10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options

I'm not sure if these hot keys worked in 10.4 as well, but while taking a screenshot in Leopard using the standard Shift-Command-4, I instinctively tried the Space Bar (being a Photoshop user) to try to move the selection. To my surprise, it worked! So a few more include the following, which are a bit tough to explain in words, and are better simply tried out to see the results:

Begin taking a screenshot by pressing Shift-Command-4, then start dragging. Then press and hold the following keys while still dragging to modify the selection before letting go and taking the shot:

Space Bar -- moves the selection while maintaining the current size.
Shift -- locks the x or y axis, depending on which direction you move the mouse after holding the Shift key down. For example, hold Shift and move up or down to keep your selection the same width, or press and hold Shift and move left or right to keep your selection the same height.
Alt (or Option) -- changes your selection mode to resize from the center out as opposed to from one corner to another.

Those are the keys I've found so far. They're incredibly useful when taking a precision screenshot!

From our Sponsor...

The macosxhints Poll

What version of OS X are you running as your main OS?

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options | 20 comments | Create New Account

Click here to return to the '10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options' hint

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: simonpie on Mon, Nov 12 2007 at 3:27PM PST

Cool,

Also, before dragging, if you press space bar, you can take a snapshot of a window and choose any window.

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: zebrum on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 4:47AM PST

It takes a much nicer pic of the window in Leopard too. There is a bigger border which shows the full drop shadow.

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: DCJ001 on Mon, Nov 12 2007 at 4:27PM PST

Here's one that I like:

If you depress the Control Key, then Command-Shift-4 (I use middle finger, thumb, index finger - in that order - of my left hand and depress the 4 with my right index finger) the selected are is copied onto the clipboard to be pasted in another application such as Photoshop, Word, etc.

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: robg on Mon, Nov 12 2007 at 8:01PM PST

The control key bit was added in 10.2.

-rob.

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: b3uk on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 5:52AM PST

You don't need to press command _first_. Press command-shift-4 (with your left hand), then drag your selection, and hold down control as you let go of the drag.

That'll put it on your clipboard without having to take your hand off the mouse :)

---
"Do it now. Today will be yesterday tomorrow"
- Talking Moose

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: michelle_eris on Mon, Nov 12 2007 at 5:19PM PST

And as expected, pressing the escape key before releasing the mouse button will cancel the screen grab.

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: jic2000 on Mon, Nov 12 2007 at 7:48PM PST

I can verify that these don't work in 10.4.

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: earthsaver on Mon, Nov 12 2007 at 8:23PM PST

You can also combine use of Option and Shift to restrict central resizing to one axis, and Shift and Space to restrict movement of the selection to one axis.

---
- Ben Rosenthal
PBG4 1.25 - Leopard

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: kostia on Mon, Nov 12 2007 at 9:12PM PST

I was really hoping this would allow me to capture windows that had been moved outside the screen bounds, but no.

I'm CERTAIN there are some widgets that are open and running that I can't see (they seem to have moved when I changed between monitors recently), but I have no idea how to get to them and quit them.

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: meikokun on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 2:53AM PST

you can see if there really are any widgets open that you can't see on the screen by opening the activity monitor in your utilities folder

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: morespace54 on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 8:37AM PST

An other option (not as nice as previous post) would be to open Widget Manager, deselect *all* your widgets (which will closed them) then reselect the ones you use.

10.5: Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: Kiwibloke on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 1:25AM PST

I tried it but up-stuffed and clicked the space bar, after command shift 4, without click-dragging first. The cursor turns into a camera icon and high-lights the window beneath it, clicking then grabs all of the contents of the window.

Doing it over a partially obscured window grabs all of that one.

regards

10.4 (!): Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: tobyvoss on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 3:45AM PST

i can confirm that this works in 10.4, offering functionality you'd otherwise need the Grab.app services for. insanely useful!

10.4 (!): Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: JimAkin on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 5:09AM PST

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I can't get it to work in OS X 10.4.

---
Jim

10.4 (!): Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: DCJ001 on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 5:22AM PST

If it's not working for you, you might be pressing the 4 key on the number keypad (which does not work). It's important to use the 4 key that is above the E & R on the main keyboard.

10.4 (!): Use extra region capture screenshot options
Authored by: robg on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 5:24AM PST

Camera-capture mode has also been around since 10.2.

-rob.

Comments Summarized
Authored by: sr105 on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 7:18AM PST

Cmd + Opt + 3 -- Whole Screen
Cmd + Opt + 4 -- Cross Hairs

immediately

Space -- switches to Capture Window

while moving

Space -- maintains capture size while moving the capture box
Shift -- locks the X or Y axis depending on next movement
Option -- resize from a center point rather than from a corner
Space + Shift -- restrict box movement to one axis
Option + Shift -- restrict central resize to one axis

when done (add these before releasing mouse button)

Control -- captures to clipboard
Escape -- cancel

Comments Summarized
Authored by: bkemper on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 7:56AM PST

Command-SHIFT-3 and Command-SHIFT-4 (not option).

Comments Summarized (corrected)
Authored by: sr105 on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 9:40AM PST

thanks.

Cmd + Shift + 3 -- Whole Screen
Cmd + Shift + 4 -- Cross Hairs

Comments Summarized
Authored by: DCJ001 on Tue, Nov 13 2007 at 8:22AM PST

By: sr105 on Tue, Nov 13 '07 at 7:18AM PST
Cmd + Opt + 3 -- Whole Screen
Cmd + Opt + 4 -- Cross Hairs

Actually, the following is correct:

Cmd + Shift + 3 -- Whole Screen
Cmd + Shift + 4 -- Cross Hairs

Hint Options

Search

From our Sponsor...

User Functions

What's New:

Hints

Comments last 2 days

Links last 2 weeks

What's New in the Forums?

The Editor's Corner...

Hints by Topic

News from Macworld

The macosxhints Poll