Ever like a picture and want to capture it instantly to email, embed in a document, or use it as your desktop background etc.? You can do so by taking its screenshot, also known as screen capture. Windows 7 makes taking screenshots easier with both the Print Screen key and a built-in Snipping Tool. Below mentioned is the free Windows 7 support guide that will help you take a screenshot and also save it as a picture.

Instructions:

Before you begin taking a screenshot, make sure that the Num Lock, Insert, Scroll Lock, keys are turned off. When done, open a program window or webpage what screenshot you want to take. For example, open your web browser and look for a screensaver or wallpaper. When it is opened, click Print Scrn SysRq key on the keyboard and you are done. The screen has been captured and simply needs to be copied to a Paint or word file. Even if you do not copy the picture to any file, it will automatically be copied as a clip to the Office Clipboard.

If you only press the Print Scrn SysRq key, the entire screen will be captured. If you want to capture only an active window, press and hold the Alt key and then press the Print Scrn SysRq . When done, copy the image on a paint or word file etc. See below to learn how to copy an image on a Paint file. The procedure remains the same for other files also like MS-Word, Excel etc.

For example, if you want to copy the picture to a Paint file, use this method. Click the Start button and browse to All Programs > Accessories > Paint . This will open up a new Paint file. Right-click the screen and click Paste . Or, you can click the Paste button at top right hand corner of the window. When done pasting the picture, click the Home tab and resize or rotate the picture as desired.

When done, save the changes by pressing the Ctrl and S keys together on the keyboard. Type a name of the file and then click the Save button. Your picture is now ready for use. You can now either email it, embed in a document, or simply set it as your Desktop wallpaper. Other than the Print Screen key, Windows 7 integrates a Snipping Tool that helps you take screenshots either of the entire screen or a portion of it.

Yes, the Print Screen key does not offer you to capture a part of the screen but the entire screen or the active window. However, Snipping tool lifts up this limitation to make screen capturing easy. Click the Start button and click Snipping Tool from the start-up programs. If you do not see type 'snipping tool' in the start-up programs, type 'snipping tool' (without quotes) in the Start Search window. As you type it, you will see Snipping Tool in the search results. Click to open Snipping Tool.

When done, you will see a small Snipping Tool box. Click and drag the scissor-shaped icon (encircled red) to take the screenshot. Stretch the selector to capture a desired portion or the entire screen and you are done. You will see your captured image in the Snipping Tool dialog box. Make the desired changes to the image and save it. It will be saved as a JPG image. Exit the Snipping Tool box.

Look for your picture in the location you saved it into and either share it via email or post it on your Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter profile. The tool is faster and easier to use than the Print Screen key.

Additional Tips:

If you face problems while taking a screenshot or using the Snipping Tool, contact Microsoft Windows 7 support.