Ever found a helpful website or a funny meme that you wanted to save for later but didn’t know how? Taking screenshots is a quick and easy way to capture any image on your computer screen, and it’s a valuable skill to have. Here’s a detailed guide on how to screenshot on an Acer computer, whether you’re using a Windows or a Chrome OS device.
For Windows users, there are two main ways to take a screenshot: using the Print Screen key or using the Snipping Tool. The Print Screen key is located in the top-right corner of the keyboard, and it captures a screenshot of your entire screen. To use the Snipping Tool, open the Start menu and search for “Snipping Tool.” This tool allows you to capture screenshots of specific parts of your screen, such as a particular window or a rectangular area.
Chrome OS users have a different set of options for taking screenshots. You can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+F5 to capture a screenshot of the entire screen, or you can use the built-in Screenshot tool. To access the Screenshot tool, click on the notification area in the bottom-right corner of the screen and select the “Screenshot” option. The tool allows you to capture screenshots of the entire screen, a specific window, or a rectangular area. Once you’ve taken a screenshot, it will be saved as a PNG file in the Downloads folder.
Capturing a Specific Area with Snip & Sketch
Snip & Sketch is a Windows 10 and 11 tool that allows you to take screenshots and annotate them. It’s a more advanced tool than the Print Screen key, and it gives you more control over what you capture.
To capture a specific area with Snip & Sketch, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + Shift + S keys simultaneously.
- This will open the Snip & Sketch tool. You’ll see a small menu at the top of the screen with four options: Rectangular Snip, Freeform Snip, Window Snip, and Fullscreen Snip.
- Select the Rectangular Snip option. Your cursor will turn into a crosshair.
- Click and drag your cursor to select the area you want to capture.
- Once you’ve selected the area, release the mouse button and the screenshot will be saved to your clipboard.
You can also use Snip & Sketch to capture a specific window. To do this, select the Window Snip option from the menu. Then, click on the window you want to capture. The screenshot will be saved to your clipboard.
Once you’ve captured a screenshot, you can annotate it using the tools in the Snip & Sketch toolbar. These tools include a pen, highlighter, eraser, and a ruler. You can also add text and shapes to your screenshots.
When you’re finished annotating your screenshot, you can save it to a file or share it with others.
| Snip & Sketch Tools |
|---|
| Pen |
| Highlighter |
| Eraser |
| Ruler |
| Text |
| Shapes |
Full-Screen Capture with Snipping Tool
Snipping Tool is a built-in screen capture utility in Windows that allows you to capture a full-screen screenshot or specific portions of your screen. To capture a full-screen screenshot using Snipping Tool:
- Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “snippingtool” and press Enter.
- In the Snipping Tool window, select the “New” button or press Ctrl + N.
- The screen will dim and a crosshair cursor will appear. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture, or press Ctrl + A to capture the entire screen.
- Once you have selected the area, release the mouse button and the screenshot will be captured.
You can then edit the screenshot in Snipping Tool using the annotation tools provided, or save it to a file by clicking the “Save” button.
| Button | Function |
|---|---|
| New | Starts a new screen capture. |
| Mode | Allows you to select the capture mode (Full-Screen, Rectangular, Window, Freeform). |
| Delay | Sets a delay (from 0 to 5 seconds) before the screenshot is taken. |
| Save | Saves the screenshot to a file. |
| Copy | Copies the screenshot to the clipboard. |
| Share | Shares the screenshot via email, messaging, or other apps. |
Annotating Screenshots with Snip & Sketch
Snip & Sketch offers versatile tools for annotating screenshots. Follow these steps to annotate your images:
- Open Snip & Sketch, either by searching for it in the Start menu or pressing Win + Shift + S.
- Capture a screenshot using one of the methods mentioned earlier.
- Click on the “Pen” icon from the toolbar to start drawing on the screenshot.
- You can customize your drawings by selecting different pen colors and sizes from the options provided.
- To add text annotations, click on the “Text” icon from the toolbar. Type in your desired text and adjust its font, size, and color as needed. You can also insert emoji or symbols to enhance your annotations.
Additional Annotation Options
Snip & Sketch provides additional annotation features to enhance your screenshots:
| Feature | Function |
|---|---|
| Highlighter | Highlight important areas of the screenshot. |
| Eraser | Remove unwanted annotations or parts of the screenshot. |
| Ruler | Draw straight lines or measure distances on the screenshot. |
Viewing and Managing Screenshots
Once you have captured a screenshot, it can be viewed and managed in several ways. Here are some common methods:
1. Snip & Sketch App
The Snip & Sketch app is a built-in tool that provides an accessible platform to view, edit, and manage screenshots. Simply open the app, and you will have access to all your recent screenshots. You can crop, annotate, and save them in various formats.
2. File Explorer
Screenshots are automatically saved in the Screenshots folder located in the Pictures library. You can browse this folder in File Explorer to access and manage your screenshots.
3. OneDrive
If you have enabled OneDrive sync, your screenshots will be automatically uploaded to the cloud. You can access and manage your screenshots from any device with internet access.
4. Windows Clipboard
After capturing a screenshot, it is temporarily stored in the Windows clipboard. You can paste the screenshot into any application, such as a Word document or an email message.
5. Snipping Tool Legacy
The Snipping Tool Legacy is an older utility for capturing and managing screenshots. It offers basic editing and annotation tools, allowing you to save screenshots in various formats.
6. Microsoft Paint
Microsoft Paint, a classic graphic editor, can be used to open, view, and edit screenshots. You can crop, draw, and add text to your screenshots using the provided tools.
7. Third-Party Screenshot Software
Numerous third-party software programs are available that offer advanced features for capturing and managing screenshots. These programs often include customizable hotkeys, annotation tools, cloud storage integration, and more.
| Software | Features |
|---|---|
| Lightshot | Quick sharing, annotation, screen recording |
| ShareX | Extensive sharing options, image editing, workflow automation |
| Snagit | Professional-grade features, advanced image editing, OCR support |
Alternative Screenshot Tools
In addition to the built-in screenshot tools, there are several third-party applications that offer more advanced features and customization options. Some popular alternative screenshot tools include:
**Greenshot:** Greenshot is a free and open-source screenshot tool that allows you to capture specific regions, entire windows, or scrolling web pages. It also offers advanced features such as annotations, image editing, and OCR (optical character recognition).
**Snagit:** Snagit is a commercial screenshot tool that provides a comprehensive set of features, including image capture, editing, screen recording, and image management. It is ideal for professionals who need to capture and share screenshots for presentations, documentation, or training purposes.
**Lightshot:** Lightshot is a lightweight and easy-to-use screenshot tool that allows you to quickly capture and edit screenshots. It integrates with cloud services like Imgur and Dropbox, making it easy to share and store your screenshots.
**ShareX:** ShareX is a powerful and versatile screenshot tool that offers a wide range of features, including image capture, editing, screen recording, and file sharing. It is highly customizable and supports a variety of plugins and integrations.
Other features available in third-party screenshot tools include:
- Scheduled screenshots
- Automatic saving
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Integration with cloud storage services
Screen Capture Best Practices
1. Use the appropriate screenshot method for your needs. If you only need to capture a portion of the screen, use the Snipping Tool. If you need to capture the entire screen, use the Print Screen key.
2. Choose a clear and concise file name. This will help you easily identify the screenshot later.
3. Save the screenshot in an appropriate location. Screenshots can be saved to your desktop, a specific folder, or a cloud storage service.
4. Use a consistent file format. This will make it easier to open and view the screenshots later.
5. Add annotations if necessary. You can use the Snipping Tool to add annotations to screenshots, such as text, arrows, or shapes.
6. Use a screen capture tool that offers additional features. Some screen capture tools offer additional features, such as the ability to record videos or capture scrolling screenshots.
7. Edit the screenshot if needed. You can use a photo editor to crop, resize, or adjust the brightness and contrast of the screenshot.
8. Share the screenshot securely. If you need to share the screenshot with others, use a secure file sharing service.
9. Compress the screenshot if necessary. If the screenshot is too large, you can compress it to reduce the file size.
10. Follow these additional best practices for screen capture:
| Best Practice | Description |
|---|---|
| Use a high-resolution display | This will ensure that the screenshot is clear and easy to read. |
| Capture the entire screen | This will give you a complete view of the screen contents. |
| Use a consistent file format | This will make it easier to open and view the screenshots later. |
| Add annotations if necessary | This will help you highlight important information or provide context. |
| Share the screenshot securely | This will protect your privacy and prevent unauthorized access. |
How To Screenshot On Acer Computer
**Keyboard Shortcut:**
- Press the “Windows key” and the “PrtScn” key simultaneously.
- The screenshot will be saved to the “Pictures\Screenshots” folder.
**Using the Snipping Tool:**
- Search for “Snipping Tool” in the Windows search bar.
- Select the type of screenshot you want to take (Rectangular, Freeform, Window, or Fullscreen).
- Click and drag to capture the desired area.
- The screenshot will be copied to the clipboard and can be pasted into any program.
**Using the Game Bar:**
- Press “Windows key” + “G” to open the Game Bar.
- Click on the “Camera” icon in the Game Bar.
- The screenshot will be saved to the “Videos\Captures” folder.
People Also Ask
How do I screenshot a specific area on Acer?
Use the Snipping Tool or the Game Bar to capture only the desired area of the screen.
Where are screenshots saved on Acer?
Screenshots are automatically saved to the “Pictures\Screenshots” folder.
How do I take a scrolling screenshot on Acer?
Currently, there is no native way to take scrolling screenshots on Acer computers. You can use third-party software like Greenshot or ShareX for this purpose.
