Screenshots can be a lifesaver when it comes to troubleshooting, showing someone how to do a task, or simply creating a tutorial.
Personally, it’s one of the most used functions on my computer because I feel like they’re a great way to explain your message in a visual form. If you’re a Mac user, taking a screenshot is incredibly easy and quick.
However, if you’re new to the Apple ecosystem, it can be a little confusing, which is why in this post, I’ll show you how to take a screenshot on your Mac easily.
We’ll go over some of the best ways to do it, so you can use the methods as per your preference. The best part is that it takes just a few seconds, just like taking screenshots is supposed to be.
If you prefer watching a step-by-step tutorial of the process instead, here’s a quick video:
Let’s jump right in.
Capture Entire Screen
Capturing the entire screen is a great way to showcase everything that can be seen on your display, especially if the message you’re trying to deliver is near and about the menu bar at the top or the dock at the bottom.
Simply press Command + Shift + 3 to capture your whole screen.
You should see a little window that appears on the bottom right. This indicates that your screenshot has been taken. You can click on it to save, delete, or share it.
Also read: Easy Ways to Reset PRAM and SMC on Mac
Capture a Part of the Screen
If you want to send a screenshot to someone but don’t want to distract them with other elements on your display, you can simply capture a part of your screen. This method is also helpful when you don’t want to include personal details on the screenshot.
Press Command + Shift + 4.
This will allow you to click and move your cursor to capture only the parts you wish to include.
If you’ve accidentally moved your cursor to an unwanted space and want to redo the selection, you can simply press ESC on your keyboard to start afresh.
You can also press and hold Spacebar while making a selection to move the same selection window to another area of the screen.
Another cool tip you need to know about is the ability to create a selection from the center of the screen, which is possible by holding down the Option key before making a new selection.
Capture a Specific Window
This method is my personal favorite because of how clean it looks. You can capture a certain window on your screen, for example, your notes window, by pressing Command + Shift + 4 followed by the Spacebar.
As you can see, I get the option only to capture the window my cursor is on.
Once you click on the selected window, it’ll take the screenshot and save it with beautiful shadows under the window. If you want to include screenshots somewhere for professional use, you should definitely try this shortcut rather than manually trying to capture using another shortcut.
If you’re looking for more control over your screenshot, you can try Command + Shift + 5 shortcut.
This will open the screenshot menu and give you more options and settings control, such as setting a timer or choosing a destination where your screenshots will be saved in. It also allows you to record your screen if you wish to.
Capture Touchbar
If you have a Macbook that has a Touchbar, you can easily take a screenshot of it by pressing Command + Shift + 6.
Using Third-party Tools
There are times you need features that are more than what you’re provided by default, and in those times, it’s best to use third-party software to get the job done.
Here are some of the best screenshot tools that you can use on your Mac:
#1. Skitch
Developed by Evernote, Skitch is an advanced screenshot tool for Mac that can be combined with Evernote to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Besides giving you a ton of control over how you want your screenshots to be captured, it has many functions to enhance them, for example, by using annotations, shapes, and sketches.
#2. CleanShot X
Simple yet powerful, CleanShot X is from the same developers who made the most popular Mac tool called CleanMyMac X.
With this tool, you capture videos, GIFs, scrollable content, and of course, screenshots. Other features include
- Annotation, highlight, and blur options
- Capture full screen, selected area, full window, or scrolling screen
- One-click hides desktop icons
- Save your device storage by saving screenshots to CleanShot Cloud
There’s absolutely no learning curve when you use this tool.
#3. Snagit
Snagit is an advanced screenshot tool that has everything you’re looking for. You can capture and edit screenshots to provide better visual instructions before sending them across, and these editing tools also apply to images you import from your gallery.
One of the coolest features of this software is the ability to record scrolling webpages, which you can later share as a GIF. This a great feature when you don’t want to create a whole video around such a simple step.
Besides, you can create engaging video tutorials by utilizing their screen recorder.
#4. Shottr
A very lightweight app for Mac, Shottr follows a very intuitive interface that doesn’t bloat your mind with unnecessary functions. It sits quietly in your menu bar with an S icon, and once you click on it, you’ll open various options to capture your screen.
You can also assign shortcuts to the various screenshot options to further save time whenever you wish to capture your screen.
Closing Thoughts
Taking a screenshot should never be difficult, and I am grateful that the process is quite simple on Mac. I hope the above methods will help you easily deliver your visual messages or create tutorials.
Next, check out these Mac terminal commands to make your life easier.
