How to Print Screen on a Mac

When using a Windows computer, for the most part, there is always a print screen button that allows you to capture what your screen is showing. However, when using a Mac, there isn't this option. For whatever reason, Apple didn't add a print screen button to the keyboard and therefore, it is a little harder to do a print screen. Despite this, Mac users can do many different types of print screens to grab exactly what it is they want.

The first way is to do a simple, print screen. To do this, switch to whatever you want to take a print screen of. This might be a web page or a document you're writing. Regardless, switch to it. Then, hold down the Apple button, shift and press the number three. Then, using your mouse, click anywhere on the screen. Almost immediately, an image will appear on your desktop. There's your print screen.

Another thing you can do is choose the size of the print screen. In other words, if you only want to show the bottom left 25% of your screen, you can drag the print screen to that region and only have that show. To do that, click the Apple button, shift and then 4. The cursor will change to a plus sign. Drag your mouse to the position you want to appear in the print screen. Release the mouse and the image will appear on your desk top.

Sometimes, a screen of just the application is desired. For example, when doing a tutorial, showing just the application makes for a much nicer presentation. Hit the Apple button, shift and 4. The cursor will change to a plus sign. Then hit the space bar and the plus sign will turn into a camera. Using that, select which application to capture by clicking on it. An image will appear on your desk top.

The print screen on a Mac requires a little more button pushing, but since you don't have to open paint to paste the image after you've copied it, it actually saves a considerable amount of time. And, since the print screen is customizable, it makes it even more beneficial to people.