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Windows 8 Use Snipping Tool in Windows 8/8.1

How to Use Snipping Tool in Windows 8/8.1

By Michael | Last Updated

Although many users know there is an app called Snipping Tool in Windows 8 computer, some of them may have no idea how to use it to capture screens, not to mention editing and saving the snipped. Consequently, this article will provide detailed tips on how to use the Snipping Tool.

Tips for using Snipping Tool in Windows 8/8.1 computer:

Tip 1: Open the Snipping Tool.

For more information, please refer to Where is the Snipping Tool in Windows 8.

Tip 2: Choose a snip type.

As the Snipping Tool window shows up, click the down arrow beside New and select a snip type from Free-form Snip, Rectangular Snip (default selection), Window Snip and Full-screen Snip.

click down arrow and choose a snip type

Tips 3: Make more changes to the settings in Options.

Click Options in the window of Snipping Tool, and then make changes to the settings of Application and Selection according to the specific needs in the pop-up window of Snipping Tool Options.

tap options to make application and selection settings

Tip 4: Begin snipping screen.

Click New to start capturing screen.

click new to begin snipping screen

Tip 5: Cancel capturing screen.

Click the Cancel button to undo the snipping before you get down to capture a screen if you find the Snipping Tool window is in the area you want to capture or something unexpected occurs.

click cancel button to cancel snip

Tips 6: Capture screen by the selected snip type.

The operations to capture screen by use of the four snip types are separately illustrated below.

1. If the Free-form Snip option is chosen, after clicking New, you can drag a line to form any shape (regular or irregular) around the area you want to capture.

draw a line around the area you want to capture

2. If you choose the Rectangular Snip, tap New and drag the cursor around the area you want to capture and the chosen area will be snipped in rectangular shape.

drag the cursor around the area you want to capture

3. Suppose Window Snip is selected, click New and choose the window you would like to capture.

select the window you want to capture

4. If Full-screen Snip is chosen, the full screen will be captured automatically.

choose full screen snip to capture the full screen

Tip 7: Edit, copy, send and save the screen snipped.

1. In the Snipping Tool window storing the snipped screen, on the Tool Bar, click the down arrow beside the Pen button, and select a pen with the color you like. Then you can use it to write something on the screen shot.

choose a pen to write sth on the snip

2. Choose Highlighter button and use the tool to highlight something you would like to emphasize on the snip.

use highlighter tool to highlight sth on the snip

3. Click the Eraser icon and apply the eraser to remove the thing you wrote or highlighted wrongly.

use eraser to erase the thing you wrote or highlighted

4. Click the Copy button to duplicate the screen shot.

click copy button to copy the screen shot

5. Click the mail button to send the snip to other people by email if an email program has been installed in the computer.

send the snip by email

6. Tap Save button to save the snip in the computer.

tap save icon to save the screen shot

7. Click New to make a new snip.

click new to make a new snip

Note: All the functions in tip 7 can be found in the Menu Bar tabs (i.e. File, Edit and Tools).

all functions included in menu bar tabs

Tip 8: Close the Snipping Tool.

Click the close button on the top right corner, or press Alt+F4 hotkeys to turn it off.

click close button to turn off snipping tool

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