selected area shot on your Mac, follow these steps:
1. Click on the Command + Shift + 4 keys on your keyboard simultaneously.
2. Your cursor will then turn into a crosshair pointer that you can move around on the screen.
3. Click and drag your cursor to select the area you want to capture.
4. Release your cursor to take the screen shot.
5. Your screen shot will then appear on your desktop as a .png file.
Step 5: Timed Screen Shot on a Mac
The timed screen shot option provides you with a delay time of ten seconds to prepare the screen or select your options before your Mac captures the screen. To take a timed screen shot on your Mac, follow these steps:
1. Click on the Command + Shift + 5 keys on your keyboard simultaneously.
2. A menu bar will then appear on your screen with different screen shot options.
3. Select the ‘Timed Screen Shot’ option from the menu bar.
4. Choose the delay time you want before the screen shot is captured.
5. Click on the ‘Capture’ button to begin the timed screen shot.
6. Your screen shot will then appear on your desktop as a .png file.
Step 6: Capturing a Touch Bar Screen Shot on a Mac
If you need to take a screen shot of your Mac’s Touch Bar, follow these steps:
1. Click on the Command + Shift + 6 keys on your keyboard simultaneously.
2. Your Mac will automatically capture the Touch Bar.
3. Your screen shot will then appear on your desktop as a .png file.
Step 7: Using Terminal Command to Take a Screen Shot on a Mac
If you prefer using Terminal commands to take screen shots on your Mac, follow these steps:
1. Launch the Terminal application on your Mac.
2. Type ‘screencapture’ command and the file path before it.
3. Add any other customized options if you want, such as file names, saved file type, and others.
4. Press ‘Enter’ on your keyboard to take the screen shot.
Step 8: Using Third-Party Applications to Take Screen Shots on a Mac
Apart from the built-in screen shot features on your Mac, various third-party applications can help you capture screen shots. You can search for these applications on the internet and install them on your Mac. Some of the most popular third-party screen shot applications include Snagit, Monosnap, and Skitch.
Step 9: Editing, Saving, and Sharing Your Screen Shot
After capturing your screen shot on your Mac, you can now personalize it by editing, saving, or sharing it with others. Some of the popular built-in editing and sharing features include:
– Preview application
– Mail application
– Messages application
– Markup
Step 10: Preview Application Features for Editing Screen Shots
The Preview application has several features that you can use to edit your screen shot, such as:
– Cropping the frame
– Adding text and color
– Inverting colors
– Adjusting the exposure, contrast, and saturation.
Step 11: Sharing Screen Shots through Mail and Message
With the Mail and Message application, you can easily share your screen shot with others by attaching the image file or dragging and dropping the file into your email or message. You can also customize your email or message by adding a caption or text.
Step 12: Using Markup to Annotate and Edit Your Screen Shots
With Markup, you can easily annotate and edit your screen shot by adding text, arrows, circles, or even magnify areas on the screen shot. To use Markup, click on the screen shot file, select ‘Open With,’ and click on the ‘Markup’ option.
Explanation
Taking a screen shot on your Mac is an easy and straightforward process that requires a few clicks on your keyboard or even using third-party applications. However, before you proceed with capturing a screen shot, it’s essential to choose the type of screen shot you want and follow the steps accordingly. Moreover, after capturing your screen shot, you can personalize it by editing, saving, or sharing it with others using the built-in features on your Mac.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some useful tips and tricks when taking a screen shot on your Mac:
1. Use Keyboard Shortcuts
Using keyboard shortcuts to take a screen shot is faster and easier than having to search for the screen shot features in the menu bar or launching a third-party application.
2. Use Preview Application for Editing
The Preview application has several features that you can use to edit your screen shot, such as cropping, adding text, and adjusting exposure, contrast, and saturation.
3. Use Markup to Annotate and Edit Your Screen Shots
Markup is an excellent tool for annotating and editing screen shots by adding text, arrows, circles, or even magnifying areas on the screen shot.
4. Utilize Third-Party Applications
Explore and try out various third-party applications that can help you capture and personalize your screen shots based on your preferences or needs.
5. Use Timed Screen Shot for Preparing Your Screen
The timed screen shot option allows you ten seconds delay time to prepare your screen before the screen shot is captured, ensuring that you have time to organize and confer settings.
6. Choose the Type of Screen Shot
Remember that there are various types of screen shots that you can take on your Mac, such as full screen, selected window, selected area, and timed screen shot. Consider the type of screen shot you want and follow the steps correctly.
7. Explore Different File Formats
Mac allows you to save your screen shot in various file formats, such as JPEG, PNG, PDF, and TIFF. Choose the appropriate file type based on your needs and usage.
8. Save Your Screen Shot Automatically
Keep in mind that your Mac saves the screen shot file automatically on your desktop after capturing it. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about losing or misplacing the file.
9. Know the Different Keyboard Combinations
There are different keyboard combinations such as Command + Shift + 3 (full screen shot) and Command + Shift + 4 (selected window shot), among others that you need to know and memorize.
10. Share Your Screen Shot
Finally, don’t forget to share your screen shot with others after capturing it and personalizing it. You can use built-in features like the Mail and Message application or use third-party applications to share the file.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Taking Screenshots on a Mac
Advantages:
1. Easy to take a screenshot without installing any third-party software.
2. Saves time and effort compared to taking pictures using a camera or smartphone.
3. There are several options to take a screenshot including capturing the entire screen, a selected area, or a window.
4. Screenshots can be useful for demonstrating a problem or bug to technical support or for creating a tutorial.
5. Screenshots can be edited using basic photo editing software to highlight or crop specific areas.
6. Screenshots can be shared easily via email, messaging apps, or social media platforms.
7. Takes up very little storage space compared to a photo.
8. Screenshots can be saved in different file formats including jpeg, png, or pdf.
9. Useful for keeping a record of important information or online transactions.
10. Screenshots are free to take and share.
Disadvantages:
1. Screenshots will only capture what is on the screen at the time and may not provide a complete picture.
2. Screenshots cannot capture motion or animations, so they may not be ideal for recording videos.
3. Screenshots may contain personal or sensitive information, so they should be edited or shared with caution.
4. Screenshots may be of low quality or resolution, especially if taken from a video or zoomed in.
5. Screenshots may not be accepted as evidence in a legal case.
6. Screenshots may not be suitable for printing or publishing as they may be too small or low-quality.
7. Screenshots may not always capture the desired area or window, which can be frustrating to re-take.
8. Screenshots may not be possible to take if the screen is frozen or not responding.
9. Screenshots may not be suitable for all types of devices, such as gaming consoles or televisions.
10. Screenshots may require additional software or editing tools to be useful or presentable.
FAQ
1. How do I take a screenshot on a Mac?
To take a screenshot on a Mac, press Command + Shift + 3 keys simultaneously. The screenshot will be saved on your desktop automatically.
2. How do I take a screenshot of a specific part of my Mac screen?
To take a screenshot of a specific part of your Mac screen, press Command + Shift + 4 keys simultaneously. Your cursor will turn into a crosshair, then click and drag the crosshair to select the area you want to capture. Release the mouse button to take the screenshot, which will be saved on your desktop automatically.
3. How do I take a screenshot of a window?
To take a screenshot of a window on a Mac, press Command + Shift + 4 keys simultaneously. Then press the Spacebar, your cursor will turn into a camera icon, click on the window that you want to capture, and it will be saved on your desktop automatically.
4. How do I take a screenshot and save it to the clipboard instead of the desktop?
To take a screenshot on a Mac and save it to the clipboard instead of the desktop, press Command + Control + Shift + 3 keys simultaneously. The screenshot will be saved to the clipboard. You can then paste the screenshot into a document or image editing program.
5. How do I take a screenshot of the Touch Bar on my MacBook Pro?
To take a screenshot of the Touch Bar on a MacBook Pro, press Command + Shift + 6 keys simultaneously. The screenshot will be saved on your desktop automatically.
6. How do I edit a screenshot on a Mac?
To edit a screenshot on a Mac, you can use the built-in Preview app. Open Preview and drag the screenshot into the app. From there, you can use the tools to crop, resize, annotate, and more.
7. How do I take a screenshot of the login screen on a Mac?
To take a screenshot of the login screen on a Mac, press Command + Shift + 3 keys simultaneously. The screenshot will be saved on your desktop automatically.
8. How do I take a screenshot using third-party apps?
There are many third-party apps available for taking screenshots on Mac, such as Snagit, Skitch, and Lightshot. You can download these apps from the Mac App Store or their respective websites.
9. How do I change the location where my screenshots are saved?
You can change the default location for screenshots on a Mac. Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Screenshots. From there, you can select a different folder for your screenshots to be saved in.
10. How do I take a screenshot of a menu on a Mac?
To take a screenshot of a menu on a Mac, press Command + Shift + 4 keys simultaneously. Your cursor will turn into a crosshair, then press the Spacebar. Your cursor will turn into a camera icon. Click on the menu you want, and it will be saved on your desktop automatically.
11. How do I take a screenshot of a web page on a Mac?
To take a screenshot of a web page on a Mac, use the built-in screenshot tool in Safari. Go to File > Export as PDF or use the keyboard shortcut Command + S. Select “PDF” as the format and save the file to your desktop.
12. How can I take screenshots on a Mac without using the keyboard?
You can take screenshots on a Mac without using the keyboard by using the built-in Grab app or third-party apps such as Monosnap or Jing. These apps provide different features and tools to capture screenshots.
13. How do I take a screenshot on a Mac running macOS Mojave or later?
On a Mac running macOS Mojave or later, press Command + Shift + 5 keys simultaneously. This will open the Screenshot app, where you can choose to capture the entire screen, a selected window, or a specific portion of the screen. You can also set a timer and choose where to save your screenshots.
How to Get a Screen Shot on a Mac
Screenshots are images that you capture on your computer screen. They come in handy when you want to save important information or share something interesting with someone. If you are a Mac user, taking a screenshot is easy. Here are a few ways to get a screenshot on a Mac.
Conclusion and Closing
Taking screenshots on a Mac is one of the easiest things to do. With the steps listed above, you can take screenshots using keyboard shortcuts, the built-in Grab application, and the Preview app. These steps work on all Mac devices, from MacBook Air to iMac. The next time you need to take a screenshot on your Mac, you now know how to do it.
Thank you for reading this article. We hope it was informative and helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below.
Until next time!