Whether you are a new Mac owner or have just switched from a Windows PC, you’re bound to miss the snipping tool natively found on Windows PC.
So, does Apple also provide an alternative to the good old snipping tool that most users love?
The good news is that Apple does provide its own snipping tools for Macs. The versatile and easy-to-use snipping tool will make your Mac usage fun and easy. Using this tool, you can easily capture screenshots, record videos, and perform post-capture edits.
Launching the snipping tool on Mac is as easy as pressing ‘Shift, Command, and 5‘ keys together. And voila, the main control center for snipping tools will pop up. You can then select various options and take a screenshot in seconds.
So, are you ready to learn the ins and outs of snipping tools on Macs? Then keep on reading.
What is a Snipping Tool?
Before digging deep into the tool’s functions, we need to address the basic fundamental question. What exactly is a snipping tool?
A snipping tool is native to Windows that helps users with:
- Taking a screenshot of the whole screen
- A part of the screen
- A rectangular area
- The selected free-form domain of the screen
Screenshots can then be stored in the form of an image and can be edited as per need.
In simple terms, a snipping tool is a screenshot taker for your laptop or PC. You can copy text or images from the captured area of the screen or take a scrolling screenshot, you can crop the screenshot or add shapes and text to it using the built-in editor (more on it in the latter part of this article).
For beginners, the snipping tool is not as advanced and optimized on Macs as on a Windows PC. Also, if you’re unaware of the Mac short commands, using this feature can get frustrating.
But fret not. Using a snipping tool on Mac is a lot easier than you think. And the best part? You don’t even need an advanced step-by-step guide. Instead, learn three easy steps to use a snipping tool on Mac.
How to Use a Snipping Tool on Mac?
Let’s get started!
First, we’ll share how you can use your Mac’s native snipping tool. So brace yourself for an information-filled ride.
There are a few ways to use the snipping tool; each has perks and benefits. Mentioned below are all the three ways of using a snipping tool:
1. Launch the main control center of the Snipping tool
Press the Shift, Command, and 5 keys to open the main snipping tool menu. This menu has a lot of customization and settings. Here you will have the option to capture the following:
Whole screen
- This option will capture the whole screen that is displayed
Selected Window
- This will only capture the selected window
- You can move the cursor over the desired window to select and then capture it
- The selected window will turn light blue, and the cursor will show a camera logo
Selected Portion
- It will just capture the part inside the dotted rectangle
Alternatively, you can also record the whole screen or the selected screen. Once you record the screen, the file will open in mp4 format.
*BONUS TIP*
Do you know that you also have the option to set a timer for the screenshot?
Click on options and then select the timer as per your need.
Option Tab
The main control center of the snipping tool has a list of options, and the ‘options’ section has the following features
- Firstly, you can decide where the screenshot will be saved.
- You can set the timer for capturing the screenshot or recording the screen vide
- You can also tick some additional options like ‘Floating Thumbnail, ‘ Mouse pointer,’ etc. to make them visible
2. Take a swift screenshot
The users sometimes don’t need the main control center or additional editing options for capturing the screen. Sometimes, one only requires a quick screenshot of the display.
Use the short command Shift+ command+ 3 to capture the screen instantly.
- Once the Mac captures a screenshot, it will be displayed at the bottom right corner of the screen for a few seconds
- You can also find it on the desktop as a newly saved file
- Your Mac also has the inbuilt feature to edit the screenshot and add shapes, text, or symbols to it
This method will capture the whole screen. To capture a selected area or window, follow the below-mentioned method.
3. Capture a selected area of the screen
To capture a part of the screen or a selected area, press the short command:
Shift+ command + 4
- Once you press the short command, a new pointer will appear
- You can then drag the pointer over the selected area to capture it
- The Mac will capture the part of the screen that is inside the rectangular box
- You can then view the screenshot on the desktop, on the top left side
Best Snipping tools for your Mac
Though handy, the snipping tool feature on your Mac has limited features. You might consider investing in a third-party tool if you require additional editing options.
However, developers are working at full throttle to provide Mac users with the best snipping tools for their needs.
Mentioned below are the top Mac snipping tools for 2022:
1. Text Snipper app
Text Sniper is a snipping tool that will help users to extract written text from the captured screenshots and video recordings. Apart from being user-friendly and handy, this app is relatively affordable and cheap.
Priced at $6 for one Macintosh OS, you can easily buy a bundle deal and get further discounts
2. Lightshot
The second on the list is the Lightshot tool. It has the great capability to take a screenshot at lightning speed (it might be a tad bit slower than actual lightning). It is also a free tool that can be ideal for users who prefer fast functions.
You can also edit and customize the screenshot using the editing tools.
3. SnapNDrag
SnapNDrag is the most straightforward and user-friendly snipping tool on the market. You can easily capture screenshots, edit the images, resize and restore them and make Google searches.
And the best part? This snipping tool has both free and paid versions, so you can select the ones that best Uist your needs.
4. Snagit
Last but not least, Snagit is another popular snipping tool for Macs. Apart from taking screenshots and recording videos, this tool can also create gifs and trim videos. It’s easy to use in three steps and can quickly become your favorite.
Conclusion
We hope you find our list of snipping tools and how you can play around with Mac’s built-in feature helpful. Also, you can easily capture the screen and perform edits using Mac’s short commands. It will save your time and energy.
So, are you ready to put this newly learned information to use?
Until next time!
