How to make a Print Screen (Windows, Mac OS X and Unix/Linux)

What is a Print Screen?

The Print Screen /Screenshot/Screen Capture function is used to capture the current display on your monitor/screen and to either copy it to your computer’s clipboard or directly send it to the printer.

Requirements: To make changes to the screenshot, you will need a graphic editing program that will be able to display the screen’s capture. Window’s Paint application holds that function, but if you want more advanced programs for further modifications, you can also try Adobe’s Photoshop editions or similar softwares. You should also have sufficient RAM memory to be able to send the print screen to the clipboard.

How to make a Print Screen (Windows)

The command key is usually found on the keyboard and labeled as “Print Screen”, “Prt Scr”, “Print Scrn”, “Prt Snc”, “Prt Sc” or “Prnt Scrn”. By default, this key is found in the upper right corner of the keyboard, next to the “Scroll Lock” and “Pause-Break” keys.




1. Once you have displayed the screen that you want to capture, press the "Print Screen" key once.
2. Open your graphic editing program.
3. Either use the command “Ctrl+V” to paste the screen capture or use the program’s options to Paste it in the provided space.

Depending on the screenshot that you have taken, a print screen of your desktop could look like this:

How to make a Print Screen (Mac OS X)

As the keyboard for a MAC OS X operating system is not similar to a Windows’ keyboard, the way you will make a screen capture will also be different.



1. Press and hold the Apple key+ Shift+ 4.
2. Once you release the keys, your mouse cursor should have changed to a + symbol
3. If this is the case, press the space bar once to turn the + symbol to a camera icon.
4. You can now use this camera to choose what you want to capture by mouse clicking once on the desired section of the screen.
5. The picture file will automatically save on your desktop.
6. You can now make all the desired changes in your graphic editing program (crop, change the size, colour, add text and graphics etc…)


Depending on the screenshot that you have taken, a print screen of your desktop could look like this:

How to make a Print Screen (Unix/Linux)

For Linux/Unix, choosing the “Print Screen” option will capture the whole screen, while pressing “Print Screen+Alt” will capture the section of the screen to which the mouse points to. If you press the “Print Screen” key, the “Save Screenshot” dialog will appear.




1. From the Menubar, select “Applications” from the list, “Accessories” and the “Take Screenshot” option.
2. The “Save Screenshot” dialog will then appear and you can now choose which section of the screen you want to capture.

Depending on the screenshot that you have taken, a print screen of your desktop could look like this:

Screen Capture Softwares

There are some quick and effective programs that allow you to capture and edit your print screens. They have the major advantage of facilitating screen capture that requires scroll down. Some of these programs are available through the following links:

!Quick Screen Capture
Download Link: http://www.etrusoft.com/

Screen Hunter
Download Link: http://www.wisdom-soft.com/sh/sh_free.htm

Hyperionics
Download Link: http://www.hyperionics.com/