Wondering what screen shots are and how to use them in your Triond articles? Then follow this guide to making best use of these wonderful little images.
A screen shot or screen dump, as they were once called, is a small image or photograph of any Web site. A screen shot is:
- A snapshot of a Web site that can be edited to decorate any Triond article
- A function that comes with all computers
- A small photo of any part of any Web page.
Locating the Screen Shot Tool
On your keyboard is a key that says, “Prt Sc.” The key is generally found at the top right-hand corner of the key pad . “Prt Sc,” stands for, “Print Screen.” it is a way to print the screen.
Screen Shot of Keyboard
How Do I Make a Screen Shot?
Each keyboard is different but overall it works like this:
- Open the Web site that you want to snapshot or screen shot
- Press, “Shift,” and the, “Prt Sc,” button at the same time
- Some computers require that you just press the, “Prt Sc,” button
- You won’t hear a sound but secretly your computer has stored a photo of your Web page on your computer’s clipboard.
What’s next?
Next, you may wish to edit your screen shot.
- Open an image program. I always choose Microsoft Paint, a cute image accessory that comes with all computers
- You can choose Photoshop, Illustrator or even Microsoft Word
- In the program create a new file or document
- When the file is open Press, “Ctrl,” and “P”
- Or another way is select, “Paste,” from the file’s, “Edit,” menu
- Voila! The screen shot will now appear in the new file.
Screen Shot of Select Toggle
It’s way too big! How do I edit it?
Now, you will want to only take the part of the Web screen shot that you need for your purposesYou will need a, “Selection Tool.”
- In Microsoft Paint, the Select Tool is a square on the menu on the left of the program
- Press that square
- Toggle the cursor across the part of the screen shot that you need to use
- Press, “Ctrl,” and “X,” or select, “Cut,” from the Edit Menu at the top of the program
- The area that you selected has now disappeared – it has been secreted away onto your Clipboard
- Close the program and when prompted choose, “Don’t save.”
- Everything disappears at this point but never fear – it has been automatically saved for the next stage.
What’s the Next Stage?
Now, reopen a new file in Microsoft Paint, Photoshop, Word or Illustrator
- Now press, “Ctrl,” and “P,” or choose, “Paste,” from the Edit menu
- The selected screen shot will appear in the new file
- Now save the file – call it anything but do save it as a [.jpeg] file on your desktop or in a folder
- The [.jpeg] extension is the best file extension to use for Web sites
- You have now created a new screen shot or image file that you can easily use in your Triond Site.
Screen shot of a dump well done
But how do I put it into my Web site?
The same as any photo or image. It is now just an image file like any other
- Upload it as you would a photo
- At the bottom put the words, “Screen shot of Google or Whatever.”
- Always credit the source.
In Brief
- Screen shots are just a matter of opening and closing programs
- Choosing Web sites and things that you might like
- Cutting and Pasting and Saving.
I hope this article helps. I use screen shot in many ways as they are a great way to play.
January 28th, 2009 at 6:07 am
I already mentioned how useful could be a screen capture in my article Get the most of your pictures, http://www.computersight.com/Software/Get-the-Most-of-Your-Pictures.450087 (when I explain how to copy a picture you cannot save by clickling), but this is much more detailes and specific. Good tutorial.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Lol I had no idea you could do all of this…thank you.
January 28th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
excellent,this makes the job lot easier,thanks James
January 28th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I have printed out your instructions so I hope this will be helpful to me. I will certainly try it.Wish me luck.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:11 am
brilliant instructions for new people and people not so in with computers.
cheers,
denus
January 29th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Thanks denus and Ruby don’t worry it’s way simple – just muck around and get the kids to show you : ) j
January 30th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Finally! In a way an idiot like me can understand! Thanks! I’ve bookmarked this page.
Clay
January 31st, 2009 at 4:34 am
Thanks James. That was a great computer lesson. I have just taught myself tricks upto now. This will be very useful.
Christine
January 31st, 2009 at 7:49 am
I never knew this. This is indeed helpful. Thanks for the lesson.
January 31st, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Great advice – we live in such a visually literate culture that they really do help with getting hits on Triond articles. It is a shame that people look at the pictures often more than the words, but that is the way the world turns at the moment!
January 31st, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Great tutorial, James!
January 31st, 2009 at 5:25 pm
James, thanks for thinking of us bro, and sharing a tool. Well written, clear directions, and a few examples to boot. Well done. Brian
February 1st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Thanks everyone. These are tips I learned as in Web design school. This wonderful machine is packed with ultra-simple and very useful functions.
Notepad, World Clocks, Web inventory tools, and many more are straight-forward functions eliminating the very need for hard to learn programs.
Best . j
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 am
Haha! It’s that easy? And I’ve been wondering all along how it’s done. Thanks for this well-presented useful info J.
(So sorry about the other comment, twas meant to be written here but I opened your 2 sites at the same time and got my comments mixed-up)
Btw, I explored my pc and discovered the snipping tool which works the same way. cool…
February 20th, 2009 at 7:41 am
Good tips. It seems that attractive pictures attract more readers than quality content. So it’s good to have them. How is it with the copyright? Can you take a screenshot of someone else’s photo and become the copyright owner?