09-09-2024, 10:44 PM
Guide to Using the Snipping Tool in Windows Vista
**The Snipping Tool** is a screenshot utility included with Windows Vista that allows you to capture and annotate screenshots easily. It can capture the entire screen, a selected window, or a custom area. This guide will show you how to use the Snipping Tool to capture and save screenshots.
Step 1: Open the Snipping Tool
To start using the Snipping Tool, you need to open it from the Start menu.
Steps to Open the Snipping Tool:
1. Click the `Start` button.
2. In the search box, type `Snipping Tool`.
3. Press `Enter` or click on `Snipping Tool` from the search results.
Once opened, the Snipping Tool window will appear, and your screen will become slightly dimmed, indicating that the tool is ready to capture a screenshot.
Step 2: Choose the Snip Type
The Snipping Tool offers several different options for capturing screenshots (called “snips”).
Available Snip Types:
- **Free-form Snip:** Allows you to draw a custom shape around the area you want to capture.
- **Rectangular Snip:** Captures a rectangular portion of your screen.
- **Window Snip:** Captures a specific window on your screen.
- **Full-screen Snip:** Captures your entire screen.
Steps to Choose a Snip Type:
1. In the Snipping Tool window, click the `New` button.
2. Select the desired snip type from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Capture a Screenshot
Once you’ve selected a snip type, you can capture the screenshot.
Steps to Capture a Screenshot:
1. If you selected the **Free-form** or **Rectangular Snip**, use your mouse to draw around the area you want to capture.
2. If you selected **Window Snip**, click on the window you want to capture.
3. If you selected **Full-screen Snip**, the entire screen will be captured automatically.
After capturing the screenshot, the snip will appear in the Snipping Tool window.
Step 4: Annotate Your Screenshot (Optional)
The Snipping Tool allows you to annotate your screenshot before saving it. You can use the Pen or Highlighter tool to draw on the snip.
Steps to Annotate the Screenshot:
1. In the Snipping Tool window, use the `Pen` or `Highlighter` tools to mark or draw on the screenshot.
- Click the `Pen` button to draw freehand lines on the snip.
- Click the `Highlighter` button to highlight parts of the snip.
If you make a mistake, you can click the `Eraser` tool to remove your annotations.
Step 5: Save the Screenshot
After capturing and annotating your screenshot, you can save it to your computer.
Steps to Save the Screenshot:
1. Click the `File` menu in the Snipping Tool window.
2. Select `Save As` from the drop-down menu.
3. Choose a location where you want to save the file.
4. Enter a file name and choose a file format (PNG, JPEG, GIF, or HTML).
5. Click `Save`.
Step 6: Copy the Screenshot to Clipboard
If you want to paste the screenshot into another application (such as an email or document), you can copy it to the clipboard.
Steps to Copy the Screenshot to Clipboard:
1. After capturing the snip, click the `Copy` button (icon of two overlapping pages) in the Snipping Tool window.
2. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard.
3. Open the application where you want to paste the screenshot, and press `Ctrl + V` to paste it.
Step 7: Email the Screenshot (Optional)
The Snipping Tool also allows you to email the captured screenshot directly.
Steps to Email the Screenshot:
1. After capturing a snip, click the `File` menu.
2. Select `Send Snip` > `E-mail Recipient` from the drop-down menu.
3. Your default email client will open with the screenshot attached to a new email message.
4. Enter the recipient's email address, add a message (if needed), and click `Send`.
Step 8: Cancel a Screenshot
If you’ve started capturing a screenshot but decide you don’t want to complete it, you can easily cancel the snip.
Steps to Cancel a Screenshot:
1. Press the `Esc` key on your keyboard to cancel the snip selection.
2. This will return you to the Snipping Tool window without saving a snip.
Conclusion
The Snipping Tool in Windows Vista is a simple yet powerful tool for capturing screenshots. It offers a variety of snip types and annotation features that allow you to capture, edit, and share screenshots easily. Whether you need a full-screen capture or just a small portion of the screen, the Snipping Tool is an excellent built-in utility to use.
**The Snipping Tool** is a screenshot utility included with Windows Vista that allows you to capture and annotate screenshots easily. It can capture the entire screen, a selected window, or a custom area. This guide will show you how to use the Snipping Tool to capture and save screenshots.
Step 1: Open the Snipping Tool
To start using the Snipping Tool, you need to open it from the Start menu.
Steps to Open the Snipping Tool:
1. Click the `Start` button.
2. In the search box, type `Snipping Tool`.
3. Press `Enter` or click on `Snipping Tool` from the search results.
Once opened, the Snipping Tool window will appear, and your screen will become slightly dimmed, indicating that the tool is ready to capture a screenshot.
Step 2: Choose the Snip Type
The Snipping Tool offers several different options for capturing screenshots (called “snips”).
Available Snip Types:
- **Free-form Snip:** Allows you to draw a custom shape around the area you want to capture.
- **Rectangular Snip:** Captures a rectangular portion of your screen.
- **Window Snip:** Captures a specific window on your screen.
- **Full-screen Snip:** Captures your entire screen.
Steps to Choose a Snip Type:
1. In the Snipping Tool window, click the `New` button.
2. Select the desired snip type from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Capture a Screenshot
Once you’ve selected a snip type, you can capture the screenshot.
Steps to Capture a Screenshot:
1. If you selected the **Free-form** or **Rectangular Snip**, use your mouse to draw around the area you want to capture.
2. If you selected **Window Snip**, click on the window you want to capture.
3. If you selected **Full-screen Snip**, the entire screen will be captured automatically.
After capturing the screenshot, the snip will appear in the Snipping Tool window.
Step 4: Annotate Your Screenshot (Optional)
The Snipping Tool allows you to annotate your screenshot before saving it. You can use the Pen or Highlighter tool to draw on the snip.
Steps to Annotate the Screenshot:
1. In the Snipping Tool window, use the `Pen` or `Highlighter` tools to mark or draw on the screenshot.
- Click the `Pen` button to draw freehand lines on the snip.
- Click the `Highlighter` button to highlight parts of the snip.
If you make a mistake, you can click the `Eraser` tool to remove your annotations.
Step 5: Save the Screenshot
After capturing and annotating your screenshot, you can save it to your computer.
Steps to Save the Screenshot:
1. Click the `File` menu in the Snipping Tool window.
2. Select `Save As` from the drop-down menu.
3. Choose a location where you want to save the file.
4. Enter a file name and choose a file format (PNG, JPEG, GIF, or HTML).
5. Click `Save`.
Step 6: Copy the Screenshot to Clipboard
If you want to paste the screenshot into another application (such as an email or document), you can copy it to the clipboard.
Steps to Copy the Screenshot to Clipboard:
1. After capturing the snip, click the `Copy` button (icon of two overlapping pages) in the Snipping Tool window.
2. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard.
3. Open the application where you want to paste the screenshot, and press `Ctrl + V` to paste it.
Step 7: Email the Screenshot (Optional)
The Snipping Tool also allows you to email the captured screenshot directly.
Steps to Email the Screenshot:
1. After capturing a snip, click the `File` menu.
2. Select `Send Snip` > `E-mail Recipient` from the drop-down menu.
3. Your default email client will open with the screenshot attached to a new email message.
4. Enter the recipient's email address, add a message (if needed), and click `Send`.
Step 8: Cancel a Screenshot
If you’ve started capturing a screenshot but decide you don’t want to complete it, you can easily cancel the snip.
Steps to Cancel a Screenshot:
1. Press the `Esc` key on your keyboard to cancel the snip selection.
2. This will return you to the Snipping Tool window without saving a snip.
Conclusion
The Snipping Tool in Windows Vista is a simple yet powerful tool for capturing screenshots. It offers a variety of snip types and annotation features that allow you to capture, edit, and share screenshots easily. Whether you need a full-screen capture or just a small portion of the screen, the Snipping Tool is an excellent built-in utility to use.