This is a great tool for taking screen captures and one I use quite often. The best part about this tool, if you have Vista or W7, you already have it! The default location is under the start menu, accessories, Snipping Tool. The free form option allows you to draw a closed figure and whatever is within the figure will be captured. You can select just a specific area of the screen using a rectangle, selecting a window, or (and I like this one) using the free form option. Using this tool, you can more precisely choose the area you wish to capture.

This tool basically is the next level above the print screen button. The Snipping Tool is available in Windows Vista as well as Windows 7. Snipping Tool – Windows Vista and Windows 7 In fact, this tool is so straight forward and simple, I’m not even going to include any screen captures for it (ironic, huh?). The main drawback to using print screen is that you need some other piece of software to narrow down your selection even further or to add annotations or additional information or, for that matter, to even see it. If you hold down the alt key as you press the Print Screen key, you will only capture the active window. There aren’t a ton of options but there is one. You then simply need to paste it into whatever program you want, such as an e-mail, word, or power point. Simply press the button and whatever is on your screen is put in an image on your clipboard. You know, that key on your keyboard that is supposed to take screen captures but you can never seem to figure it out? Well, it’s really not all that complicated. Here are the ones I use as well as one I don’t use but is readily available. For those of you out there that often need to take screen captures for blog posts, training materials, or bragging rights, there are some great options out there.

Free snagit for w7