Taking a Screenshot in Windows 7

For a person who is new to computing, coming to terms with all the basic functions takes time. Modern computer operating systems are designed with the most user friendly graphical user interfaces, which make it easy for any newbie to use a desktop or a laptop computer. One such operating system which is probably the default choice of computer users all around the world, is Windows 7. It is perhaps the best of all Microsoft operating systems ever launched. One of the most basic of functions that you must know about is taking a screenshot in Windows 7. In this article, I provide a brief explanation of how to take a screenshot in Windows 7.
Some people may not know what is a screenshot or what use can it be. A screenshot is an exact graphic image of the computer monitor or screen at any point of time. It is like a snapshot of your desktop, which can be saved as a graphic image file. There are several reasons why knowing how to take a screenshot on a laptop may be helpful.
I have personally used the screenshot or ‘printscreen’ function, whenever my OS reports and error in functioning. The image of the error window on the desktop is then a useful reference when reporting the error to developers or discussing it on forums. Taking a screenshot in Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 can also be helpful in cases, where you are creating a presentation or explaining the functioning of a software in a document. Also check out how to take a screenshot on a Mac.

• Method of Taking a Screenshot in Windows 7

If you are looking for tips on taking a screenshot in Windows Vista, know that they are the same as Windows 7, which I discuss in the following lines. There are two ways in which you can take a screenshot in Windows 7. One uses a special software, while the other one uses a keyboard short cut. Let us have a look at both the techniques.
How to Take a Screenshot in Windows 7 Using Snipping Tool?
The Windows 7 operating system comes with a specialized software program called the ‘Snipping Tool’, which has been specifically developed for the purpose of taking a screenshot. To take a screenshot in Windows 7, using the snipping tool, click on ‘Start’ icon at the bottom left extreme of your screen. In the search box, type ‘Snipping Tool’. You will immediately see the launch icon of the program in the search results displayed above. Click on the icon to open the program.
A small window will open on the screen. It will provide you with four options for taking a screenshot, under ‘New’ tab. You could either select a ‘free form snip’, which lets you take a screenshot of any part of the screen. The other options that you can choose from, let you select the whole screen, a rectangular part of the screen or just a window, to take a screenshot.
Once you choose the screen area, which you want to capture, the image will be opened in the Snipping Tool program for editing. It lets you draw in the image and has an eraser to rub off anything you write on the image. Once you are done with editing, just save the image as a JPEG file. Check out this article on how to take a screenshot in Windows XP.
How to Take a Screenshot in Windows 7 Using Keyboard Shortcuts?
To take a screenshot directly without using Snipping tool, just hit the ‘Printscreen’ button and then paste the screen capture in Paintbrush (using ‘Ctrl+V’ command) to edit it. If you need to take a screenshot of any of the active windows displayed on the screen hit the key combination – ‘Alt + PrtScn’ and then paste the image in Paintbrush to edit and save. That ends this short tutorial on how to take a screenshot on Windows 7.
After reading the above procedure, you must have realized that taking a screenshot in Windows 7 is the simplest of functions to learn. With the specialized snipping tool, it is even more easier to take a printscreen shot, than before. I personally prefer using the keyboard shortcut, which to me is much easier to use.  (Source)

Posted in: Taking a Screenshot in Windows 7,Windows 7