How to Use Snagit for Screen Captures

Last Updated: May 6, 2021

Snagit is a screen capture software that can be downloaded on either PCs or Macs. If you're interested in using this program on your computer, do a basic installation and you'll be able to share and edit tons of pictures or videos.

Steps

1
Get Snagit! Go out and buy Snagit or download the 30-day trial for free.
2
Open the web-page, word document or any other thing you want to snag. The software is able to take a picture or video of any part of your computer screen, or the whole thing.

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3
Click the "Snagit" button at the top of the screen, in your menu bar. If Snagit isn't open, open it first and then find the Snagit icon.
4
Select whether you want an image or a video capture.
5
Observe the screen highlighting. Your general screen should dim, and depending on where you move your mouse, various parts of the screen should become lighter. This light area is the selected portion for the screencast.
6
Adjust the selection so the right portion of the screen is highlighted.
- If you move your mouse over a particular window or area of the screen and it goes bright, you can click once to automatically select that whole area (usually a particular window or portion of the window, which the software picks out automatically).
- If you want to create a custom selection rather than one of the defaults, click your mouse at one corner of the area, hold the button down while you drag the box to the right size and shape, and then release the button.
7
Press record, for a video. If you're taking a video screen capture, press record to start the recording. Wait for the countdown and then complete whatever your desired actions are on the screen. If the audio is on, you can also narrate and the video will record the noise picked up by the computer's microphone. When you're done, press the stop button.
- If you're capturing just an image, this step isn't relevant; the image will open right after you release the mouse button.
8
Wait. Your screen capture image or video will open up in the Snagit software. From there, you can edit it (if it's an image); you can crop the image, blur particular areas, and add arrows, shapes, icons, and text. When you're happy with the result, you can select one of the various options for saving it to your desktop, copying it to your clipboard, emailing it to someone, or sharing it online (through screencast.com or one of the alternative social media/web options).

Community Q&A

Question

How do I use Snagit for full screen PowerPoint?

Community Answer

Snagit is better too take screen shots. Use snipping tools instead, which is available in Windows 10.