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2.2.4: Creating Screenshots and Useful Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Page ID
    61249
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    Print Screen

    Most keyboards have a key labeled Print Screen, PRT SC, or PRT. Alternatively for a PC, you can select the Windows Key + Shift + S. The shortcut for a Mac is Command + Shift + 3.

    Keyboard with Print Screen circled
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): PC Keyboard, By Gresei (Copyright; Adobe Stock, Education License)

    Clipping Tool

    One of the first steps to securing assistance with computer-related issues requires sharing the error or screen output with a teacher or technical support staff. Often, these support resources are not available to view the screen in-person. Therefore, capturing the screen output is a vital skill to help resolve computer issues. Screenshots, also known as screen captures, screen grabs, or print screens, are the technical terminology assigned to this piece of data. A screenshot is a digital image of what appears on a computer or television screen. Producing a screenshot can be a confusing task, which should be broken down into two parts. The first part is the capturing of the screen image, while the second part is the process of pasting the capture into a storable file. There are numerous methods of capturing a screenshot, and they vary from one computer device to another due to operating system versions and keyboard differences.

    Snipping Tool
    Snipping Tool

    The most consistent method for Windows users to create screenshots is by utilizing the Windows Snipping Tool. As of late 2018, the new tool is called Snip & Sketch. Most images in this documentation have been generated with the help of these tools. To open the Snip & Sketch tool, select the Start button, type “snip” in the search box on the taskbar, and then select the

    Snip & Sketch
    Snip & Sketch

    Snip & Sketch app from the list of results. In addition to capturing a full-screen snip, the Snip & Sketch Tool provides the convenience of capturing a more specific “snip” of data by using the mouse to draw a rectangular or free-form block of specific data to be captured. This allows for more focused data to be collected versus an entire screen of potentially competing images. Once the drawing is selected, the screenshot should automatically open in a new window. You can modify the screenshot by cropping, highlighting annotating or drawing on the image. This image can then be pasted into a new program (similar to how the above image was added to this document) or saved as a separate file to be stored on a permanent or cloud storage device. The Snip & Sketch tool also be set to a timer to take a screenshot in three or ten seconds. To take a screenshot with Snip & Sketch, just press PrtScn. Screenshots will be quite useful for providing feedback or asking questions to/from students/teachers, particularly in distance education environments.

    Useful Keyboard Shortcuts

    • Windows key + E – open a new instance of File Explorer from anywhere in Windows.
    • Alt + P – show or hide the Preview pane.
    • Alt + Shift + P – show or hide the Details pane.
    • Alt + left arrow key – go back one folder in your history.
    • Alt + up arrow key – go up one folder in the folder tree.
    • Ctrl + N – open a new File Explorer window.
    • Ctrl + E – activate the Search bar.
    • Ctrl + Shift + N – create a new folder in the current folder.
    • Ctrl + mouse wheel up or down – increase or decrease the size of icons and thumbnails.

    This page titled 2.2.4: Creating Screenshots and Useful Keyboard Shortcuts is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LueCrecy Ragan - Arkansas State University - Beebe (Minnesota Libraries Publishing Project) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.