How to screenshot in Windows
As I told you at the beginning of the guide, for take a screenshot with Windows you can first take advantage of some features included in the operating system. In this regard, if you prefer the use of keyboard shortcuts, you will surely be pleased to know that you can easily capture "snapshots" of what is displayed on your computer screen in this way.
More specifically, if you are using a updated version of Windows (from Windows 8.x up), to take a screenshot all you have to do is use the following key combination: Win + Stamp. If that doesn't work, you can try using the following alternative key combinations: Win+Ctrl+Stamp or Win+Fn+Stamp. If you're using a tablet or 2-in-1 device, instead, use this combination: Win + Volume key (-).
In case you don't know, the Win it's the one with the windows flag found at the bottom left of the keyboard. Instead, the key Stamp is the one located at the top right and, moreover, on some keyboards it is indicated as Prnt, Prt Scr, Prnt or Print and is sometimes placed on a multi-function button (so to be able to use it you must also press the key Fn).
In all cases, in conjunction with the correct typing of the keyboard shortcut, you will see a rapid darkening of the desktop. The screenshots obtained will be saved in PNG format and you can view them by accessing the folder PicturesScreenshots Windows. However, if you prefer, you can change the destination path of the screenshots by right clicking on the folder Screenshots, then choosing the voice Property from the context menu, by going to the tab Route in the window that opens and pressing the button Move.
Stai using a older Windows version or in any case as an alternative to as I have already explained to you, you can also make sure that the captured screenshots are copied only to the clipboard without being automatically saved in the images folder, so that they can then be pasted into any other application.
How you do it? Nothing could be simpler: if you want to copy a screenshot of the entire desktop to the OS clipboard, press the button Stamp, while if you want to copy a screenshot of the foreground window to the clipboard, use the combination Alt + Stamp.
Later, you can paste the screenshot obtained in any application you want (eg Paint), simply by clicking on the button Paste attached to the program window in use or by using the key combination Ctrl + V.
How to take a screenshot on Windows 10
If what you are using is a computer with su installed Windows 10, I inform you that to take a screenshot you can also resort to the use of additional tools included "standard" in the operating system. Here they are.
Capture and Annotate Tool
take a screenshot with Windows 10, you can take advantage of Capture and annotate: program that is pre-installed in the operating system (if removed, it can be downloaded for free from the relevant section of the Microsoft Store) and has been specifically designed to take screenshots and add annotations to them.
To use Capture and annotate, first start the tool in question by clicking on Start button (I cheer with the windows flag) which is located at the bottom left of the taskbartyping "Capture and annotate" in the search field and selecting the first one relevant suggestion on the menu if you press.
Once the main window of the tool is displayed, to take a screenshot, click on the button New which is located at the top left. If you find it necessary, you can also set a timer between the selection of the area to be captured and the actual creation of the screenshot, by previously clicking on the adjacent button with the down arrow and selecting the option Capture in 3 seconds or that one Capture in 10 seconds give the menu to compare.
Next, click on the buttons on the toolbar that appears at the top to select the capture mode you prefer. More precisely, pressing the button with the rectangle you can make a screenshot of a rectangular shape; pressing on the one with the curved design you can make a screenshot by drawing a custom shape; pressing on the one with i two overlapping rectangles you can make the acquisition of a specific window, while clicking on the button depicting a rectangle with the corners in evidence you can take a screenshot of the entire desktop.
If the mode you have selected requires it, then proceed to trace the capture area of the screenshot, by clicking on the starting point and, continuing to hold down, moving the pointer to the point of your interest.
Once the acquisition has taken place, you will be able to view the image obtained through the program editor which will open automatically. Through the latter, you can also crop the image, add annotations, strokes and highlights using the appropriate buttons at the top.
Once the changes are completed or in any case to save the image obtained, click on the button with the floppy disk located at the top right and decide the location, name and format for the final file. You can also copy the screenshot to the Windows clipboard, so you can then paste it where you see fit, by clicking on the button with the two sheets which is always found at the top of the Capture and Annotate editor.
If this interests you, know that you can also invoke the Capture and Annotate tool using this key combination: Win + Shift + S. I inform you that you can also do so by pressing the button Stamp the aforementioned tool is recalled. To do this, click Start button on taskbarselect the icon delle Settings (Quella a forma di ruota d'ingranaggio) in the menu that opens and click on the wording Accessibilità in the window that appears on the desktop; then select the item Keyboard from the menu on the left and move up On the switch under the heading Print Link located on the right.
Take Edge Web Screen
If you need to take a screenshot of a web page - in its entirety or a single portion -, you can use the function Take Web Screenshot included in Edge, which is the default browser of Windows 10.
To be able to use it, start your browser, go to the web page of your interest, click on the button (...) located at the top right and choose the option Take Web Screenshot give the menu check if you press.
Now, if you want to take a snapshot of a portion of the web page, check that the option is selected on the toolbar that appears at the top. Free selection (otherwise you can, by clicking on the appropriate wording), then draw the rectangle for capturing the screenshot, clicking on the starting point and, continuing to hold down, moving the viewfinder displayed on the screen to the point of your interest.
Now, through the menu you see appear, decide whether to copy the screenshot obtained to the clipboard or add annotations to it, by clicking, respectively, on the item Copy or on that Add notes. Finally, save the image obtained by pressing the icon of floppy disk.
If, on the other hand, your need is to capture the screenshot of an entire Web page, after calling up the browser screen capture tool, choose the option Whole page which is located on the toolbar located at the top and waits for the snapshot to be taken. Subsequently, add any annotations and / or proceed with saving the file as I explained earlier.
I also point out that you can quickly recall the use of the function to take screenshots of the Edge web pages also using the following keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + S.
How to take screenshot in Windows 8
Also on Windows 8 There is a predefined tool for taking screenshots. Is called Snipping tool and allows you to capture individual portions of the screen, specific windows or the entire desktop. You can also edit the resulting images by adding highlights, annotations, and various other elements to them.
You ask me how you can use it? First, start the tool by clicking on Start button, then on the button with the magnifying glass that you find in the upper right part of the Start Screentyping "Capture tool" in the search field that appears and selecting the relevant suggestion.
Afterwards, you will see a small toolbar appear on the desktop. To capture your screenshot, click on the button New attached to the latter and then use the pointer to draw a rectangle including the screen area you want to "capture", by clicking, continuing to hold down and releasing the "grip" up to the point of your interest.
If you want, you can also take a screenshot in a different format by clicking on the button with the down arrow in the Snipping Tool toolbar and choosing one of the following options from the menu that appears: Free format capture (to make a screenshot by drawing a custom shape), Capturing a single window (to take a screenshot of a specific window) or Capture full screen (to take a screenshot of the entire desktop). To reset the default capture format, instead, choose the option Rectangular capture.
Once the capture has taken place, you will be shown the screenshot in the program editor, through which you can make all the necessary changes to the image using the tools to add strokes and highlights. When the changes are complete and / or to save the screenshot, click on the button with the floppy disk located at the top left and indicates the position, name and format you want to assign to the final file.
How to take a screenshot on Windows 7
You are using a computer with su installed Windows 7 and would you like to understand how to make a screenshot? I inform you then that, even in this case, you can do it using the named tool Snipping tool, the one I told you about in the previous step regarding Windows 8. The operation is identical.
Programs to take a screenshot with Windows
The "standard" solutions to take a screenshot with Windows that I have already told you about did not convince you in a particular way and, therefore, you would prefer to turn to the use of third party programs? I'll settle you immediately! Below, in fact, you will find a list of those that, in my humble opinion, represent the best software in the category for Microsoft operating systems that you can consider turning to.
- Snapcrab - free software and fully functional with all versions of Windows, which allows you to take snapshots of the entire desktop, of individual portions of the same or of specific windows. The images obtained can be saved locally, but if necessary they can also be shared online using a special feature.
- Greenshot - free and open source program that behaves in a manner almost similar to the default screenshot capture tool, but in an enhanced way. It also offers integration with services such as Dropbox and Imgur through special plugins and provides its users with a practical editor for editing the resulting images.
- FastStone Capture - program that looks like a small toolbar always accessible from the desktop, through which it is possible to capture screenshots of the entire screen, single windows or customized portions. It is at no cost.
- ShareX - is another software, free and of an open source nature, through which it is possible to take a screenshot with Windows in various ways. It supports various image capture and saving modes and the built-in editor interface is customizable.
