A screenshot is an image, something like a photograph, that a computer takes of all the visual elements displayed on a monitor at any given time. A screenshot can be used for practical or entertainment purposes, such as capturing the action of a video game. It is common for a screenshot function to be integrated into an operating system for ease of use.
Screenshots can be taken by pressing the Print Screen key in Microsoft Windows.
Screenshots are often used in tutorials, which are simple demonstrations of how to run a program. Also, when helping someone remotely with a computer-related task or problem, screenshots can be effective reference tools to show you the necessary steps. The only situations where you cannot take a screenshot are during computer startup and while playing a video in certain programs that play media.
They can also be used to help troubleshoot a computer problem. For example, a problem, especially in Microsoft® Windows®, may cause an error message to be displayed. An error message can contain an alphanumeric code that refers to the problem. When the error message appears on the screen, a screenshot can be taken, which can be saved to a file and sent to a support center. This makes reporting a bug much simpler.
The most common operating system in use around the world is Microsoft® Windows®. Taking a screenshot with this family of operating systems is very simple. Once you have the image on your monitor that you want to capture, press the Print Screen key to take a screenshot. An image of a single window can be obtained by pressing Alt + Print Screen. This action will copy a screenshot to the clipboard, allowing it to be pasted as an image into an image editing program.
To view and save the screenshot, open the Paint program from “Accessories” on the “Programs” tab in the Start menu. Once open, go to the Edit menu and click Paste. This will place the screenshot into the program and it can then be saved as a GIF-type file, which can be read on any Windows® computer.
Many programs are available with the ability to take screenshots with superior functionality. These programs can perform editing functions, such as removing the pointer arrow and cropping the photo in useful ways, as well as capturing text or images that are not visible on the monitor. When creating screenshots, it is important to avoid reproducing and distributing any material that may be copyrighted.
