[Windows 11] Enable Win + Shift + S (range screenshot) with one PrintScrn key: Tech TIPS

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For: Windows 11

Sometimes you may want to take screenshots (screen captures) for internal application manuals or for clipping small news articles. At that time, if you use the [PrintScrn] key, a screenshot of the entire desktop will be taken, so you have to use the "Paint" application to cut out the necessary part, which is troublesome (when taking a screenshot of Microsoft Edge There is also a method of using Tech TIPS "Capture the entire web page with Microsoft Edge").

Therefore, in this Tech TIPS, we will introduce how to take a screenshot (also called "screen capture" or "screen cut") by specifying a specific area in Windows 11. For the setting method in Windows 10, please refer to Tech TIPS "[Windows 10] Specify the range and capture the screen".

If you want to take a screenshot with a specified range, many people may use the Windows 11 "Snipping Tool" app. However, to launch the Snipping Tool app, you have to open the All Apps screen in the Start menu, scroll down to the "S" column, and click Snipping Tool. Hassle.

When you start the "Snipping Tool" app, set [Windows] + [Shift] + [S ] key is quicker (the "Snipping Tool" application has a function such as delayed capture, so you can use it according to your purpose).

Press Windows + Shift + S to gray out the entire desktop and display the toolbar at the top of the screen. From the left side of the toolbar, you can select "rectangular snip", "freeform snip", "window snip", and "full screen snip".

After selecting the shape you want to cut, you can select the area you want to shoot with the mouse. The cut area is saved on the clipboard, so open the "Paint" application or Microsoft Word and paste it with [Ctrl] + [V]. Even if you are in the middle of capturing, you can press the [Esc] key to end the screen clipping function and stop capturing.

Let me explain in a little more detail how to use each of the cropping methods.

When you press [Windows] + [Shift] + [S] and select "Rectangular Snip", the mouse pointer changes to "+". In this state, hold down the mouse button on the corner of the area you want to cut, drag it to the diagonal corner, and release the mouse button.

Press [Windows] + [Shift] + [S], select "Freeform Area Cut", and enclose the area you want to cut while pressing the mouse button. When you release the mouse button, the starting point is automatically connected with a straight line, allowing you to capture the enclosed area.

When you paste the cut area into an application such as the "Paint" application, the image itself becomes a rectangle that includes the cut area, and the area outside the range is filled with black. However, when pasted in Microsoft Word, the outside of the cut area is transparent, and it is also possible to pour characters along the area.

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