Screen Capture Apps

You might have noticed that I use a lot of screenshots in my blog posts. The programs that enable me to insert screenshots are called "screen capture" apps or programs. These programs take snapshot in a JPG file of all or part of what is showing on your computer screen. Here is a screenshot for an example:

The program I happen to use most frequently is Skitch from Evernote.com. If you choose to do so, the program is integrated with the filing capabilities of Evernote. The program is available for Windows and Mac OS X computers. But there are a lot of different options.

For some time, computer operating systems have had a keyboard command that captured the entire screen. On a PC running the Windows operating system, there is usually a key on the keyboard that says something resembling "Print Screen," perhaps "Prt Sc" or some other abbreviation. Pressing that key in combination with the "Alt" key will capture a portion of the screen. If you are using Windows 8, you will press the Windows Key and the Prt Sc key for the same screen capture. Computers using Microsoft Windows also come with a utility program called the Snipping Tool. This is a very useful app.

Once you have created a screenshot, you may have to search around to find out where the program saved the JPG copy. Each program has a different setting for its default location, so you will have to make sure you study the program and find out where the copies are going. Most programs or apps also let you designate a folder or the desktop as the destination for the screenshots.

Here are the instructions for doing a screenshot from the Mac OS X operating system:

Mobile devices have their own methods of taking screenshots. You will need to search online for instructions for your specific product's key or switch combination.

You should also be aware that taking a screenshot can be a potential violation of a copyright claim. I have written about the application of copyright law to screenshots recently, but be careful of your use of the screenshot and make sure you fall within the guidelines of "fair use."

You might want to read some or all of the following:

• Ask the Law Geek: Is publishing screenshots Fair Use?
• Copyright, Fair Use and Screenshots
• What are the legal implications and best practices for publishing screenshots of web sites in a book?
• Screen Capture - Copyright Violation or Fair Use?