Snipping Tool

Capturing Images

Windows Vista provides a program for capturing images on your computer screen. This program is the Snipping Tool which provides different ways to capture images depending on your needs.

For more information on the Snipping Tool, refer to Snipping Tool Options or Labeling Snips.

Accessing the Snipping Tool
Capturing Images

Accessing the Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool application is available from the Start menu, in Accessories.

On the Taskbar, click START» select All Programs » Accessories » Snipping Tool
The screen fades slightly and the Snipping Tool opens.

Capturing Images

The Snipping Tool provides four ways to capture images: Free-Form Snip, Rectangular Snip, Window Snip, or Full-screen Snip. Before choosing which option to use, consider the image you want to capture. Selecting the right snip for your image will make using the Snipping Tool quicker and easier.

Capturing Images: Free-Form Snip

The Free-Form Snip provides a pen with which you create the borders of your snip with the precision of your mouse. This snipping option allows for abstract shapes and nonlinear images

Access the Snipping Tool
From the New Snip pull-down menu, select Free-Form Snip
Your cursor changes to the shape of a scissors.
Click and drag the mouse along the border of your image
When finished, release the mouse button
The image is captured and the Snipping Tool dialog box refreshes to display its editing screen.
To recapture the image,
1. Click NEW SNIP
2. Repeat steps 3-4
OPTIONAL: Mark or highlight the captured image
To save the image,
1. Click SAVE SNIP
  The Save As dialog box appears.
2. In the File name text box, type a name for your image
3. In the Save as type text box, select the desired file type
4. Navigate to the desired save location
5. Click SAVE
  The image is saved.

Capturing Images: Rectangular Snip

The Rectangular Snip allows users to capture images in the shape of various rectangles.

Access the Snipping Tool
From the New Snip pull-down menu, select Rectangular Snip
Your cursor changes to crosshairs.
Click and drag the mouse to select your image
When finished, release the mouse button
The image is captured and the Snipping Tool dialog box refreshes to display its editing screen.
To recapture,
1. Click NEW SNIP
2. Repeat steps 3-4
OPTIONAL: Mark or highlight the captured image
To save the image,
1. Click SAVE SNIP
  The Save As dialog box appears.
2. In the File name text box, type a name for your image
3. In the Save as type text box, select the desired file type
4. Navigate to the desired save location
5. Click SAVE
  The image is saved.

Capturing Images: Window Snip

A Window Snip allows you to capture all the contents of a single window.

Be sure the window you want to capture appears in full on the screen
Access the Snipping Tool
From the New Snip pull-down menu, select Window Snip
Move your mouse over the desired window
A border surrounds the window.
Click the window
The image is captured and the Snipping Tool dialog box refreshes to display its editing screen.
To recapture,
1. Click NEW SNIP
2. Repeat steps 4-5
OPTIONAL: Mark or highlight the captured image
To save the image,
1. Click SAVE SNIP
  The Save As dialog box appears.
2. In the File name text box, type a name for your image
3. In the Save as type text box, select the desired file type
4. Navigate to the desired save location
5. Click SAVE
  The image is saved.

Capturing Images: Full-Screen Snip

The Full-screen Snip captures everything that appears on your monitor.

Prepare your screen for the capture
Access the Snipping Tool
From the New Snip pull-down menu, select Full-screen Snip
The image is captured and the Snipping Tool dialog box refreshes to display its editing screen.
OPTIONAL: Mark or highlight the captured image
To save the image,
1. Click SAVE SNIP
  The Save As dialog box appears.
2. In the File name text box, type a name for your image
3. In the Save as type text box, select the desired file type
4. Navigate to the desired save location
5. Click SAVE
  The image is saved.