Screen shots are used throughout the internet marketing industry to show off particular features of web pages or sites, demonstrating certain features of software programs, or show up close attributes of consumer products. Affiliate marketers and money "gurus" use them extensively to lend credibility to their earning claims such as screen captures of Clickbank earnings. There are many programs available for a fee that will capture screen shots, however there is a way make a screen capture free which most people are unaware.

The Often Ignored Printscreen Key (PrtSc on the qwery keyboard)

This little key is often overlooked by thousands yet contains a lot of power. It can be used to produce a quick and easy screen shot. Here's the "skinny" on the often ignored printscreen key:

When you have a particular screen on your computer, whether from a program or browser, simply press the printscreen key. This key is typically located somewhere on the upper right hand section of a qwerty keyboard (usually labeled "PrtSc", but may have some other notation). Laptop users may have to press the "function" key in conjunction with the printscreen key.

After doing this, open the "Paint" program in Windows (Start, All Programs, Accessories, Paint). Once the program is opened then simply click "edit", then "paste". This immediately pastes the desired screen image into the paint program. Save this image as a jpeg (File, Save As, "your screen shot name"). Make sure your save it in the format "jpeg".

If you only want a part of the screen image to use for a screen shot you can use the "select" tool to crop what you want. After you make your selection then right-click inside of the selection and click "copy". Close out the image by clicking "File" then "New". Click "No" when asked if you want to save your changes. After this click "Edit" then "Paste". The cropped image now appears in the paint program.

Make sure to re-size the palette around the image by dragging the re-sizing bar at the bottom right of the paint program (small blue box). Save the cropped image as a jpeg file under an easy to remember name. The image can then be edited by using the many tools in the toolbar at the left hand side of the paint program.

Many creative things can be done to screen shots using the Windows paint program. Using a little imagination with this screen capture free method can add spice to your visuals and liven up your campaign.