For many individuals new to Apple, especially those transitioning from Windows familiar with the Prt Scrn button, it might not be immediately clear how to take a screenshot on a Mac. This is especially true for those wondering specifically about how to take a screenshot on macbook air laptop.
While capturing a screenshot on a Mac requires only a few key presses, it hasn’t always been as intuitive as one might hope. For instance, there are distinct key commands for capturing entire windows versus specific portions, and for a significant period, screen recording was only achievable through QuickTime Player.
In this guide, we’ll delve into methods for screenshotting and video capture on Mac, along with handy tools to simplify the process for you.
Shortcut Key For Screenshot In Mac
Every Mac, including models like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, offers users the capability to effortlessly take high-resolution screenshots, which can then be edited or shared based on personal preferences. One popular query, especially from those transitioning from different operating systems, is how to take a partial screenshot on mac. Thankfully, the process is straightforward.
- For a full-screen screenshot on your Mac, press and hold Shift + Command + 3.
- To capture a selected area of your screen, press Shift + Command + 4. This will turn your cursor into a crosshair. Then, drag to select the desired area and release the mouse to finalize the screenshot.
- If you want to capture a specific Mac window, first press Shift + Command + 4, followed by the Space key. Your crosshair will transition to a camera icon. Hover over the window of interest and click to screenshot.
However, the built-in screenshot utility from Apple provides only five variations for capturing Mac screens. As you continue reading, you’ll learn that a myriad of other options are offered by third-party applications. Let’s explore what suits your needs best.
Screenshot App For Macbook
If you’re in search of a more advanced snipping tool on Mac, especially for tasks like capturing scrolling content, you’ll quickly realize the built-in option falls short. This is where third-party solutions, like CleanShot X, come into play. With over 50 unique features tailored for capturing, CleanShot X stands out as the premier Mac screenshot tool. It allows captures of specific windows, the entire screen, selected areas, scrolling content, and even provides video and GIF recording options. Additionally, while taking shots, the app lets you clear away desktop distractions and mute notifications. After capturing, an overlay window appears allowing you to immediately edit – whether it’s adding annotations, blurring sections, or drawing. CleanShot X offers an extensive range of editing possibilities.
Some lesser-known yet impressive features include a self-timer for delayed captures, screenshot pinning to keep the image visible on the desktop, and an inbuilt CleanShot Cloud for swift storage and sharing via links. Whether you’re aiming for the perfect timed capture or quick sharing, CleanShot X ensures you’re well-equipped.
Taking Screenshots on Mac Using the Screenshot Menu
For users on macOS Mojave or later versions, you have the option to access the screenshot menu directly for your screen capturing needs, or employ specific keyboard shortcuts tailored for actions like capturing a particular window or a designated region. In contrast, macOS versions predating Mojave lack this dedicated screenshot menu, though they still offer command-driven screen capture functionalities.
If you’re operating on Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, or Monterey, the Command + Shift + 5 key combination opens a comprehensive screenshot menu, facilitating various options:
- Capture the Full Screen.
- Snap the Chosen Window(s).
- Grab a Designated Section.
- Record the Entire Screen.
- Record a Specified Section.
Within this menu on the right, there’s an ‘Options’ button. Among its features, it allows you to choose the destination for saving your MacBook’s screenshots and video captures. Put simply, for those pondering, “how to take a screenshot on mac book?”, upgrading to Mojave might be a great step towards simplifying the procedure.
Capturing a Specific Screen Area
Recall our discussion about shortcuts? Let’s delve deeper. Here’s how you can capture a designated screen segment:
Press and hold the Shift, Command, and 4 keys simultaneously.
Drag the crosshair to delineate the screen region you wish to capture. If you press and hold the Space bar while dragging, it allows you to shift the selection. Hitting the Esc (Escape) key will cancel the screenshot action.
Release the mouse or trackpad button to finalize the screenshot.
If a thumbnail pops up at your screen’s corner, you can click on it to modify the screenshot. Otherwise, simply wait for the screenshot to automatically save to your desktop.
Full-Screen Screenshot on Mac
Here’s how to capture your entire Mac screen:
- Simultaneously press and hold the Shift, Command, and 3 keys.
- If a thumbnail emerges at the corner of your screen, click on it to make edits. Alternatively, simply let the screenshot auto-save to your desktop.
Capturing a Particular Window or Section on Mac
Here’s how to screenshot a specific window or menu:
- Open the window or menu you wish to capture.
- Next, simultaneously press and hold the Shift, Command, 4, and Space bar keys. The cursor will transform into a camera symbol. To abort the screenshot, press the Esc (Escape) key.
How to take screenshots using the Touch Bar on Mac
If you’ve been missing the straightforward print screen button commonly found on Windows systems, your Mac’s Touch Bar might be the solution. Assuming your Mac is equipped with the Touch Bar, you can design a specific button for screenshots. Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Navigate to: Apple menu > System Preferences > Keyboard.
- Select “Customize Control Strip”.
- Decide where you’d like the screenshot button on the Touch Bar. Drag it to your chosen spot and save your preferences.
With this setup, capturing a screenshot on your Mac becomes as simple as tapping your Touch Bar. Clicking the new screenshot button presents a menu with capture options. If you want to alter the destination of your saved screenshots, click “Save To”. From here, you can select the type of capture: full screen, a specific region, or a distinct window. Navigate your cursor as needed to capture your screenshot.
Alternative Mac Screenshot Applications
Beyond the previously discussed CleanShot X, Capto is another excellent option for those leaning more towards screen recording. Not only does it allow video recording and standard screenshots on a Mac, but it also offers an intuitive interface, reminiscent of iMovie, for annotations and editing your captures.
Capto excels for individuals aiming to craft video tutorials and distribute them across platforms. Given its robust visual tools, it’s also an ideal choice for those hesitant about using their voice and prefer supplementing content with captions over voiceovers. Additionally, Capto’s integrated organizer effectively aids in managing and cataloging your screenshots.
For those seeking an efficient method to relay information to teammates without resorting to intrusive calls, Tape is your go-to app. With the recent surge in virtual meetings, isn’t it refreshing to have an alternative? This asynchronous screen-sharing solution has gained popularity among remote professionals globally.
Tape allows for swift screen or window recordings, complemented by voice messages, annotations, and even webcam displays if preferred. This provides teammates the flexibility to view the content at their own convenience.
Lastly, many sophisticated media players come equipped with a screenshot feature. This is particularly useful for capturing distinct moments from movies or videos. Typically, capturing these moments while streaming online is challenging, as many streaming platforms disable screenshot functionalities. For an alternative approach, think about using Elmedia Player. It allows you to play various media formats and effortlessly take screenshots in real-time.
All these third-party applications can be accessed through Setapp, allowing you to experiment with each of them at no cost.
How to print screen on Mac with Preview
Preview, Apple’s default image and PDF viewer, is likely a staple in your day-to-day tasks. Within Preview is a built-in screenshot utility that offers options to capture specific screen portions, individual windows, or the full screen. A notable advantage of using Preview for this purpose is its immediate display of the captured screenshot in a fresh Preview window. This facilitates immediate edits, such as resizing, annotating, and more.
Taking a Screenshot on Mac with Preview
Capturing a screenshot using Preview on your Mac is straightforward. Here’s how:
- Open Preview and navigate to the app menu.
- Choose File > Take Screenshot.
- Select the specific screen portion you wish to capture.
- Capture the screenshot.
Once taken, you have the flexibility to edit the screenshot within Preview and save it to your desired location on your Mac.
Organizing Screenshots on macOS
For those frequently capturing screenshots, it’s common to encounter a cluttered Downloads folder or Desktop, filled with generically named images like “Screen Shot 2019-XX-XX at 21.36.15.” Such naming conventions are not very user-friendly, especially considering macOS’s tendency to truncate long filenames.
Using Finder combined with Preview might allow for a general overview of your snapshots, but it’s not the most visually appealing or efficient method. Enter PhotoBulk: an image editor specifically crafted for bulk operations. This tool is perfect for renaming, resizing, and compressing multiple images simultaneously. The process is hassle-free – drag your desired screenshots into the app, specify a collective name, and hit Start. The renamed screenshots are then automatically organized into a dedicated folder, ensuring a tidier workspace.
Expert Advice:
Within PhotoBulk, you have the option to customize the naming format of your images precisely and even choose the initial number for the sequence count. This allows for more organized and tailored file naming conventions.
Share Apple screenshot
After mastering the art of taking screenshots on your Mac, the next challenge is often sharing them seamlessly, especially with colleagues or friends. Emailing or constantly uploading to platforms like Google Drive can be cumbersome. This is where tools like Dropshare come into play.
As its name hints, Dropshare streamlines the sharing process. By simply dragging and dropping screenshots (or other files) into the designated space, sharing becomes effortless. The software integrates with a plethora of popular third-party cloud applications. However, for those who’d like a more exclusive approach, there’s also the Dropshare Cloud. This option is especially handy if you’d prefer to segregate your screenshot sharing from other file-sharing tasks.
Wrapping Up
From our discussion, it’s evident that mastering the screenshot technique on a Mac is far from challenging. The introduction of a specialized menu for MacBook screenshots and video captures in macOS has only made it simpler.
Apple seems keen on easing the transition for those switching from Windows, addressing the screenshot differences. While we can anticipate more refinements from Apple in this space, there are already numerous third-party Mac snipping tools offering a plethora of features not present in the default options.
The cherry on top? All the tools we’ve touched upon, including CleanShot X, Capto, Elmedia Player, Tape, PhotoBulk, and Dropshare, can be explored without any cost. They are available for a free 7-day trial via Setapp, a subscription service that boasts over 240 indispensable apps for Mac and iOS users. With this knowledge at hand, you’re fully equipped to elevate your screenshot expertise!
FAQ: How to Take Screenshot on Mac Book
Should you have further queries regarding screenshot methods on a Mac, look no further. Below are answers to frequently asked questions:
How To View Screenshots On Mac?:
When you take a screenshot on a Mac, it’s immediately stored on your Desktop. To see them, you can either navigate to your Desktop directly or use the Finder to open the Desktop folder and check out the saved images. If you’re dealing with multiple screenshots, Finder might be more convenient, as it usually displays the screenshot’s date and time.
How To Copy And Paste On Mac:
Instead of saving every screenshot to the Desktop or another directory, you can copy them directly to your Mac’s clipboard. This feature is particularly beneficial if you intend to use the screenshot immediately without storing it. To do this, press Control while capturing a screenshot to copy it, and then use Command + V in any application to paste it.
Disabling Screenshots on Mac:
To turn off screenshot capabilities, head to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Screen Recording. Here, after unlocking with your password, you’ll see apps that can record your screen. Simply deselect any application you wish to restrict.
Taking a Selective Screenshot on Mac:
Initiate selective screenshot mode by pressing Command + Shift + 4. Your pointer transforms into a small crosshair displaying pixel coordinates. Drag with your mouse or trackpad button to define a rectangular area for your screenshot. If you change your mind before capturing, hit the Esc key. Release the button to capture the desired area.