If you are new to the Mac operating system, you may be wondering how to print a screen on a Mac. You may have already noticed the lack of a “Print Screen” button on the keyboard. This should not make you feel that the process is complex. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can print the screen on a Mac. You can capture specific windows or select an area to capture. What they call “Print Screen” in Windows is known as screenshots or screen capture in Mac. Depending on the screen capture action you need, there are several keyboard combinations to use.
You can pick one of the methods to capture screens and get used to it for everyday use. Let’s get started and see the 7 different ways to print screen on a Mac.
Method 1: Capture the entire screen
Step 1: press keys Command + Shift +3 simultaneously.
This will save a copy of your screen to the clipboard awaiting other actions. You can repeat the key combination without the “Command” key to save the screenshot as a PNG file on your desktop.
Method 2: Capture a selected area
Step 1: begin by pressing the key combination of Command + Shift + 4 simultaneously.
Step 2: the mouse pointer will turn into a crosshair. Use it to select the region you are interested in capturing.
Step 3: the spacebar will let you take a full-screen capture.
The selection will be copied to the clipboard. If you press the key combinations without the “Command” key, your selection will be saved to the desktop as a PNG file.
Method 3: Using the Touch Bar
With a MacBook Pro featuring a Touch Bar, you can use the Touch Bar to pick from “Selected Portion,” “Window,” or “Entire Screen” after you have simultaneously pressed the Command, Shift and 4 keys simultaneously. You can also take screenshots of the Touch Bar display using Shift + Command + 6 or touch the Screenshot Icon.
Method 4: Take screenshots with grab
If you have no time to memorize keyboard shortcuts, you can use Grab. This program is pre-installed on all Macs and will assist you in creating screenshots from the menu bar. Grab can let you take time-delayed screenshots in case you want to set the stage before you start.
Step 1: launch Grab from the utilities housed within the applications folder. Once launched, its icon will display in your dock. You can also pin this icon for quicker access later.
Step 2: you can either use the Capture menu system or the keyboard shortcuts detailed alongside the respective command.
Method 5: Timed screenshots with Grab
Grab gives you the option to capture screenshots on a Mac of the entire screen, an individual window, or a selection of the window. You can do this with a time delay of ten seconds. This gives you some time to properly position your mouse or open the right window before the shot is taken.
Begin by opening Grab, then select “Timed Screenshot” or press the shortcut Command + Shift + Z. Note that the mouse cursor will not show on the capture, but you can change that in the preferences.
Method 6: Using the preview
Preview is well known for its functions like opening photos, PDF, and other files on Mac. Printscreen on Mac is its other hidden feature you should know about. Open preview then highlights the file in the menu bar; the drop-down menu will give you the option to take the screenshot from where you can select “From window” or “From entire screen.”
Even though the keyboard shortcuts methods are faster, the Preview method allows you to choose where the screenshot ends. You can make edits of the screenshot using Preview before saving it with the desired file name and preferred location.
Method 7: Capture selection and save to clipboard
This method is more advanced but is very useful. It helps you PrintScreen on mac with options like a selected area, opened applications, menu bar, parts of a desktop, and anything else.
Option one: capture the selected area and save it to the clipboard. Press Command + Control + Shift + 4 then drag with the mouse to select and save to clipboard. This will change the mouse cursor to +with pixel coordinates. Once you click and drag selection as desired, it will save the area to the clipboard for use in other apps.
Option two: capture selection and save on desktop.
Use the Command + Shift + 4 keys simultaneously, then drag with the mouse to select the desired area. When you release the mouse button, the selected area will save on the desktop as a PNG file if not specified otherwise.
Conclusion
When you PrintScreen on a Mac, it will be sent to the clipboard or time-stamped, then save on the desktop as a PNG file depending on the method used. You do not need to memorize all these keyboard shortcuts.
Just one or two that are easiest for you, then practice on them, and you will find it very easy to print screen on a Mac.
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