Snippets are a great way to capture and save a portion of your screen on your Mac. Whether you want to save an image, a piece of text, or even a section of a webpage, taking snippets can be incredibly useful. In this tutorial, we will explore different methods to take snippets on your Mac.
Using the Default Snipping Tool
If you are using macOS Mojave or later, you have a built-in snipping tool called Screenshot. You can access it by pressing Command + Shift + 5. This will bring up the Screenshot toolbar at the bottom of your screen.
The Screenshot toolbar provides various options for taking snippets. To capture the entire screen, click on the Full Screen option. If you only want to capture a specific window, choose the Window option and then click on the window you want to capture.
If you prefer to select a specific portion of your screen for capturing a snippet, click on the Select Portion option. This will enable you to drag and select the desired area. Once selected, click on the Capture button in the toolbar.
Note: You can also set a timer delay for capturing snippets by clicking on the Options button in the Screenshot toolbar.
Taking Snippets Using Keyboard Shortcuts
If you prefer keyboard shortcuts over using graphical interfaces, macOS provides several options for taking snippets without opening any additional tools.
Capturing Full Screen Snippets with Keyboard Shortcut
To capture the entire screen as a snippet using only your keyboard, press Command + Shift + 3. The captured snippet will be saved as a file on your desktop with a name like “Screen Shot [date] at [time].png”.
Capturing Selected Portion Snippets with Keyboard Shortcut
If you want to capture a specific portion of your screen, press Command + Shift + 4. This will change your cursor into a crosshair.
Drag the crosshair to select the desired area and release the mouse button. The captured snippet will be saved as a file on your desktop.
Using Third-Party Snipping Tools
If you need more advanced features or prefer a different interface for taking snippets, there are several third-party snipping tools available for macOS.
One popular option is Snagit, which provides powerful screenshot and snipping capabilities along with annotation tools and easy sharing options. Another option is Lighshot, which allows capturing screenshots, editing them, and saving or sharing them instantly.
Conclusion
Taking snippets on your Mac can be done easily using either the default snipping tool or third-party applications. Whether you need to save an important piece of information or capture an interesting image, snippets are an essential part of any Mac user’s toolkit. Experiment with different methods and find the one that works best for you!