Share via

Snipping Tool tips and tricks in Windows 8

  • Article

Snipping Tool is a very useful application which lets you easily take snapshots in Windows. If you usually write or type, make reports ... etc, I bet that you've known about this software. Ok, in this article I will show you some tips and tricks whilst using it that I guess you don't know.

Where is Snipping Tool located?

The file: SnippingTool.exe is located in the System32 folder:
► C:\Windows\System32 
Its shortcut can be found in the following location: 
► C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories

How to open/run Snipping Tool as fast as possible?

There're 3 tips to do this:

  1. The fastest method is using Hotkey, to make hotkey to open/run this application lets follow below instructions:
  • Open C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories
  • Right click to Snipping Tool then choose Properties as following figure:

   

  • Remember that you have to choose its shortcut, don't you choose the file: SnappingTool.exe
  • Click to Shortcut tab then click to None as following:

   

 

  • Now you can use whatever key or key combination to make Hotkey to open/run it(Example: F7, F11 or Ctrl + F1, Alt + O ... etc), the key or key combination will replace "None", then you click to Ok. After that, you can using Hotkey to run Snipping Tool.
  1. The second method:
  • Using key combination: Windows + R, copy: SnippingTool.exe then paste to Run box:

   

 

  • Enter
  1. Click to Start then type: snip -> press Enter.

Some tips and tricks for using Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool allows you to take 4 different types of screenshots, this is its interface:

 

   

 

  • Free-form Snip lets you draw and captures any irregular part of the screen
  • Rectangular Snip will allow you to drag the cursor around an object to form a rectangle
  • Window Snip will let you select an open window, such as a browser window or dialog box and let you capture it
  • Full-screen snip will capture the entire screen when you select this type of snip.

 1. Clicking on Win+PrntScr in Windows 8 will let you capture the screenshot as per your settings. The image is automatically saved in your Pictures folder.

  

   

 
2. Disable white overlay

When the Snipping Tool is open and active, a white overlay appears. If you want to turn it off, you can do so via its Options. Uncheck the option to Show screen overlay when Snipping Tool is active.

 

   

 

To save the image, you have to click on the Save Snip button An extra feature in Windows 8 is that the full screen shots are automatically saved in your Pictures folder.

If you wish to share a snip, you can click the Arrow on the Send Snip button, and then select an (email) option from the menu.

The Snipping Tool will not normally work on the start screen. You will be able to only capture the full start screen using the Win+PrntScr buttons and not a part of the start screen. If you click your alloted hotkey when on the start screen, your windows will automatically switch to the desktop mode with the snipping tool opened. 

But there is a trick to do so, which we will see a bit later!

  1. Capture Context Menu using Snipping Tool

If you wish to capture screenshots of your context menu  start Snipping Tool and click on Esc. Next right-click on the desktop, file or folder and then press Ctrl+PrntScr. This will let you capture the right-click context menu. In Windows 7 you can also capture the start menu using this trick.

 

   

 4. Capture parts of Windows 8 Start Screen

In Windows 8, to capture a part of your start screen, open Snipping Tool, press Esc. Next, press Win key yo switch to Start Screen and then press Ctrl+PrntScr. Now move your mouse cursor around the desired area. This will let you capture a part of your Windows 8 start screen. To capture the entire Start Screen, you can of course, press Win+PrntScr.

Soucre: http://tipsandtricksforum.com/