Alternative to Windows Snipping Tool for Mac OSX
If you are looking for a software to take a snapshot or print screen in a MAC OSX, something like the Windows Snipping Tool, here some tips on how to solve this issue.
It’s built into Mac OS.
- ⌘+⇧+3 captures the whole screen
- ⌘+⇧+4 captures a custom rectangle (click and drag over the screen region you want to capture)
- ⌘+⇧+4 then space captures a specific window (move the mouse cursor over the desired window, then click)
Press esc to cancel.
Screenshots are saved onto your Desktop and timestamped.
By default the image format is png. However, you can change the format by typing in the Terminal:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture type image_format
killall SystemUIServer
Where image_format is one of jpg, tiff, pdf, png, bmp or pict (among others). If you omit the second line, you will need to log out and in again for the change to take effect.
The settings for the shortcuts in the system preferences are located at:
System Preferences → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screen Shots
System Preferences → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screen Shots
The MacOS X application that enables screenshots is called Grab. It is located at /Applications/Utilities/Grab.app
If you want to make annotations on images you’ve taken, you then use screenshot tools that feature the same function as Snipping Tool. Here are just some of them.
Grab – A built-in screenshot tool on Mac that enables you to capture anything you see on screen. Navigate to: /Applications/Utilities/Grab.app
Skitch – From Evernote is an easy tool that captures, annotates and shares screenshots / images.
Jing – An effective screen capturing program that works for recording screen and taking screenshot.
