How to use Windows Snipping Tool

Windows Snipping Tool is a built-in screenshot capturing tool that comes with Windows operating system. It enables you to take screenshots of any part of the screen, including a full screen or a particular window. This tool is widely used by Windows users for various purposes, such as taking screenshots for work presentations, capturing important information, and creating tutorials.

Features

The Snipping Tool offers several features that make it a popular tool for taking screenshots. Firstly, it allows you to capture the entire screen or a specific area. This is particularly useful when you need to focus on a specific section of a web page or document. Secondly, you can save your screenshots in various formats, including PNG, JPEG, and GIF. Thirdly, the tool comes with an annotation feature that allows you to add text, highlight areas, and draw shapes on the captured screenshot. This feature is particularly helpful when creating tutorials or sharing information with others.

1. Four Types of Screenshots: The Snipping Tool offers four types of screenshots. You can capture the entire screen, a window, a rectangular area, or a free-form area. This feature is useful when you want to capture a specific part of the screen.
2. Delayed Screenshots: Sometimes, you need to capture a screenshot of something that's not immediately visible on your screen. The Snipping Tool has a delayed screenshot feature that allows you to take a screenshot after a specified time delay. This is useful when you need to capture a dropdown menu or a tooltip.
3. Pen and Highlighter Tools: The Snipping Tool also has pen and highlighter tools that allow you to draw on your screenshots. You can choose from different colors and thicknesses for the pen and highlighter. This feature is useful when you need to highlight or emphasize certain parts of the screenshot.
4. Eraser Tool: The Snipping Tool also has an eraser tool that allows you to erase any mistakes you made while drawing on your screenshot. This feature is useful when you need to correct a mistake or make changes to the drawing.
5. Save and Share Screenshots: Once you have captured a screenshot, you can save it as an image file or copy it to the clipboard. You can also share the screenshot directly from the Snipping Tool by clicking on the "Send Snip" button. This feature is useful when you need to share the screenshot with someone else.
6. Options and Preferences: The Snipping Tool also has options and preferences that allow you to customize the tool to your liking. You can choose the default file type, specify the output folder for your screenshots, and choose the sound that plays when you take a screenshot.

Usage

Using the Snipping Tool is quite simple. To launch the tool, go to the Start menu and type "Snipping Tool" in the search bar. Once the tool opens, you can select the type of snip you want to take from the drop-down menu. You can then click and drag your mouse to capture the area you want to snip. After capturing the snip, you can use the annotation feature to add text or shapes to the screenshot. Finally, you can save the screenshot to your computer or copy it to the clipboard.

Alternatives

While the Snipping Tool is a handy tool, there are some alternatives that offer more advanced features. For example, the Windows 10 Snip & Sketch tool is an upgraded version of the Snipping Tool that offers more snipping options, such as full screen, window snip, and freeform snip. It also allows you to crop, edit, and share your screenshots directly from the tool.

How to Access the Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool can be accessed in several ways, including:

1. Using the Start Menu: Click on the Start button, and type "snipping" in the search bar. The Snipping Tool will appear in the search results. Click on it to launch the tool.
2. Using the Run Command: Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run command. Type "snippingtool" and press Enter to launch the tool.
3. Using the Taskbar: Right-click on the Taskbar and select "New Snipping Tool" from the menu. The Snipping Tool will launch.

How to Use the Snipping Tool

1. The Snipping Tool is straightforward to use. Here are the steps to capture a snip:
2. Launch the Snipping Tool using one of the methods above.
3. Click on the "New" button to start the snipping process.
4. Click and drag the cursor to select the portion of the screen you want to capture.
5. Release the mouse button to capture the selected area.
6. The captured image will appear in the Snipping Tool window.
7. Use the editing tools in the Snipping Tool to annotate or highlight the captured image.
8. Save the snip by clicking on "File" and selecting "Save As."

The Snipping Tool provides four different capture modes

1. Free-form Snip: This mode allows you to draw a free-form shape around the area you want to capture.
2. Rectangular Snip: This mode allows you to capture a rectangular area of the screen.
3. Window Snip: This mode allows you to capture a specific window on your screen.
4. Full-screen Snip: This mode allows you to capture the entire screen.

Annotating Your Screenshots

You can use the Snipping Tool to annotate your screenshots With the Snipping Tool, you can draw, highlight, and add text to your screenshots, making it easy to communicate your ideas and thoughts.

Here are the steps to annotate your screenshots using the Windows Snipping Tool:

1. Open the Snipping Tool: To open the Snipping Tool, click on the Start button, type "Snipping Tool" in the search box, and select the Snipping Tool from the search results.
2. Take a screenshot: Once you have the Snipping Tool open, click on "New" to start a new screenshot. Use the Snipping Tool to select the area of the screen you want to capture.
3. Annotate your screenshot: After you have taken your screenshot, you can annotate it by using the drawing tools. Click on the "Pen" tool to draw lines, or use the "Highlighter" tool to highlight important information. You can also use the "Eraser" tool to remove any mistakes you make.
4. Add text: To add text to your screenshot, click on the "Text" tool and click on the area where you want to add text. Type your text and use the formatting options to change the font, size, and color.
5. Save your annotated screenshot: Once you have finished annotating your screenshot, you can save it by clicking on "File" and selecting "Save As". Choose a location to save your screenshot, and give it a descriptive name.

That's it! By following these simple steps, you can use the Windows Snipping Tool to take screenshots and annotate them with drawings, highlights, and text. This is a great way to communicate your ideas and share information with others.

One of the biggest benefits of the Windows Snipping Tool is its ease of use. It is a simple and straightforward application that is easy to navigate, even for those who are not tech-savvy. Additionally, the Snipping Tool is included with Windows, so there is no need to download or install any third-party software.

Another benefit of the Snipping Tool is its versatility. With four different snipping modes and annotation tools, you can capture and edit your screen captures in a variety of ways. Whether you need to take a screenshot of a specific window, highlight important information, or capture an entire webpage, the Snipping Tool can handle it.