How do you take a "graphic snapshot" in OS X?

[kavika411]

I read somewhere once of a method for using function keys (or the Apple key) in combination with your mouse to make a cut and paste of the image you are looking at. Can anyone help me with that? Thank you.

 

[72930]

Shift+ +3 is the whole page
Shift+ +4 allows you to make a selection

 

[mkrishnan]

Yeah... there are a few commands; the most useful are:

Apple-shift-3 -- full screen goes to a file on the desktop.
Apple-shift-4 -- crosshairs, selection goes to file on the desktop.

Add Ctrl to either one and it goes to the clipboard instead.

 

[Sherman Homan]

< Apple Shift 3 > takes the whole screen.
< Apple Shift 4 > gives you cross hairs to control the exact picture.\

Edit: mkrishnan's posting foo is strong, faster than mine. Yikes! So is psychofreak's!

 

[mkrishnan]

You can also control the default format for the versions that save to the desktop...

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050627224051361

So you can make it jpg instead of png if you'd like.

 

[Eraserhead]

But since png is lossless it can be converted perfectly to other formats.

 

[mkrishnan]

But since png is lossless it can be converted perfectly to other formats.

True, true... I do it mostly for convenience -- e.g. I can attach the jpg's directly on the web and they're smaller. Although now, I just use Skitch to simplify getting screenshots onto the internet, since I can get a URL in a couple of clicks without having to create and delete files.

 

[Eraserhead]

I do it mostly for convenience -- e.g. I can attach the jpg's directly on the web and they're smaller.

Very true, it does have its uses to convert them.

 

[janey]

Shift+ +4 allows you to make a selection

shift+ +4+spacebar lets you select windows instead of a cursor selection.

 

[AdamL]

shift+ +4+spacebar lets you select windows instead of a cursor selection.

That's neat. I didn't know about that one. Thanks.