How to Use the MS Windows Vista Snipping Tool

The Microsoft Windows Snipping Tool is a part of the Vista Tablet PC Optional Components feature. Snipping Tool allows user to copy screen images and save them as screenshots or snips on a computer.

Want to know how to take screenshots using the Vista Snipping Tool? The "snipping tool" is included in all Windows Vista versions except Home Basic. Here's how:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• PC Windows O.S. Vista (excluding Home Basic)
• Mouse

1. There are two ways that I know to open the Snipping Tool:
   
   (1) Click Start on the menu bar. In the search box type "snip" (less the quotations). Click on the Snipping Tool and your tool is ready.
   (2) Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Snipping Tool.

2. 
   Click the top-left button with scissors

   On it are some custom set options that you can choose and adjust. Here are some on the shape options on the Snipping Tool:
   
   (1) Free form - - create your own shape
   (2) Rectangle - - a box perimeter that you can drag to shape
   (3) Window select - - similar to previous Windows versions of "printscreen" function, Alt + Prntscn.
   (4) Screen select - - similar to previous Windows versions of "printscreen" function, Ctrl + Prntscn.
   
   Click the "scissors and down-arrow" on the New button to choose a new shape to use for snipping.

3. 
   Snip options

   There are other options to choose. Click the Options button to access them.

4. As soon as the Snipping Tool is opened, it assumes that the user wants to create a new snip. Click the New button and your screen will dim, this means you can click and drag your cursor to your select area to capture.
   
   If you've never changed the options on Snipping Tool, the selected area will be darker with red border while you drag.

5. The captured area will open in the Snipping Tool window once you release the mouse key. If you do not like the screenshot and need to try again, just click the "New" button and repeat process.

6. Prior saving your capture, use the Pen and Highlighter tools in the toolbar to make changes to your snip. Also, the Eraser tool can wipe off marks made with the Highlighter and Pen tools.

7. If you like your snip, click the "Save" button, the screen shot will be saved as an image file.

8. Save your image as a GIF or PNG file, if your screenshot contains limited number of colors, you want the colors and lines to retain sharp but also with a small file size.
   
   If your capture contains many colors and you want to make the file size small, save as a JPEG (JPG) extension.

9. You may use the Send To button on the Snipping Tool toolbar to send an email of your snip without saving it.

10. Mark the option "Display icon in the Quick Launch toolbar" for instant access to the Snipping Tool. Or right-click the Snipping Tool start up icon then click Send To Desktop; the Snipping Tool Icon will appear on your desktop.

11. If you can't access or are unable to use the Snipping Tool after it loads on your Windows Vista, here's how to get it to work:
    
    Go to the menu bar and Start > Control Panel > Programs. Under the "Programs and Features" section, choose "Turn Windows features on or off."
    
    A new window will appear and include a list of all the features in Vista. Some items are checked and others not.
    
    Scroll down on the list, find the "Tablet PC Optional Components" item. Put a check mark in the box and click OK. This item must be marked to enable the Vista Snipping Tool.

[aviarian]

on 11/29/2009 Thanks SO much for the detailed directions. It will make my grad paper an A!

[Mindee94]

on 6/19/2009 Awesome, with these tips this tool will be a breeze to use. Thanks! ~Mindee~