How to Take a Cropped Screenshot on a Dell Computer

Taking a cropped screenshot is a handy skill whether you need a quick visual for a support ticket or want to share a specific part of your screen. On a Dell computer, you have a few built-in options to capture and crop screenshots easily. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you do it efficiently.

Using Snipping Tool or Snip Sketch in Windows 10 and Later

To take a cropped screenshot on a Dell computer, you can use the built-in Snipping Tool or Snip Sketch (only available in Windows 10 and later). Here’s how to do it:

Using Snipping Tool

Open Snipping Tool:

Press the Windows Key Shift S. This will activate the snipping toolbar. Alternatively, you can search for “Snipping Tool” in the Start menu.

Select the Snip Type:

Choose from four options: Rectangular Snip, Freeform Snip, Window Snip, or Full-screen Snip.

Capture the Screenshot:

Select the area you want to capture by clicking and dragging your mouse for Rectangular or Freeform snip. Release the mouse button to take the screenshot.

Save or Edit the Screenshot:

After capturing a notification will appear. Click on it to open the screenshot in Snip Sketch where you can annotate, save, or share it.

Using Snip Sketch

Activate Snip Sketch:

Press the Windows Key Shift S. This will open the Snip Sketch tool, dimming your screen and displaying a small menu at the top.

Select the type of snip you want: Rectangular, Freeform, Window, or Full-screen.

Select the Area:

Click and drag your mouse to highlight the area you want to capture. The captured screenshot will be copied to your clipboard and appear in the Snip Sketch window.

Annotate and Save:

If you need, you can annotate the screenshot by using the tools provided. Then, click on the disk icon to save it.

Using Print Screen and Paint

If the built-in tools are not available or you prefer a different method, you can also use the traditional Print Screen functionality combined with Paint:

Capture the Screen

Capture the Entire Screen:

Press the PrtScn key to capture the entire screen. This will copy the screenshot to your clipboard.

Capture Just the Active Window:

Press Alt PrtScn to capture just the active window.

Open Paint and Crop the Image

Open Paint:

Search for “Paint” in the Start menu to open it.

Paste the Screenshot:

Press Ctrl V to paste the screenshot into Paint.

Crop the Image:

Use the select tool to highlight the area you want to keep. Once selected, use the crop tool to cut out the unwanted parts.

Save the Cropped Image:

Go to File > Save As to save your cropped image.

Remember that the steps might vary slightly depending on your specific Dell model and the version of Windows you are using. If you have a different operating system or the tools mentioned above are not available, you might need to explore third-party screenshot tools or check for any specific applications that Dell might bundle with its computers.