In fact, today there are tools that allow you to capture screenshots of the desktop in a much simpler and faster way than the one you know. Just press a special command and you can create perfect photos of the entire screen or just portions of it. In most cases, everything can also be done directly using keyboard shortcuts.
How do you say? You do not believe me? So take a few minutes of free time and focus on my guide focused on the topic. I am sure you will be amazed by how simple and fast it can be and that if necessary you will also be ready and willing to provide all the necessary explanations to your friends eager to receive a similar tip. Let it bet?
Index
- How to take a picture of the PC desktop
- How to take a picture of the Mac desktop
- How to take a picture of the mobile phone desktop
- Program for desktop photography
How to take a picture of the PC desktop
How to take a desktop photo: Windows 10
If what you want to do is take a picture of the windows 10 desktop e Windows 11, I inform you that you can do it by turning to the tool Capture and annotate, which is integrated directly into the operating system (if removed, it can be downloaded again and free of charge from the relevant section of the Microsoft Store) and has been specifically designed to perform the operation covered by this guide.
To be able to use it, start the tool by clicking on the Start button (the one with the Microsoft logo) present sulla taskbartyping “capture and annotate” in the search field and selecting the suggestion relevant in the menu that opens.
Now that you see the main screen of the tool on your desktop, click on the button New placed at the top left to start screen capture. You can also decide to set a 3 or 10 second timer between selecting the area to capture and actually taking the photo, by clicking on the button showing the down arrow that you find next to the button New and choosing the option you prefer from the proposed menu.
At this point, trace the rectangle for capturing the screenshot by clicking at the starting point and, continuing to hold down, moving the viewfinder that has just appeared to the point of your interest.
If necessary, you can select a capture mode other than rectangular by clicking the buttons on the toolbar visible at the top. To be precise, the key with the curved design allows you to take a screenshot by tracing a custom shape, the one with the two overlapping rectangles allows you to capture a specific window above, while the one with the rectangle with the corners highlighted allows you to take a screenshot of the entire desktop instantly. To reset the default capture function, just click on the button with the rectangle that you always find on the toolbar.
Once the modifications have been completed or in any case to save the captured image, press the button with the floppy disk at the top right and indicate the output location, name and format of your choice. You can also press the key with i two sheets to copy the screenshot to the Windows clipboard and paste it where appropriate.
If you prefer the use of keyboard shortcuts, you can also decide to use the following shortcuts for photograph the desktop of your PC.
- Stamp — allows you to copy a screenshot to the Windows clipboard for pasting into any graphics program.
- Alt+Stamp — allows you to capture the active window on the screen, saving the image in the Images/Screenshot folder.
- Win + Stamp — allows you to take a screenshot of the entire desktop, Images/Screenshots
- Shift/Maiusc+Win+S — allows you to invoke the Capture and annotate tool.
How to take a desktop photo: Windows 7
You have an older computer and, therefore, you would like to find out how to take a picture of windows 7 desktop or in any case of one older version of the operating system from Microsoft? In this case, you can use another default utility present on older versions of Windows: Snipping tool.
To be able to use it, start the tool by pressing on Start button (the one with the Microsoft logo) that you find on taskbartyping “snipping tool” in the search field that appears and then selecting the suggestion relevant among those proposed.
Now that the program toolbar is displayed on the desktop, click on the button to take a picture of the desktop New present on it and use the pointer to draw a rectangle with the reference screen area, clicking, continuing to hold down and releasing the "grip" up to the point of your interest.
If you need to "immortalize" the desktop in a format other than the default which is rectangular, you can do it by pressing the button with the down arrow located on the Snipping Tool toolbar and choosing the option Capture free format to take a screenshot by drawing a custom shape, Capturing a single window to take a screenshot of a specific window or Capture full screen to take a screenshot of the entire desktop. To reset the capture format to the default, choose the option instead Rectangular capture.
After taking the screenshot, the program editor will open with the image obtained inside and on which you can possibly intervene by making various changes with the available tools, for example by adding strokes and highlights. When the changes are complete or in any case to save the screenshot, click on the button with the floppy disk located on the top left and indicates the location, name and output format.
How to take a picture of the Mac desktop
You own an Apple-branded computer and you'd like to understand how to take a picture of the mac desktop? I'll settle you right away! This is possible without having to resort to the use of third-party solutions. Just use the application Screenshot (otherwise known as Screenshot) which is included as standard on the Apple operating system and which allows notes to create a snapshot of the screen and that's it.
To be able to use it, access the Launchpad by clicking on the relevant icon (the one with i colored squares) located on the Dock bar, open the folder Other and launch the app Screenshot by clicking on his icon (Quella with the camera).
Now that you see the application toolbar, if you want to take a screenshot of the entire Mac screen you must select the option Capture the entire screen and press on the item Acquire (or left-click anywhere on the screen), to capture a specific window you should instead choose the option Capture Selected Window and click on the window of your interest while choosing the option Capture selection and selecting the area of your interest (by clicking on the starting point and, continuing to hold down, moving the crosshair that has just appeared to the end point) and pressing the button Acquire you can take a screenshot of a specific portion of the screen.
All captured screens are automatically saved on the macOS Desktop, but you can eventually change the output location from the Screenshot preferences. To do this, therefore, press on the menu options located on the Screenshot bar and select one of the available options that you find in the section Save in from the menu that opened.
I also point out that always from the same menu above, from the sections Options and Timers of the same, you can adjust other advanced properties for taking screenshots, such as including mouse pointer in screenshots and setting a timer to delay screen capture etc.
Regardless of the type of screenshot taken, every time you take one the relative thumbnail is shown in the lower right corner of the screen and by clicking on it you can access the editor through which you can make changes "on the fly" to the image obtained, using the appropriate editing tools, those for adding shapes, texts, etc., attached to the displayed window. Furthermore, by pressing on the icon of freccia inside a quadrato and selecting one of the available options, you can share the screen via email or SMS or use it with other applications on your Mac.
Note that by default all screenshots captured with the macOS utility are saved in PNG format, but if you wish you can change this behavior by opening the application terminal, issuing the defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg command (the preferred graphic file format must be inserted instead of jpg) and pressing the Enter key on the keyboard. To make the changes effective, before closing the Terminal you must also enter the command killall SystemUIServer.
If you prefer the use of keyboard shortcuts, I inform you that you can also use the macOS functions to capture screenshots directly using the following key combinations.
- cmd+alt+5 — allows you to open the Screenshot application.
- cmd + shift + 3 — allows you to capture the entire screen.
- cmd + shift + 4 — allows you to capture a specific window.
- cmd + shift + 4 — allows you to capture a single portion of the screen.
- ctrl+cmd+shift+3 — allows you to capture the entire screen saving the image obtained only in the macOS clipboard.
- ctrl+cmd+shift+4 — allows you to capture a portion of the screen by saving the image obtained only in the macOS clipboard.
How to take a picture of the mobile phone desktop
If, on the other hand, what you are interested in doing is going to photograph the desktop of the mobile phone, Whether it be of Android that of a iPhone, the instructions you need to follow are the ones you find below. Don't worry, it's very simple, you have my word for it.
How to take a picture of the desktop: Android
If you wish take a picture of the android desktop, I inform you that you can do it using the appropriate key combinations, valid on smartphones (and tablets) of all major hardware manufacturers, namely: Power+Home on Android terminals equipped with a physical Home button; Power+Volume down on Android terminals that do not have a physical Home button.
In all cases, the taking of the screenshot is signaled by the flashing of the screen and the emission of a sound similar to that of a shot taken with a camera.
The screenshots you take are saved in the folder Screenshots do Android and to be able to view them you need to open the application Photo / Gallery or approach the reference position via a File Manager (eg. Google files).
And if you want to quickly share a screenshot you've taken, you can do so by opening the notification menu of Android (sliding your finger from the top of the screen to the bottom), pressing the button Share found under the heading Screenshot taken and selecting the reference application.
Keep in mind, however, that many manufacturers make a habit of customizing their devices by adding distinctive apps, features, and looks to Android. Among the features subject to customization there is also the one for capturing screenshots, which on many terminals can be recalled using special gestures and shortcuts. Unfortunately I can't be more precise because I don't know the exact make and model of the device you own, but for example if you want photographing samsung desktops you can read my specific guide on the subject, while if you are interested in understanding how to proceed with a terminal HUAWEI you can read this other ad hoc tutorial of mine.
How to take pictures of the desktop: iPhone
You own an Apple-branded smartphone or tablet and, therefore, you are wondering how to take a picture of the iphone desktop (or the iPad, it doesn't change anything)? If the answer is yes, you can do it using the following key combinations: Power+Volume su if you're using an iPhone with Face ID; Power+Home if you're using an iPhone that has a physical Home button.
When the screen capture is made, a flash appears on the display and a sound like a camera shutter sound is played. Furthermore, all the screenshots taken are shown from time to time in miniature in the lower left corner of the screen and by pressing on it it is possible to view the image obtained and access the editor to make changes of various kinds, adding texts, drawings, etc. .
Note that all screenshots taken are automatically saved in the iOS gallery, which can be accessed using the app Photo.
Program for desktop photography
If you are looking for a program for desktop photography different from the "standard" solutions of Windows and macOS that I have already suggested, I inform you that you have various solutions on your side that you can turn to, both free and paid, such as the ones I told you about in my guide on programs for capturing the screen.
There are also some app for Android and iOS/iPadOS which you can consider contacting: the most interesting of the category can be found in my post on apps for taking screenshots.
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