Casual computer users don’t bother much about all the features that their machines have. They aren’t taking screenshots regularly, so they assume that they won’t need the function. In reality, screenshots are very useful when you want to share what you see on a screen with others.
Screenshots help you to collaborate with others. If you’re explaining how an online tool works, you can achieve a much better effect by sharing screenshots and editing them to highlight the important points. You can also take screenshots of great recipes you find and create a unique cookbook on your computer. You can also use screenshots to enrich your PowerPoint presentations, create analytics reports, compose descriptive blog posts, and more.
For those who transition from Windows to macOS, taking screenshots on Mac may be puzzling. There’s no Print Screen button on the keyboard. Don’t worry! We’ll tell you how to screenshot on Mac and edit those files to your preferences. It’s easy!
(Tutorial) How to Take & Edit a Screenshot on Mac
Capture the Entire Screen on Mac
On Windows, this is easy. You just press PrtScn, and the entire screen will be copied to the clipboard. Then, you can paste the screenshot in Microsoft Word or Paint.
When you learn how to take a screenshot on Mac, you’ll realize that Windows doesn’t make it that easy, after all. The keyboard on a Mac doesn’t have a PrtScn button. But you can use simple keyboard commands to print screen on Mac automatically.
Shift + Command + 3
This command works on pre-Mojave macOS. But you can also use it on Mojave and Catalina. Just press those three buttons together, and you’ll automatically capture a screenshot on Mac. It will be saved on your desktop.
When compared to the command in Windows, the advantage here is that you immediately see the screenshots on Mac, saved as images. You don’t need to open another program to paste the image. You won’t need to wonder: where do screenshots go on Mac? By default, they are on your desktop. If you want them elsewhere, you can adjust the saving spot when you use the next key combination:
Shift + Command + 5
This command works only on Mojave and Catalina. It brings up a versatile menu for a print screen on Mac. With it, you can capture the entire screen, a selected window, and a portion of the window. You can also use it to record the whole screen or a part of it. If you click on the first icon on the left (next to the x sign), you’ll capture the entire screen.
Where do screenshots go on Mac? You’re the one to answer that question. Under Options, you can adjust the saving spot. The desktop is the default option, but you can also save the shots in Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Preview, and another location.
Capture a part of the Screen
If you’re using a pre-Mojave computer, this is the combination of keys to press and hold:
Shift + Command + 4
You’ll see the cursor’s shape change. You can click and drag it, so you’ll take a partial screenshot on Mac, choosing the area you want to capture.
Shift + Command + 5
If you work on Mojave or Catalina, this is the only command you’ll need to memorize when you want to capture screenshots on Mac. In the point above, we told you how you could use it to capture the entire screen.
If you choose the second icon in the options after pressing the keys, you’ll be able to capture a selected window. Let’s say you want to print screen on Mac of the Chrome window you see, without any other elements of the screen. This is the icon you click on. Then, you’ll choose the screen you want to get like a screenshot on Mac.
If you choose the third icon, you’ll be able to select a portion. Maybe you don’t want the entire window. You’ll drag the cursor over the needed portion, and you’ll get your print screen on Mac.
Record the Screen
This is where Macs have a real advantage over Windows computers. They allow you to record the screen, too. For online tutors, teachers, and team managers, this makes a huge difference. They can create recordings and share them, making communication much more effective.
You can do this by pressing the same keys together:
Shift + Command + 5
Your Mac gives you options to record the entire screen or a portion that you need. If you’re trying to send tutorials or explain how something works, the screen recording is even more effective than a screenshot.
Learn How to Edit a Screenshot on Mac
First, you should figure this out: where do screenshots go on Mac? Our suggestion is to allow your computer to save them on the desktop by default. It’s the easiest way to find what you’re looking for. As soon as you take it, you can edit the screenshot, Mac. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the screenshot with Preview.
- Open the Markup Toolbar
You’ll be able to select a section, use the Instant Alpha filter, and sketch or draw over your screenshot. You can also add shapes, text, and signature. Preview also allows you to adjust the color and size of your file.
This is a basic but highly useful tool for adjusting screenshot. For example, if you’re posting on a public forum, you edit screenshot Mac by hiding your personal information. If you’re sending it to your boss, you can select the needed portion, so you won’t expose all the icons on your desktop, other messages in your inbox, or any other information that you don’t want them to see.
By adding text and shapes, you can emphasize the important points that you’ll explain later on.
If Preview’s features are not enough for your needs, you can opt for a third-party editing app. For example, Capto allows you to capture screen recordings but edit them with a voiceover as well. That’s not something you can do with Mac’s default functions.
It’s Easy!
Now that you know how to take and how to edit a screenshot on Mac, you can start practicing!
Taking screenshots is easy; you just need the basic command: Shift + Command + 5. Then, choose the option you’d like, and your file will be saved on the desktop. You’ll need to experiment a bit in Preview or a third-party app to figure out the editing part, but it won’t be that hard.
Macs are user-friendly and well-organized. Once you know what commands to use, there are no complications. You can start capturing the screen whenever you need it.
