How to Use Windows Snipping Tool for Screenshots

The Windows Snipping Tool is a built-in program that allows you to capture screenshots or snips of any part of your screen. Whether you want to capture the entire screen or just a specific area, the Snipping Tool makes it easy to take screenshots on your Windows computer. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps to effectively use the Snipping Tool for capturing screenshots.

Step 1: Launching the Snipping Tool

To open the Snipping Tool, follow these steps:

1. Click on the "Start" button, typically located at the lower-left corner of your screen.
2. In the search box, type "Snipping Tool" and click on the corresponding result in the search results.

Step 2: Selecting the Type of Snip

Once the Snipping Tool is opened, you will see a small window with several options:

• New: Click on this option to start a new snip.
• Mode: This option allows you to choose from four different snipping modes:
  • Free-form Snip: This mode allows you to draw a free-form shape around the area you want to capture.
  • Rectangular Snip: Use this mode to capture a rectangular portion of the screen by dragging the cursor.
  • Window Snip: Select this mode to capture a specific window or dialog box.
  • Full-screen Snip: This mode captures the entire screen, including all monitors connected to your computer.

Step 3: Taking the Snip

After selecting the type of snip, follow the relevant instructions below:

Free-form Snip

1. Click on the "New" button.
2. Position the cursor at the starting point of your desired snip and click and hold the mouse button.
3. Drag the cursor to form a free-form shape around the area you want to capture.
4. Release the mouse button to capture the snip.

Rectangular Snip

1. Click on the "New" button.
2. Position the cursor at one corner of the rectangular area you want to capture.
3. Click and hold the mouse button, then drag the cursor to the opposite corner of the rectangle.
4. Release the mouse button to capture the snip.

Window Snip

1. Click on the "New" button.
2. The Snipping Tool window will minimize, and your screen will be temporarily dimmed.
3. Click on the window or dialog box you want to capture.
4. The Snipping Tool window will reappear with the captured snip.

Full-screen Snip

1. Simply click on the "New" button, and the Snipping Tool will capture the entire screen, including all monitors connected to your computer.

Step 4: Editing and Saving the Snip

Once you've captured the snip, the Snipping Tool will open the captured image in a new window. Here, you can make edits or annotations using the available tools, such as highlighting, cropping, or adding text. To save the snip, click on the "File" menu, then select "Save As" and choose a location on your computer to save the image.

Step 5: Additional Snipping Tool Features

The Snipping Tool also offers a few additional features to enhance your screenshot experience. Some of these features include:

• Delay: Click on the "Delay" button in the Snipping Tool window to set a delay of up to 5 seconds before capturing the snip.
• Pen and Highlighter: Use the pen and highlighter tools to draw or highlight specific areas of the captured snip.
• Eraser: If needed, use the eraser tool to remove any annotations or markings from the captured snip.
• Send Snip: Click on the "Send Snip" button to share the snip through email or other applications.

That's it! You now know how to effectively use the Windows Snipping Tool to capture screenshots or snips on your Windows computer. Experiment with the different snipping modes and explore the various tools available in the Snipping Tool to enhance your screenshot-taking experience.