There are plenty of instances when you want to take a screenshot. And if you have made a recent switch to a Macbook, you may be surprised by how different it is to snap the screen when you compare it to a personal computer.
It may sound like a joke, but there are some people who struggle at first and even use their smartphones to take a picture of their screenshot.
One has to keep in mind that the introduction of new macOS versions have also introduced new features and made taking screenshots different. If you have not been keeping up with the news but want to read more about different methods of taking a screenshot on your Mac, this article should be more than enough.
Taking Screenshot of the Whole Screen:
In most cases, you will likely want to take a screenshot of the whole screen. It is the simplest and faster method when you can save or send the photo to someone that needs it.
The command for capturing the entire screen would be Command + Shift + 3. It has been around for what feels like forever, and it seems that most users got used to it too much, meaning that Apple had no real reason to make any changes.
Screenshotting Different Parts of the Screen:
It could be that you do not want to capture the entire screen and only want to send only a selected part of it. The process is not that complicated. Use the keyboard combination of Command + Shift + 4.
Your cursor will become a crosshair. You will be free to drag it and select the portion of the screen you want to capture. Once you are finished selecting, stop holding the mouse button. The screenshot will be saved in the default location, though you can always change that.
Available options do not end here, though. You can use the same command and click on the space bar simultaneously. There will be a small camera icon that you can use to move over the screen. Taking a picture with this one will add a white border and some shadow. While not necessary, these effects could add a bit of extra flair.
You can also hold down the Shift key after pressing the Command + Shift + 4 to lock each side of the area you select. It will allow you to move the mouse up and down and get a better screenshot.
New macOS Mojave Features:
The Mojave version introduced a feature in 2018, so calling it relatively new would not be that far fetched.
Shift + Command + 5 opens up a new panel and gives you multiple capture options. You will see three buttons that allow you to take a screenshot of the entire screen, a separate window, or a selection of your screen.
You will also notice that there are buttons to record video. If you want to capture a video instead of just taking a picture, the option is now also viable for users that have Mojave and newer versions of the OS.
The Options are available on the right. You can change the default location for the screenshots after you capture the screen, and even set a delay of five or ten seconds before the system captures the screen.
Touch Bar:
If you happen to be an owner of a 16-inch Mac or any other model that has a Touch Bar, there is a separate option to take the screenshot of only just the Touch Bar. Use Command + Shift + 6 and take a look at what has been captured. You will get the idea. And while this is not something that might be necessary often, knowing that such a feature exists is still worth it. After all, you never know when you need to send someone your Touch Bar.
Show Floating Thumbnail:
The option of Show Floating Thumbnail is something you may want to consider using more often. Users who have embraced it will tell you that there are more options available to them, and using a Macbook has become much easier, at least in the aspect of taking screenshots.
Having access to tools that allow you to edit the screenshot as soon as you take it will save time, and you can make some changes before you save it.
Problems Taking Screenshots:
There might be some instances when you are not able to take a screenshot. Macbooks are no different from other devices. You are bound to run into problems sooner or later. It is just that the ones involving screenshots are rather rare.
You have a few options when things are not working. First of all, there might be something wrong with the keyboard. Perhaps restarting the Mac will do the job.
The issue could also lie in the keyboard settings. Look at them, and if you find something wrong, restore the default.
Reinstalling the OS might seem like a last resort, but if you cannot find the solution after trying everything else, do not hesitate and go for it.
