This article was written in 2012. I am updating it in 2022 for new versions of MacOS. The process is the same, but the buttons and names have changed.
In my line of work, I often find it easier to include a screenshot of a task to help people understand how to accomplish something rather than a lengthy written explanation. As they say, a picture (or screenshot) is worth a thousand words.
If you have an Apple computer, you already have a handy tool to help you not only take a screenshot but also annotate it for greater clarity.
Taking a Screenshot
If you don’t have a tool like Snapz Pro, you can still take a screenshot or screen recording using keystrokes or the built-in Screenshot app.
Learn more about the Screenshot app from Apple.
- Command-Shift-5 – will open up the screenshot app and give you several options or you can open the Screenshot app from Launcher.
- Esc – will let you exit
Annotating Your Screenshot
Once you have captured the area of your screen you want to share, you can use Preview (available in Applications) to annotate the image for greater clarity.
Hi Sylvia
many thanks for your instructions on how to annotate. I am doing a degree at UNE Armidale Australia and I need to know how to open my screen shot in preview. I have taken a screenshot, edited it but I know need to annotate it. I donnot know how to open it in preview. I have dragged the screen shot from all my files in finder to word but I can’t do that for preview. Do you have any tips please??
many thanks Serena
Hi, the application is actually called Preview. It’s available in Mac OS as a standard application in the Applications folder. If you have a Windows operating system, you would need to use something else. I would do a Google search for “annotate screenshots windows” to see what is available.