[Peaches4U]

It seems that many people know they have a key on their keyboard named "Print Screen", but they don't know how to work with it.

Using Paint to Print Screen whole page:

This is great for showing off your desktop or maybe the look of your browser and usually needs to be resized if you want to attach it here to fit the forum's 100 KB limit. In that case I would suggest uploading (hosting) it at another site to store there and use their bandwidth. Once uploading, certain URL's are given to use so that they can be shown at this forum.

Some great, free sites are:
ImageShack
ImageVenue
PhotoBucket

1. Click on PRINT SCREEN on your keyboard (you won't hear any noises and it will seem like nothing happened, but your computer is storing the screen picture on an invisible clipboard)
2. open PAINT(Start>Programs>Accessories)
3. click EDIT>PASTE
4. click FILE>SAVE AS
5. Browse to where ever you want to save it.
6. Name it something
7. change the file from a .bmp to a .jpg under SAVE AS TYPE

Using Paint to Print Screen and Resize a page:

Some forums, have size limits for attachments and you'll need to resize a print screen in order to fit it in.

1. Click on PRINT SCREEN.
2. open PAINT
3. click EDIT>PASTE
4. click IMAGE>STRETCH/SKEW to reduce the size
5. click FILE>SAVE AS
6. Browse to where ever you want to save it.
7. Name it something
8. change the file from a .bmp to a .jpg under SAVE AS TYPE

Using Paint to PrintScreen An open Window:

This is the one you want to use if you're asked to show or want to show an "open window" like an error message. This is an open window. Many people make a mistake of print screening the whole page, then have to resize it to get it under 100 KB. At this point, the error message is unreadible or you need a magnifying glass to see it.

1. Hold down the "Alt" key on your computer
2. While holding it down, click on PrintScreen.
3. open PAINT
4. click EDIT>PASTE
5. click IMAGE>STRETCH/SKEW to reduce the size
6. click FILE>SAVE AS
7. Browse to where ever you want to save it.
8. Name it something
9. change the file from a .bmp to a .jpg under SAVE AS TYPE

Using Paint to Print Screen and Crop part of a page:

1. Click on PRINT SCREEN.
2. open PAINT
3. click EDIT>PASTE
4. On the left side bar, choose the SELECT tool so that the dotted lines bordering your picture disappear.
5. Using your left mouse button, draw down and across to cover the area you want cropped.
6. Click on EDIT>CUT
7. Click on FILE >NEW
8. When it asks you to "Save changes to Untitled", say NO.
9. Click on EDIT>PASTE.
10. click FILE>SAVE AS
11. Browse to where ever you want to save it.
12. Name it something
13. change the file from a .bmp to a .jpg under SAVE AS TYPE

You should think about installing IrfanView or XnView. These will give you more options and make things easier. They are not only used for functions such as pasting a print screen, but also have options such as photo editing, slideshows, and a picture browser in thumbnail form.

http://www.xnview.com/
http://www.irfanview.com/


Using IrfanView/XNView to Print Screen

1. Press PRINT SCREEN on the keyboard. (nothing will seem to happen)
2. Open Irfanview/XNView
3. XNView...Click on FILE | IMPORT CLIPBOARD
3. Irfanview...Click on EDIT | PASTE
4. Click on IMAGE | RESIZE and make it smaller (either 640x480 or 800x600 pixels)
5. Make sure there is a check to "preserve aspect ratio" so it doesn't get distorted.
6. Click FILE | SAVE AS and where it says "File as type", click on the arrow to show the dropdown list and choose jpg-jpeg.
7. Browse to the folder where you want to save this.
8. Press SAVE.

If you don't want to show the whole screen as a Print Screen, you have two choices:
* PrintScreen just an open window by holding down the "Alt" key on your computer, and while holding it down, click on PrintScreen.
* Crop it. (For Irfanview/XNView)
1. Click on PRINT SCREEN.
2. Open up IrfanView/XnView
3. XnView...Click on FILE | IMPORT CLIPBOARD.
3. IrfanView...Click on EDIT | PASTE.
4. XnView...Click on IMAGE | AUTOMATIC CROP.
4. IrfanView...follow the steps below.
5. Go to the area where you want to start cropping.
6. Hold down your left mouse key and drag it, creating a box any size you want.When finished, let go.
7. Click on EDIT | CROP.
8. Click on FILE | SAVE AS and save it as a .jpg in any folder you browse to.

If you have Paint Shop Pro it also has a screen capture utility installed.