Windows only 
Taking screenshots is something I find myself doing all the time whether it be for an article I’m writing, or just trying to troubleshoot a problem at work. Lightscreen is the perfect tool because it’s not only open source and free, but it’s also unbelievably simple. It doesn’t include any annotation features, but you can choose to snap a screenshot of the entire screen, a particular window, a selected region, and more. Here are some of the highlights from the app:
- Can execute at Windows startup (hidden or displaying the main window).
- System tray icon for easy access.
- 5 configurable actions, each with it’s own hotkey (screen, window, area, etc).
- Multiple image formats (PNG, JPEG, etc) and image quality selector.
- A notification when the screenshot is taken.
- Screenshot delay.
If it sounds like something you’d like to try out, but don’t want to install it you can head on over to PortableApps.com. There you’ll find the no-install portable version of Lightscreen that you can play around with, and even carry on a USB drive for when those screenshot emergencies arise.
Get Lightscreen for Windows [via Lifehacker]
Thanks Sam K.
Gadwin PrintScreen [gadwin.com] is half the size and gives almost the same functions. There is not a portable version and it doesn’t support more than 1 hot key.
I never understood the fascination with snapshot tools. Why do people continue to look for and use them when the built in “ALT-Print Screen” or “CTRL-Print Screen” button method works on every Windows system, with no programs needed? From there, you can paste into Paint, or any other better image editing program and do what you want.
What am I missing here with this snapshot obsession?
How about taking multiple screenshots without having to switch to, or even use, another program? Or how about taking a screenshot of a region or object?
How about what everyone is looking for…more convenience, customization and less clicking thus creating a more efficient work environment. I love being able to hit 1 button, crop with my mouse and save, print or email the desired format within one application. Your method is soooooo 1998
Plus if my users had to do it with Windows built in tools, they would freak after already using something like Gadwin.
That is true, but when you’re taking a lot of screenshots using that method can be quite a pain. Having to open Paint just to crop a photo isn’t very convenient. The Snipping Tool, however, that’s included with Vista is another story. That should be more than sufficient even for those taking a lot of screenshots.
Thanks for the great answers. I guess I don’t take enough screenshots to worry about it that much. I edit documents for work often enough, and in those situations I’ll take many shots, but even still, using Paint to pull it over is hardly much work for me. I paste it, select the region I want, then paste it into Word. What’s more, when doing such a paste, I usually do a “Paste Special, as Picture” which reduces the size of the document dramatically. For some reason, other softwares don’t cut and paste that way, leading to monstrous doc files.
Well, I’ll stay in my “1998″ style… since it works on every computer, all the time. I don’t need to install anything to get it to work on customer’s computers
I agree with Schwinn’s comment that I don’t get why people are obsessed with snapshot programs, but only in the sphere of Windows Vista. As Ryan already mentioned Vista comes with the excellent “Snipping Tool”, totally unherallded and hidden away in the Accessories folder but it does everything one could want from a screenshot program – quick to take, quick to save, inline annotation, saves in a number of formats. Brilliant.
You can bet that if a Mac had that feature they’d give it some pretentious name and go on about how wonderful it is, but in true Microsoft style its got a dull name and very few people know about it – but it is there and it is great.
Since I don’t do much screen copy work, I use Irfanview
1. Print Screen
2. Open Irfanview and Paste
3. Mark the area and
Alt 1. Ctrl+C – Copy inside area
Alt 2. Ctrl+Y – Remove outside area and save file for Blog
There is also the possibility to put a Picture in Picture, or overlay.
This involves a few more steps but utilises the functionallity of already installed software. The biggest drawback off screen content.
I look forward to see Microsoft allow Windows plug-ins or enhance the Print Screen software.