On Windows 10 and 8, press Windows Key+PrtScn to capture the entire screen. On Windows 7 and earlier, press PrtScn. To capture only the active window, press Alt+PrtScn. To capture specific parts of the screen, use the Windows Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch. Jun 03, 2017 I run 6 accounts simultaneously and would like to be able to allow OBS to follow my actions by capturing the output of the display with focus (monitor with active window). As I am playing with 6 different monitors all supporting the same resolution I considered setting up the output to display all 6 at the same time, but the quality is beyond. How to capture an active window. I have a log that needs to be scrolled to be able to read all of its information. I an working with someone on an issue i am having with video conversion. How can i capture the conversion log screen so that i can post it to an email or forum so the person i am sending it to can scroll the conversion log. I was in the same situation. The easiest way for me was as follows. Hit the PrintScreen key. This will put a full screen grab on the paint canvas which you can then crop just to show the bit you're interested in and save as a BMP, PNG, or JPEG file.
dotTech has reviewed the best free screenshot programs for Windows. However, screenshot programs aren't for everyone and some people like to stick with the ole fashion Print Screen -> paste in Microsoft Paint method. The issue with tapping Print Screen to take a screenshot is it takes a screenshot of your whole screen. Sometimes this is desirable while other times it is not. The good news is Windows has the ability to take a screenshot of just your active window or program, too — so you don't have to be forced to take a snapshot of your whole screen. This article shows you how to do just that
WHAT IS ‘ACTIVE WINDOW'?
Before you learn a trick on how to take a screenshot of the active window, it is a good idea to actually know what ‘active window' means.
It is actually pretty simple. Most current microsoft office. ‘Active window' is simply the window or program that you are currently in — the window or program that you are actively using. For example, let's say you have three windows open — Firefox, Internet Explorer, and My Documents. Then let's say you are currently using Firefox. The active window, therefore, is Firefox. If you switch to Internet Explorer and start using it, Internet Explorer becomes the active window. Same holds true for My Documents or any other window or program that you have open.
HOW TO TAKE SCREENSHOT OF ACTIVE WINDOW ONLY
As already mentioned, tapping Print Screen (or PRT SC, as some keyboards call it) takes a screenshot of your whole screen. If you want to take a screenshot of your active window only, you need to hold ALT while pressing Print Screen. In other words, pressing ALT + Print Screen takes a screenshot of only the active window.
Application Window
Once you press ALT + Print Screen, a screenshot of the active window is copied to Windows Clipboard; you need to open up your favorite image editor (e.g. Microsoft Paint), paste the screenshot, and save it — just like you would do if you used just Print Screen.
Active Window Products
CONCLUSION
Active Window Screen Capture
People that use screenshot tools have no issue capturing active window only. However, people that prefer to stick to Print Screen will definitely enjoy the added capability of active window only. Enjoy!
Inactive Window
[Thanks Grantwhy, image via Phil Sexton]
