In this tutorial, we will learn how to crop a screenshot on Mac. Cropping a screenshot allows you to focus on a specific area of the image and remove any unnecessary elements.
Whether you want to highlight something important or share a specific part of the screen, cropping can come in handy. So, let’s dive into the process!
Step 1: Capture the Screenshot
Before we can crop a screenshot, we need to capture it first. Mac provides several built-in methods for taking screenshots. Here are some common ways:
- Command + Shift + 3: Captures the entire screen and saves it as a file on your desktop.
- Command + Shift + 4: Turns your cursor into a crosshair, allowing you to select an area for capture.
- Command + Shift + 4 + Spacebar: Captures a specific window or menu.
Choose the method that suits your needs and capture the screenshot you want to crop.
Step 2: Open the Screenshot in Preview
Once you have captured the desired screenshot, locate it on your desktop or in the folder where it was saved. By default, macOS saves screenshots as PNG files with names like “Screen Shot [date] at [time].png”.
Next, double-click on the screenshot file to open it in Preview, which is the default image viewer on Mac.
Step 3: Select and Crop
With your screenshot open in Preview, follow these steps to select and crop the desired area:
- Select the Crop Tool:
In the Preview menu bar, click on the “Markup” icon (looks like a toolbox) and select the “Crop” tool from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, you can press the “Command + K” keyboard shortcut to directly access the crop tool.
- Select and Adjust the Crop Area:
Move your cursor to one corner of the area you want to crop and click and drag to create a selection box. Adjust the size and position of the selection box by clicking and dragging its edges or corners.
Use the guidelines that appear to align your selection accurately.
- Apply the Crop:
Once you are satisfied with your selection, press “Enter” or click on the “Crop” button in the Preview toolbar to apply the crop. The selected area will now be cropped out from your screenshot.
Step 4: Save Your Cropped Screenshot
After cropping your screenshot, it’s time to save it as a separate file. To do this, follow these simple steps:
- Click on File:
In Preview’s menu bar, click on “File”.
- Select Export:
From the dropdown menu, select “Export..”. This will open a new window where you can choose where to save your cropped screenshot.
- Choose Format and Location:
In the export window, choose the format for your cropped screenshot. You can save it as PNG, JPEG, or any other compatible image format.
Additionally, select the desired location to save the file.
- Click Save:
Finally, click on the “Save” button to save your cropped screenshot in the specified format and location.
Conclusion
Cropping a screenshot on Mac is a simple yet powerful technique that allows you to enhance your images and focus on specific details. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily capture and crop screenshots using built-in macOS tools.
So go ahead and give it a try – you’ll be cropping like a pro in no time!