In today’s digital age, screenshots have become an integral part of our daily communication. Whether you’re capturing a funny meme, an important piece of information, or a snippet of a conversation, screenshots help us preserve and share what we see on our screens. Mac users are fortunate to have a built-in tool, the screenshot utility, that makes capturing screenshots a breeze. However, many users may not be aware of the various editing capabilities it offers, including cropping. In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to crop a screenshot on a Mac.
Capture the Screenshot
Before you can start cropping, you need to capture the screenshot. Mac offers several methods to do this
- Capture the Entire Screen Press `Shift + Command + 3` simultaneously. This will capture everything currently displayed on your screen.
- Capture a Selected Portion Press `Shift + Command + 4`, and your cursor will turn into a crosshair. Click and drag to select the portion of the screen you want to capture.
- Capture a Specific Window Press `Shift + Command + 4`, then press the `Spacebar`. Your cursor will turn into a camera icon. Click on the window you want to capture.
Open the Screenshot
Once you’ve captured the screenshot, it will usually appear as a thumbnail in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Click on it to open the screenshot in the default application, usually Preview.
Access the Editing Tools
1. In Preview, click on the “Markup” button (it looks like a pencil) in the upper-right corner of the window. This will open the editing toolbar.
2. Alternatively, you can press `Command + Shift + A` to access the markup tools directly.
Select the Crop Tool
In the markup toolbar, locate the “Crop” tool. It looks like a square with a dashed border. Click on it to activate the cropping feature.
Crop the Screenshot
1. After selecting the crop tool, you will see the selected screenshot with draggable handles at its corners and edges. You can use these handles to adjust the cropping area.
2. Click and drag any of the handles to select the portion of the screenshot you want to keep. You can also click inside the selected area and move it around.
3. As you adjust the cropping area, the rest of the screenshot will become dimmed, indicating the part that will be cropped out.
Apply the Crop
Once you are satisfied with the cropping area, press the “Done” button in the top-right corner of the window. This will crop the screenshot according to your selection.
Save Your Cropped Screenshot
1. To save the cropped screenshot, click on “File” in the top-left corner of the Preview window.
2. Select “Save” or “Export” and choose a destination folder, file name, and format (usually, PNG or JPEG).
3. Click “Save” to save your cropped screenshot.
View and Share Your Cropped Screenshot
You can now view your cropped screenshot in the location where you saved it. It will only contain the selected portion of the original screenshot.
You can easily share your cropped screenshot through email, messaging apps, or by uploading it to a website or document.
Additional Tips
- To undo any cropping edits before saving, press `Command + Z`.
- If you want to crop multiple screenshots, you can open them all in Preview and use the same cropping tool for each.
- Preview also offers other editing tools, such as adding text, shapes, and annotations. Explore these options to enhance your screenshots further.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I edit text in a screenshot?
First, open the screenshot in an image editor like Photoshop or GIMP. Then, use the text tool to select and edit the text. Save your changes and export the file as a PNG or JPG. Finally, upload the edited image to an online editing service like PicMonkey or Canva.
Where is the Snipping Tool?
From the Windows Start Menu, select the Snipping Tool which can be found under the following path: All Programs> Accessories> Snipping Tool. cursor has become a + sign and will now act as a cropping tool.
In conclusion, cropping a screenshot on a Mac is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few simple steps. With the built-in Preview application, you have access to a variety of editing tools that can help you tailor your screenshots to your specific needs. Whether you’re highlighting a particular detail, removing unnecessary information, or simply framing your screenshot for a cleaner look, Mac’s cropping feature is a valuable tool for all users.
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