There are numerous times we need to do a simple screen capture. This could be to send a screen shot to a colleague or support staff etc. What one would normally do is use the Print Screen (PrtSc) key on the keyboard. But then you will have to open an image editor to get the screen capture. Sometimes you might need to crop the image as well.

Windows Vista has come up with a nice screen capture tool called the ‘Snipping Tool‘. This comes bundled with Windows Vista so you don’t need to download this separately. This screen capture tool can be located under Start->All Programs->Accessories->Snipping Tool or alternatively typing ‘snipping tool‘ in Start->Start Search.

Once you open the Snipping Tool, the screen becomes lighter and the mouse pointer turns to a cross. When this happens, you can simply select the area which you need to capture on the screen. Once selected, it automatically deselect the screen and put the captured area in the Snipping Tool. Now you can simply save it by clicking on the save button. It’s that simple!

Additionally you can use the pen tool and highlighter tool in Snipping Tool to write and highlight areas of the screen you captured. There is an eraser tool too, which you can use to erase the changes you made. It however does not erase the original content of screen capture.

I have become an avid fan of this tool since my first use. Have you tried it? Don’t forget to share your thoughts with us.

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Tags: Vista, Windows