Capture an active window

[Britton30]

An alternative to using the snipping tool to grab a partial screenshot, make the window you want to capture Active. Press ALT+PRNTSCRN and that will place only the active window on the clipboard. Open MS Paint or your favorite graphics editor and use CTRL+V or the Paste function to open the saved image.

 

[jcgriff2]

The Fn key is also needed for most laptops.

 

[bassfisher6522]

Or you could just use the print screen key....works every time for dekstop/laptop.

 

[Tekno Venus]

I use this all the time, better quality than the snipping tool too. The snipping tool compresses the image so much, it's amazing.

Or you could just use the print screen key....works every time for desktop/laptop.

The advantage with Alt + PrintScreen is it captures only the active window so you don't have to crop it

 

[cluberti]

Note if you've got the full Onenote installed from Office 2010 or 2013 Preview, you can press win+S to select and copy to the clipboard (and to a onenote, of course).

 

[Digerati]

I actually like Windows 7 Snipping tool. But like most Windows "tools" it is designed to provide only the basic essential functions. I used to use SnatIt, but they got too greedy and stopped offering a free version for home, non-commercial use. So when I need something a bit more advanced, I really like Greenshot – a free, open source alternative screenshot program to the $50 SnagIt.

 

[Wrench97]

Greenshot is good I've been using it for awhile now.

 

[bassfisher6522]

Ahh...roger that...I'll mess around with it...thanks.

 

[jcgriff2]

SNAGIT is awesome as are the other TechSmith products.

 

[Digerati]

SNAGIT is awesome

It is. But $50 is outrageous - especially when programs like GreenShot are around.

 

[usasma]

FWIW -

Just found a clue today about screen capture utilities.
If unable to capture a screen shot with the utility - try renaming the executable to something else and see if it works.

Some anti-screen shot utilities only screen by file name - so the rename can get around it.