Built right into Mac OS X is the ability to take screenshots. The feature is accessed by simple key commands to take a picture of exactly what was displayed on your screen.

The most basic key command is command + shift + 3. A file will be saved on your desktop generally called Picture 1, Picture 2. To take a screenshot of a select area of the screen, press 4 instead of 3. A lesser known key command to take a screenshot of a specific item - a window, icon, the dock, the menu bar - can be performed by pressing space bar immediately after command + shift + 4. The cursor will change from the cross hair for selecting an area, to a camera and the outline of the object the command will capture.

All of the aforementioned commands will create a file on your desktop. To copy the screenshot directly to the clipboard hold down control while performing the key commands.

Included is a list of the key commands and their function:

• command + shift + 3 - take a screenshot of the entire screen and save it to the desktop;
• command + shift + control + 3 - take screenshot a picture of the entire screen to the clipboard;
• command + shift + 4 - take a screenshot of a selection and save it to the desktop;
• command + shift + control + 4 - take a screenshot of a selection to the clipboard;
• command + shift + 4 and then press space - take a screenshot of an object and save it to the desktop
• command+ shift + control + 4 and then press space - take a screenshot of an object to the clipboard.

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 29th, 2008 at 10:38 am and is filed under Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.