How to Take a Screenshot in Mac OS X

If you need a picture of your desktop, a browser window or a section of either, you'll need to take a screenshot. You can use the images to illustrate a web page, give instructions to a friend by email or for any other purpose that you can imagine.

Instructions

1. Open the "Grab" utility, found in the "Utilities" folder within the "Applications" folder. Double-click on the "Grab" icon.

2. Arrange your screen as you want it to appear in the screenshot. Make sure that nothing appears on your screen that you don't want to appear in the picture--for instance, private files, passwords or any other confidential information.

3. Pull down the "Capture" menu. If you want to take a screenshot of everything on your monitor, select "Screen." If you want to capture only what's in one window, select "Window." If you want to take a screenshot of one particular section of your monitor, choose "Selection."

4. Follow the instructions in the box that appears. Click outside the box if you chose "Screen." Choose a window to capture and then click on it if you chose "Window." Select a portion of the screen by clicking and dragging if you chose "Selection."

5. Save your file by selecting "Save" in the "File" menu. Type a name for the file in the "Save As" field. Select the location you want to save to with the "Where" pull-down menu. Click on the "Save" button.