How to Take a Snapshot of a Windows Computer Screen

You can take a "snapshot" of a Windows computer screen and then turn it into a graphic using a graphics software application. This is useful for reproducing a Web page in print or for documenting an error message for technical support.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Paint Shop Pro
• Paint Shop Pro

1. Set up your computer to display the screen that you want to capture. For example, if you want to take a picture of your Web site, open your home page in the browser that you normally use.

2. Press the Print Screen button on your keyboard. This captures a "snapshot" on the Clipboard.

3. Open a graphics program, such as MS Paint.

4. Open a new file.

5. Paste the contents of the Clipboard into your document (Ctrl+V).

6. Your file now contains an image of the screen that you captured. Name your file and save it in the graphics format of your choice.

Tips & Warnings

• Your graphics software allows you to edit, resize or modify the screen capture.
• The original image will be large - in fact, it will be the same size as your computer screen. You may want to resize it.

[senioritis09]

on 8/3/2009 the button that says Print Screen is shortened to
"Prt Scr" and is above the backspace bar incase anybody was wondering.

[GreenMomma]

on 6/24/2009 I can't believe how easy that was!

[kimbers867]

on 6/16/2008 Thanks for this!!! I remember reading on how to do this but never had a need until today!

Thanks for the easy directions.

[MastersQuill]

on 1/20/2008 Both of these tips are quite good and answer the question I had. Thanks to both for the help.

on 11/22/2005 Instead of taking a screen shot of the entire screen, you can do it for just one window on the screen. Make sure the window you want is top (active) window and hold ALT when you press the Print Screen button.