Tip: Use the Snipping Tool to Capture Screen Shots

You can use Snipping Tool (%SystemRoot%\system32\SnippingTool.exe) to capture a screen shot, or snip, of any object on your screen, and then annotate, save, or share the image. Simply use your mouse (or tablet pen) to capture any of the following types of snips:

  • Free-form Snip. Draw an irregular line, such as a circle or a triangle, around an object.
  • Rectangular Snip. Draw a precise line by dragging the cursor around an object to form a rectangle.
  • Window Snip. Select a window, such as a browser window or dialog box, that you want to capture.
  • Full-screen Snip. Capture the entire screen when you select this type of snip.

After you capture a snip, it's automatically copied to the mark-up window, where you can annotate, save, or share the snip.

When Snipping Tool is open, a white overlay appears on your screen until you capture a snip. To turn off the overlay, open Snipping Tool, and then click Options. In the Snipping Tool Options dialog box, clear the Show screen overlay when Snipping Tool is active check box, and then click OK.

From the “Windows Vista Help and Support” built-in help file.

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