How to Take a Snapshot of a Windows Computer Screen. You can take a "snapshot" of a Windows computer screen and then turn it into a graphic using a graphics software application. This is useful for reproducing a Web page in print or for documenting an error message for technical support.
Step 1
Set up your computer to display the screen that you want to capture. For example, if you want to take a picture of your Web site, open your home page in the browser that you normally use.
Video of the Day
Step 2
Press the Print Screen button on your keyboard. This captures a "snapshot" on the Clipboard.
Step 3
Open a graphics program, such as MS Paint.
Step 4
Open a new file.
Step 5
Paste the contents of the Clipboard into your document (Ctrl+V).
Step 6
Your file now contains an image of the screen that you captured. Name your file and save it in the graphics format of your choice.
Things You'll Need
Adobe Photoshop
Paint Shop Pro
Tip
Your graphics software allows you to edit, resize or modify the screen capture.
Warning
The original image will be large - in fact, it will be the same size as your computer screen. You may want to resize it.