As a Mac user, capturing screenshots is an essential feature that you may need for various purposes. Whether you are an enthusiast or a professional, screenshots can help you share essential information with others, keep track of important details, or document something noteworthy. With that in mind, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to screenshot on Mac. This guide will cover all the methods you can use to capture a screenshot, so let’s get started!
Method 1: Capture the Entire Screen
The first and easiest way to capture your screen on a Mac is by pressing the “Command + Shift + 3” keys on your keyboard. This method captures your entire screen, including any open windows, toolbars, or background images. Once you have pressed the keys, you will hear a camera shutter sound, and your screenshot will be saved on your desktop as a PNG file.
If you want to copy the captured screenshot to your clipboard, you can use the “Command + Control + Shift + 3” keys instead. This will copy the screenshot to your clipboard, and you can paste it into any application that supports image files.
Method 2: Capture a Selected Area of Your Screen
If you want to capture a specific area of your screen, you can use the “Command + Shift + 4” keys instead. This method allows you to select an area by dragging your mouse cursor over the desired area. Once you release the mouse button, your screenshot will be captured and saved on your desktop as a PNG file.
If you want to select a specific window, you can press the “Spacebar” key after pressing “Command + Shift + 4”. This will enable you to select the window you want to capture, and you can move your mouse cursor over the window to highlight it. Once you click on the window, your screenshot will be captured and saved on your desktop as a PNG file.
Method 3: Capture a Menu or Tooltip
If you want to capture a menu or tooltip, you can use the “Command + Shift + 4” keys and press the “Option” key simultaneously. This will enable you to capture the menu or tooltip and save it as a PNG file on your desktop. You can use this method to capture any dropdown menu or tooltip that appears on your screen.
Method 4: Capture a Touch Bar on a MacBook Pro
If you have a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, you can capture screenshots of your Touch Bar by pressing “Command + Shift + 6”. This method will save your Touch Bar screenshot as a PNG file on your desktop, and you can use it to share your customized Touch Bar settings with others.
Method 5: Use Preview to Capture Screenshots
If you want more control over your screenshots, you can use the Preview application that comes with your Mac. To do this, open the Preview application and select “File” > “New from Clipboard”. This will create a new image file, and you can edit the screenshot however you like before saving it to your computer.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to screenshot on Mac, you can use these methods to capture screenshots for various purposes. Whether you want to share information with others or keep track of important details, screenshots can help you achieve your goals. So, go ahead and try these methods out for yourself, and don’t forget to share your tips and tricks with others!