How to Take Screenshots Using Grab in Mac OS X

Since OS 7.6, Apple has included the ability to capture on-screen images with a series of keyboard shortcuts. With the release of Apple's Mac OS X, Apple included Grab, a software application that enables users to do the same thing as the keyboard shortcuts. Grab has a few extra advantages over keyboard shortcuts: timed screen captures, screenshot preview and saving to a specific folder. The ability to take screenshots is useful for capturing error messages to aid in troubleshooting, saving that fantastic game score or secret level, and of course, writing eHow articles on computer applications.

Things You'll Need

• Apple Macintosh Computer running Mac OS X

Instructions

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

1. 

   Launch Apple's screen capturing application "Grab" by opening up the "Applications" folder in your finder and navigating to the "Utilities" folder.

2. 

   Select "Capture" from the top menu.

3. 

   Choose "Selection" or use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the "Shift," "Command" (the key with the apple logo and the squiggly square symbol) and "A" keys at the same time. This is also notated as Shift + Command + A.

4. Click and drag the pointer to select the area you want to save.

5. Release the mouse button and you'll hear a click which indicates Grab has saved that part of your screen.

6. Select "File" > "Save" from the top menu or use the keyboard shortcut Command + S once the preview of your screenshot appears.

7. 

   Type in the name of your new screenshot and select the place you want to save it. The default file format is ".TIFF"

How to Take a Screenshot of a Specific Window

1. 

   Select "Capture" > "Window" or use the keyboard shortcut by pressing Shift + Command + W.

2. 

   Press the "Choose Window" button in the "Window Grab" prompt window, then click inside the window you want to capture. A click indicates Grab has taken a snapshot of the window.

3. Save your screenshot after the preview appears on your screen.

How to Take a Full Screen Snapshot

1. 

   Select "Capture" > "Screen" or use the keyboard shortcut Command + Z.

2. 

   Click outside the "Screen Grab" prompt window to take your screenshot. A click indicates Grab has your screenshot.

3. Save your file after the preview appears on your computer.

How to Take a Timed Screen Snapshot

1. 

   Select "Capture" > "Timed Screen" or use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Command + Z.

2. 

   Click "Start Timer" on the "Timed Screen Grab" prompt. The Timer will count down, beep once then click to indicate the screen has been captured.

3. Save your screenshot after the preview appears on your computer.