This post from Fill the Funnel made me think about how important, and easy, it is to capture screenshots on your computer. Yet, if you don't use these tools or even know they exist, you can find yourself in a frustrating situation especially if you need a screenshot of an entire webpage, rather than just what is visible on the monitor (the Print Screen button will give you what is visible on the monitor).
What is a Screenshot?
Per Wikipedia: "A screenshot (or screen shot), screen capture (or screencap), screen dump, screengrab (or screen grab), or print screen is an image taken by the computer to record the visible items displayed on the monitor..... Usually this is a digital image taken by the host operating system or software running on the computer....
Screenshots can be used to demonstrate a program, a particular problem a user might be having or generally when display output needs to be shown to others or archived."
When Might a Screenshot Be Useful?
We often use screenshots when preparing a speech. The screenshots (or image captures) are helpful for the powerpoint deck. They can also be helpful for proposals or RFP responses. Also, as information is increasingly digital, the ability to capture an image because you do not have access to a printed copy is important.
Browser Add Ons
Depending on what browser you use, there are free screenshot solutions. I use Google Chrome and was told about Awesome Screenshot. I downloaded it and it works great. Fill the Funnel discussed Google Screen Capture and likes it.
Other browsers have free screenshot add ons as well. Search for the terms "website screenshot [fill in your browser name] add on" and you should get a good list.
(If you're on a Mac, this link should provide guidance.)
Powerful Screenshot Tool - Snagit
Snagit is a screenshot program that works with Windows and Mac OSX. It offers the ability to save screenshots as multiple image files. You can also add annotations. It contains numerous other powerful editing, sharing, and tagging tools. It's a great tool and worth the investment (of $49.95 as of this posting). I have no relationship with Snagit. I'm just a happy user.
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