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A Byte How-to: Making Screen Captures

By: Sam Korthof on Oct 21, 2016

Tags: Process (9) Tech Simplicity (5) How-Tos (2)

Image with Byte's wordmark and the words how to, in a speech box

When it comes to communications, one of the most efficient ways to communicate is visually. Just like the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words, so is a screen capture.

Here at Byte we have many uses for screen captures:
1. For visual explanations of what is occurring on a website
2. To communicate the information quicker than sending/ uploading an actual file
3. To compare a before and after

Screen captures work out great for our Issues System in the ByteCMS. When a client needs assistance with their website, and has trouble explaining their needs in writing, we recommend that they send us a screen capture. Having a screen capture to reference will pinpoint us to the exact location on a website, so we do not have to go on a scavenger hunt based on the clues in the issue. Instead of spending minutes being unsure or confused as to where to go, and possibly going to the wrong page/s on the website, the screen capture will lead us directly to where we need to go, all within seconds.

Below are the steps to create a screen capture:

(Make sure your screen is displaying exactly what you want to display in the screen shot)


For Mac Users:


Screen capture a certain portion of your screen and save it to your clipboard (saves screen capture to memory and allows you to paste the image right away)
1. On your keyboard press these keys in this sequence: Shift + Control + Command + 4 (pressing these keys is like pressing the shutter on your camera)

2. Let go of those keys, and navigate with your mouse to the area of your screen you want to be in your screen capture. (Your cursor will turn into a crosshair) While holding your mouse down, click and drag around that certain area of your screen to form a bounding box. Once your bounding box is formed, let go.

3. Navigate to where you want to send your screen capture. (In the ByteCMS Issue you can paste your image in the comment field of the issue)

4. On your keyboard click: Command + V (this will paste your image)

image highlighting the shift, control, command, and number 4 keys on a mac keyboard

Pro tip! How to create a simpler shortcut for your screen capture:
 

1. Navigate to System Preferences

2. Click the Keyboard icon
keyboard icon

3. Click on the Shortcuts menu
The Shortcuts menu option shown to have been chosen

4. Click on Screen Shots
Selection reading, "screen shots"

5. Read through the list of existing shortcuts

6. If you see a shortcut you would like to change, click the key combination and type in the new keys.

7. At Byte we set the "Copy picture of selected area to the clipboard" to Command + 3.
Popup confirmation of the copying of a screenshot

 

For PC Users:


A. Using the Snipping Tool Program, screen capture a certain portion of your screen and copy/ paste

How to open the Snipping Tool for Windows 10 Users:

1. Click on the Search/ Magnifier Glass

2. Enter Snip

3. Click on the Snipping Tool Icon

How to open the Snipping Tool for Windows 8 Users:

1. With your mouse, open the charm bar by putting your cursor to the top right corner of your screen

2. Select the Search button

3. Make sure Apps is selected and in the search input type "Snipp"

4. Start the Snipping Tool by Clicking the Icon

How to open the Snipping Tool for Windows 7 Users:

1. Click the Start button.

2. In the search box, type in "Snipp"

3. In the list of results, click "Snipping Tool"


Once your Snipping Tool Application is opened:

2. In the Snipping Tool Menu, click the New Button

3. In the list of items, select "Rectangular Snip"

3. Navigate to the area on your screen you want to capture

4. You will see your cursor turn into crosshairs. Click and drag with your mouse to form a bounding box around that area

5. In the snipping tool menu, you will see your screen capture image appear.

6. To copy your snip and paste it elsewhere, select the Copy Icon (next to the save icon)

7. Navigate to where you want to send your screen capture. (In the ByteCMS Issue you can paste your image in the comment field of the issue) and on your keyboard click: Ctrol + V to paste

Rectangular snip is chosen from the new tab dropdown in Window's Snipping Tool


 

If you can’t use the snipping tool, try this:

B. Screen capture just the active window and save it to your clipboard (saves screen capture to memory and allows you to paste the image right away)
1. On your keyboard press Alt + Print Screen (Prt Sc) (pressing these keys is like pressing the shutter on your camera)

2. Navigate to where you want to send your screen capture. (In the ByteCMS Issue you can paste your image in the comment field of the issue)

3. On your keyboard click: Ctrol + V (this will paste your image)

Image highlighting the alt and print screen keys on a Window's keyboard

 

Pasting the image into the ByteCMS Issue:

Paste (control + v) the image in the area that is highlighted
Screenshot showing an image being pasted into a highlighted section