Capturing screenshots on a Mac is a fundamental skill that comes in handy for a variety of purposes, whether you need to save an image, share information, or troubleshoot issues. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the various methods for how to take screenshot on a mac, from capturing the entire screen to selecting specific portions or windows.
1. Capturing the Entire Screen:
To take a screenshot of the entire screen on your Mac, follow these steps:
a. Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 3: This keyboard shortcut will capture the entire screen, and the screenshot will be saved as a file on your desktop.
b. Viewing and Editing: You can find the screenshot on your desktop. By default, it is named “Screen Shot [date] at [time].png.” You can double-click the screenshot to open it with the Preview app, where you can view and make basic edits.
2. Capturing a Specific Area:
If you only want to capture a portion of the screen, follow these steps:
a. Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4: This keyboard shortcut changes your cursor to a crosshair.
b. Click and Drag: Click and drag the crosshair to select the area you want to capture. As you drag, you’ll see the dimensions of the selected area, helping you frame your shot precisely.
c. Release the Mouse Button: When you’ve selected the desired area, release the mouse button. The screenshot will be saved as a file on your desktop.
d. Viewing and Editing: You can find the screenshot on your desktop, and it will be named “Screen Shot [date] at [time].png.” As with full-screen screenshots, you can open it with Preview to view and edit the image.
3. Taking a Screenshot of a Window:
To capture a specific window on your Mac, do the following:
a. Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4: This keyboard shortcut will change your cursor to a crosshair.
b. Press the Spacebar: After pressing Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, press the Spacebar. Your cursor will change to a camera icon.
c. Hover Over the Window: Move the camera icon over the window you want to capture. The window will be highlighted in blue.
d. Click the Window: Click on the window you want to capture. The screenshot will be saved as a file on your desktop.
e. Viewing and Editing: The window screenshot will be saved as “Screen Shot [date] at [time].png” on your desktop. You can open it with Preview to view and make edits.