Improvements to Windows 8 Screen Captures with PRINT SCREEN
Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 3:54PM Windows has had a built-in feature to capture screenshots for many releases – it can capture the entire desktop or the active window and place the image on the clipboard. The table below summarizes the feature as it exists in Windows 7.
Windows 8 comes with a very useful improvement. If you press WINDOWS + PRINT SCREEN, it captures the entire desktop and puts the image into the Clipboard AND saves it as a PNG file in your Pictures folder in a folder called Screenshots as shown below.
It also nicely dims the screen momentarily so that it is obvious a screen shot has taken place. This means you won't need use specialized screen capture tools as often.
In related news, the Snipping Tool still exists in Windows 8, but it doesn't have any visible improvements.
My suggestions for this feature (in case anyone is listening)
- I'd like to see the PRINT SCREEN feature and the Snipping Tool become one thing instead of existing as two separate tools.
- Ability to capture an arbitrary region not just the entire desktop or a window
- Ability to “repeat last capture” – critical if you want to capture the same region over and over again
- All the capture methods should provide visual feedback
- All the capture methods should provide audio feedback. Hypersnap, for example, provides a nice “click” sound during every capture.
Reader Comments (16)
I found impressive video showing recorded Windows 8 metro UI with "Action!" software... Mirillis Action. It has everything You looking for. chceck it out and comment about it
@artur - thanks for the link. I am always interested in new screen capture and recording software. I have purchased Action! and will be writing a review soon.
I only have use of 1 small hand. Impossible to use some of the shortcuts
@cate - Have you tried using the Sticky Keys feature? I have tried it Windows 8 just now at it does work for taking screenshots - allowing me to first press and release the Windows Key and then a moment later press PRINT SCREEN.
for some reason my windows 8 screen shot, alt+Pscreen always takes a picture of the desktop, I've tried closeing every program. and someone in windows 7 had same problem went to program compatability tab and clicked on something that doesn't exist in windows 8. It's world of war craft, and every time I take a picture it says screen was captured. however the screen is far from captured.
How fucking hard is it to program this shit!? Especially when they've already made it work in the past?
That's really weird FUCK. alt + prtsc always takes a screenshot of the active program for me... I just wish they thought to include win + alt + prtsc =/
so I've pressed every combination of the windows and printscreen button but nothing happens. but I have a Samsung notebook and the printscreen button is shared with "insert", insert being the bold option. any ideas please
@Kerrie - can you send me a photo of your keyboard? There are some keyboards where it is possible that this key is turned off and seeing it might help me see if that is the case for you.
To capture "print screen" of the window you are working on or photo for that matter, most computer keyboards are color coordinated- meaning the functions are the same way. For example, my keyboard "PrtSc" is white therefore I would use the "Alt + PrtSc" to capture what I want. The same goes for another keyboard I have: "PrtSc" is black so I have to use the "FN" key since it is also black. Once completed, they are copied to my clipboard and I use for whatever means I wish.
I have a GATEWAY and in order to PRINT SCREEN I have to hold down the FN + Windows + PRTSC in order to capture the screen
Thank you Paschal. I followed all the instructions I could find online but nothing worked until I saw yours. I don't have a Gateway. I have a Toshiba but once I did the FN+Windows+Prtsc it finally worked. Thank you!
Using Win 8 ... doing the (win icon along with prn scrn) ... where do I find the folder of all saved prints... above it says that it should be in my pictures folder... it is not there.
@Diane - Have you checked C:\Users\<username>\Pictures\Screenshots? That's where it goes for me.
i have an asus and only the windows+prt scr seems to work, cant find the clipboard on windows 8 to see if the other options saved, because i'd like to be able to print screen without the flash. any help would be great thx :)
I am trying to create a button on a webpage using Javascript and need to know what the keycode would be for (window + Printscreen) Can any one help me solve this issue?
i have same problem with this guy. can somebody help me..
for some reason my windows 8 screen shot, alt+Pscreen always takes a picture of the desktop, I've tried closeing every program. and someone in windows 7 had same problem went to program compatability tab and clicked on something that doesn't exist in windows 8. It's world of war craft, and every time I take a picture it says screen was captured. however the screen is far from captured.
How fucking hard is it to program this shit!? Especially when they've already made it work in the past?
January 17, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterFUCK