How to use the 'print screen' button on the keyboard

The "Print Screen" or "PrtScn" button on your computer keyboard is an often-overlooked option that can be used in many different ways. Many users don't know how to use this key or think it's useless. However, the "Print Screen" button can be very useful for capturing screenshots, troubleshooting technical issues, and even creating step-by-step tutorials.

In this article, we'll explore how to use the "Print Screen" button on your keyboard and how to get the most out of this often-underestimated feature.

• You'll understand the difference between various types of screenshots;
• You'll learn how to capture a screenshot of the entire screen or just a part of it;
• You'll discover how to use the image editing tools built into your operating system to enhance your images;
• You'll see some practical examples of when you might need to use a screenshot to troubleshoot technical issues.

What Does the "Print Screen" Button Do?

The "Print Screen" or "PrtScn" button on your computer keyboard is often overlooked and ignored by most users. However, this key can be extremely useful in several situations.

Capture Screenshots

One of the primary functions of the "Print Screen" button is to capture a screenshot of your entire desktop or a specific window. When you press the "Print Screen" button, a copy of the image on your screen is made and saved to your operating system's clipboard.

To access the captured screenshot, you'll need to open an image editing program like Paint, Photoshop, or GIMP and paste the image from your clipboard using the "CTRL+V" keyboard shortcut. Alternatively, you can use a screen capture software like Snipping Tool (available on Windows) to select only the portion of the screen that you want.

Troubleshoot Technical Issues

In some situations, the "Print Screen" button can also help troubleshoot technical issues. For example, if your computer freezes or experiences a critical error, pressing the "Print Screen" button may allow you to capture the error displayed on your screen. This screenshot can then be sent to technical support to help diagnose the problem.

Create Documentation

The "Print Screen" button can also be useful for creating documentation or tutorials. For example, if you want to show how to use a particular software or feature of your operating system, you can capture a screenshot of the user interface and add necessary instructions.

How to Use the "Print Screen" Button on Windows

The "Print Screen" button on your computer keyboard is a very useful option for capturing screenshots or images of your screen. This way, you can share visual information with others or save a copy of what you're seeing on your screen.

Step 1: Press the "Print Screen" button

To capture a screenshot of your entire screen, simply press the "Print Screen" button. This will save the image to your computer's clipboard.

Step 2: Use Paint or another image editing software

After pressing the "Print Screen" button, open an image editing software like Paint, Photoshop, or GIMP. Once you have opened the program, create a new file and paste the image from your clipboard using the "CTRL+V" keyboard shortcut.

Step 3: Edit and save the image

Now that you have your image in your preferred editing software, you can edit it as desired. For example, you can crop only a portion of the image or add text or arrows to highlight certain parts of the image. After editing the image, save it in JPEG, PNG, or GIF format.

Bonus: Use the Snipping Tool

Windows also has a built-in tool called "Snipping Tool" that allows you to capture screenshots without using Paint or other image editing software. To use this tool, search for "Snipping Tool" in the Start menu and open it. From here, you can choose whether to capture the entire screen, a window, or a portion of the screen.

• Step 1: Open Snipping Tool
• Step 2: Choose what type of snip you want to make
• Step 3: Edit and save the image

Now you're ready to use the "Print Screen" button on your Windows keyboard. With these simple steps, you can capture screenshots and images of your screen easily and quickly.

How to Use the "Print Screen" Button on a Mac

The "Print Screen" button on your Mac keyboard is a very useful option that allows you to capture screenshots or images of your active screen. This way, you can easily capture and share important information with your colleagues or friends.

How to Take a Screenshot of Your Entire Screen

To capture a screenshot of your entire screen on your Mac, follow these steps:

• Press the "Cmd + Shift + 3" keys simultaneously.
• You will see a small preview of the newly captured image in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click on it to open and edit it, or drag it directly into your preferred folder.

How to Take a Screenshot of a Specific Part of Your Screen

If you want to take a screenshot of only a specific part of your screen, follow these steps instead:

• Press the "Cmd + Shift + 4" keys simultaneously. A crosshair will appear on your screen.
• Click and drag the crosshair over the area you want to capture.
• Release the mouse button to complete the image capture.
• You will see a small preview of the newly captured image in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click on it to open and edit it, or drag it directly into your preferred folder.

Using the "Print Screen" button on your Mac is a simple and fast way to capture images or screenshots of the active screen. Follow these steps to use it to its fullest!

Conclusions and additional tips

In this article, we have seen how to use the 'print screen' key on the keyboard to capture screenshots of the desktop or specific windows. We have also learned how to paste the captured image into a document or photo editing program.

To make the most of this function, it is important to know the various options available in photo editing programs, such as the ability to crop the image or modify its resolution.

Remember that the 'print screen' button can also be used on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, by pressing both the power button and volume down button simultaneously.

Finally, if you want to avoid using the 'print screen' button, you can opt for specialized screen capture programs like Snagit or Greenshot.

• To summarize:
• The 'print screen' button allows you to capture screenshots of the desktop or specific windows;
• The captured image can be pasted into a document or photo editing program;
• There are various options available in photo editing programs for modifying the image;
• The 'print screen' button can also be used on mobile devices;
• Specialized screen capture programs can be an alternative to using the 'print screen' button.

Don't hesitate to experiment and find the method that best suits your needs!

Conclusion

In this article, we have seen how to use the 'print screen' key on the keyboard, a very useful function for capturing screenshots of the desktop or specific windows. We have also learned how to paste the captured image into a document or photo editing program.

Remember that you can make the most of this function by knowing the various options available in photo editing programs, such as the ability to crop the image or modify its resolution. Additionally, if you want to avoid using the 'print screen' button, you can opt for specialized screen capture programs like Snagit or Greenshot.

We hope that this article has been helpful and provided you with all the necessary information to make the most of your keyboard's 'print screen' button!