How to Screen Shot on Mac: A Comprehensive Guide
Screen capturing on a Mac is a straightforward process, but it can be done in various ways depending on your needs. Whether you want to capture a full screen, a specific window, or even a portion of the screen, macOS has you covered. Let’s dive into the different methods to take screenshots on your Mac.
1. Full Screen Screenshot
One of the simplest ways to take a screenshot on your Mac is by capturing the entire screen. Here’s how you can do it:
- Press the Shift + Command + 3 keys simultaneously on your keyboard.
- A crosshair cursor will appear on your screen. Click and drag the cursor to select the area you want to capture.
- Release the mouse button to take the screenshot. The image will automatically be saved to your desktop as a PNG file named “Screenshot [date] at [time].png”.
2. Partial Screen Screenshot
Do you want to capture only a part of the screen? No problem. Here’s how to do it:
- Press the Shift + Command + 4 keys on your keyboard.
- The cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture.
- Press the spacebar to change the selection to a window. Click on the window you want to capture.
- Release the mouse button to take the screenshot. The image will be saved to your desktop as a PNG file.
3. Window Screenshot
Capturing a specific window on your Mac is also easy. Follow these steps:
- Press the Shift + Command + 4 keys on your keyboard.
- Change the cursor to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture.
- Press the spacebar to change the selection to a window. Click on the window you want to capture.
- Release the mouse button to take the screenshot. The image will be saved to your desktop as a PNG file.
4. Screenshot with Delay
Would you like to take a screenshot after a short delay? macOS allows you to do this. Here’s how:
- Press the Shift + Command + 5 keys on your keyboard.
- The screenshot toolbar will appear at the top of your screen. Click on the “Capture” button and select “Delay screenshot”.
- Set the desired delay time (up to 10 seconds) and click “Start Recording”.
- Perform the action you want to capture. The screenshot will be taken after the delay time has elapsed.
5. Screenshot with Markup
Do you want to add annotations to your screenshots? macOS allows you to do this using the markup tool. Here’s how:
- Press the Shift + Command + 5 keys on your keyboard.
- The screenshot toolbar will appear at the top of your screen. Click on the “Capture” button and select “From Menu Bar”.
- Click on the “Markup” button in the menu bar. This will open the markup tool.
- Use the various tools in the markup tool to annotate your screenshot, such as drawing shapes, adding text, and highlighting areas.
- Save or share your annotated screenshot as needed.
6. Screenshot with Third-Party Apps
While macOS offers a variety of built-in screenshot tools, there are also several third-party apps available that offer additional features and customization options. Some popular options include Snagit, Lightshot, and Skitch. These apps can be downloaded from the Mac App Store or the developer’s website.
Here’s a brief overview of some third-party screenshot apps:
