Taking screenshots can be a very useful tool when working with your computer. Whether you want to capture a funny meme, show your friends how to do something on their computer, or provide evidence of an online interaction, screenshots can come in handy. However, not everyone knows how to take a screenshot on Windows 7, especially without Snipping Tool. In this article, we’ll show you three different ways to take a screenshot on a Windows 7 computer, and how to use them to your advantage.
1. The Different Methods to Take a Screenshot on Windows 7 without Snipping Tool
Taking a screenshot on Windows 7 without relying on Snipping tool can save you a lot of time and effort. Fortunately, Microsoft’s operating system comes with a range of tools that allow you to capture screenshots efficiently. In this article, we’ll be exploring some of the different methods available.
Method 1: The Print Screen Key
One of the most straightforward ways to take a screenshot on a Windows 7 computer is by using the Print Screen (PrtScn) key. This key captures the entire screen and stores the image in the computer’s clipboard.
To use this method, you need to follow these simple steps:
1. Press the “Print Screen” key located on your keyboard.
2. Open your favorite image editor, such as Paint, Photoshop, or GIMP.
3. Press “Ctrl+V” on your keyboard to paste the screenshot into the image editor.
4. Lastly, save the screenshot as a file on your computer.
Method 2: Using the Alt Key
If you want to capture a specific window or dialog box, the Alt key offers an easy solution. Follow the steps below:
1. Click on the window or dialog box you want to capture.
2. Press and hold the “Alt” key.
3. Press the “Print Screen” key.
4. Open your preferred image editor and paste the screenshot in the same way as in the first method.
Method 3: Windows + Print Screen Key
This method captures a screenshot of the entire screen without requiring you to open an image editor.
It’s straightforward to use: press the Windows and the Print Screen keys simultaneously. The screen will dim momentarily to let you know that the capture was successful, and the image will be saved as a file in the default Screenshots folder in the Pictures library.
Now that you know the different methods to take screenshots on Windows 7, let’s take a look at some of the built-in screen capture tools you can use.
2. Simple Keyboard Shortcuts for Taking Screenshots on Windows 7
How To Take a Screenshot On Windows 7 Without Snipping Tool: Simple Keyboard Shortcuts
In this section, we will look at some simple keyboard shortcuts that will help you take screenshots on Windows 7 without using the snipping tool. These shortcuts involve pressing a combination of keys on your keyboard to capture an image of your screen.
1. Print Screen (PrtScn) Key
The PrtScn key is a common keyboard shortcut used to capture the entire screen on Windows 7. This method is useful when you want to capture the entire screen without missing out any detail. Here’s how to use the PrtScn key:
Step 1: Go to the screen that you want to capture.
Step 2: Press the PrtScn key on your keyboard. It is typically located in the top row, next to the F12 key.
Step 3: Open an image editor or word processing program such as Microsoft Word, Paint or Photoshop.
Step 4: Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the captured image. Alternatively, you can right-click and select “Paste” from the context menu.
2. Window Snipping (Alt + PrtScn) Key
The Window Snipping keyboard shortcut helps you capture a specific window or application running on your Windows 7 computer. Here’s how to use the Window Snipping key:
Step 1: Go to the window that you want to capture.
Step 2: Press the Alt + PrtScn keys on your keyboard. This will capture a screenshot of the active window.
Step 3: Open an image editor or word processing program such as Microsoft Word, Paint or Photoshop.
Step 4: Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the captured image. Alternatively, you can right-click and select “Paste” from the context menu.
Using keyboard shortcuts can help you take screenshots quickly and easily without using the snipping tool. These shortcuts are especially useful when you need to capture multiple screen images quickly. Try out these different keyboard shortcuts and find out which one works best for you.
3. Exploring the Built-in Windows 7 Screen Capture Tools
When it comes to taking a screenshot on Windows 7 without using Snipping Tool, the built-in screen capture tools offer a great alternative. These tools come ready-to-use on Windows 7, requiring no download or installation, and are ideal for quick screen grabs or capturing a specific window or region on your desktop.
Taking a Full-Screen Screenshot
If you want to take a screenshot of the entire screen, the easiest method is to press the “Print Screen” (PrtScn) button on your keyboard. This captures an image of the entire desktop and saves it to the clipboard. You can then paste the image into an image editor such as Paint or Photoshop for editing and saving.
Alternatively, press the “Windows” key and the “Print Screen” (PrtScn) key at the same time. This action saves the screenshot directly to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots. The file will be saved as a PNG image with a filename that includes the date and time of capture.
Capturing a Specific Window or Region
If you only want to capture a specific window or region on your desktop, you can use the “Alt + Print Screen” or “Windows + Shift + S” keyboard shortcuts.
To capture the active window, press “Alt + Print Screen” to copy the image to the clipboard. You can then paste the image into an image editor for further editing and saving.
To capture a specific region, press “Windows + Shift + S”. This action brings up the snipping tool, where you can draw a selection around the area you want to capture. The image will be saved to the clipboard for pasting into an image editor.
Using these built-in Windows 7 screen capture tools can save you time and provide quick and efficient ways to take screenshots without the need for additional software.
4. Using Third-Party Applications for Windows 7 Screen Captures
If you aren’t satisfied with the built-in screen capture tools in Windows 7, there are many third-party applications available that offer more advanced features. Here are some of the most popular and useful options:
Snagit
Snagit is a powerful screen capture tool that lets you take screenshots, record videos, and edit and enhance your captures. The software offers many advanced features, such as the ability to blur out sensitive information, capture long web pages, and add annotations and callouts to your captures. Snagit is ideal for professionals who need to capture and share visual information regularly.
Greenshot
Greenshot is a free, open-source screen capture tool that is lightweight and easy to use. It offers basic capture modes, such as fullscreen, region, and window, as well as more advanced modes, such as capturing a scrolling window or an entire webpage. Greenshot also provides basic editing features, such as adding text, lines, and shapes to your captures.
Lightshot
Lightshot is a free screen capture tool that lets you capture screen areas or the entire screen. The software provides advanced editing tools, such as cropping, sizing, and adding text and arrows to your captures. Lightshot also allows you to upload your captures to their server and share them with others via a direct link.
can save you time and offer more flexibility and customization options. However, it’s important to research and evaluate the different options before choosing one that best suits your needs.
5. Tips and Tricks for Enhancing Your Windows 7 Screenshots
Taking a screenshot is one thing, but making it look great is another. If you want to create professional-looking images on your Windows 7 system, you need to know some tips and tricks for enhancing your screenshots. In this section, we’ll explore some of the best practices for making your screenshots stand out.
Use Editing Software for Advanced Enhancements
If you want to take your screenshots to the next level, you can use advanced editing software like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP. These programs offer a wide range of features like cropping, resizing, color correction, and other advanced techniques. You can adjust the saturation, brightness, contrast, and other levels to create a perfect image. Additionally, you can add text, shapes, and other elements to make your screenshot more explanatory.
Highlight Important Details using Annotations
Sometimes you want to emphasize certain parts of your screenshot. In such cases, you can use annotation tools to add arrows, circles, ovals, lines, and text to your screenshot. You can also highlight certain parts of the image in a specific color. If you’re using Microsoft PowerPoint or Word, you can use the built-in annotation tools to edit your screenshot. Otherwise, you can use online tools like Skitch, PickPick, or Snagit.
Optimize Image Formats for Faster Upload
Large image sizes can slow down your webpages, emails, and file transfer speeds. Therefore, it’s important to optimize your image format and size. You can choose file formats like JPEG, PNG, or GIF, which are supported by web browsers and other platforms. Additionally, you can use compression tools like TinyPNG, JPEGmini, or ImageOptim to reduce the size of your image without sacrificing quality. This way, you can quickly transfer and share your screenshots without any delays.
By following these simple tips and tricks, you can create visually appealing and meaningful screenshots on your Windows 7 system. Whether you’re using it for educational, marketing, or personal purposes, you can use these techniques to enhance the quality of your images.
People Also Ask
1. How can I take a screenshot without Snipping Tool?
To take a screenshot on Windows 7 without using Snipping Tool, press the ‘Print Screen’ button on your keyboard. This copies a screenshot of your entire screen to the clipboard. You can then paste it into an image editing tool, such as Paint, to save the image.
2. How do I take a screenshot of a specific area on Windows 7?
To take a screenshot of a specific area on Windows 7, press the ‘Windows’ key and ‘PrtScr’ key simultaneously. This captures the screenshot of the entire screen and saves it to your default screenshot folder.
3. Can I take a screenshot using keyboard shortcuts on Windows 7?
Yes, you can take a screenshot using keyboard shortcuts on Windows 7. Press ‘Windows’ key and ‘Print Screen’ key together to take a screenshot of the entire screen, or press ‘Alt’ and ‘Print Screen’ keys together to take a screenshot of the active window.
4. How can I capture a screenshot on Windows 7 with the snipping tool disabled?
If the Snipping Tool is disabled on your Windows 7, you can still take a screenshot by pressing the ‘Print Screen’ key and then pasting it into an image editing software like Paint. You can also use the ‘Windows’ + ‘PrtScr’ key combination to capture the screen.
5. Is there any other way to capture a screenshot on Windows 7?
Apart from using keyboard shortcuts, you can also use third-party tools like Lightshot and Greenshot to take screenshots on Windows 7. These tools allow you to capture specific areas, add annotations and save the screenshot as an image file.
Conclusion
Taking a screenshot was never more comfortable with keyboard shortcuts. Users who do not prefer the snipping tool can take screenshots using a few simple keyboard combinations or third-party tools. These options are an easy way to capture and share screen images without relying on a built-in tool.
