Screen captures are images of what is visible on a monitor or screen, generated by software or a camera. They can be used to demonstrate procedures, illustrate problems, or showcase graphics in video games. Screen captures can also be used in guides, fanart, and troubleshooting electronic devices. Some programs and devices have built-in screen capture capabilities. Copyright infringement is a concern, but screen captures are generally protected by fair use laws.
A screen capture is an image of what is visible on a monitor or screen. It is also sometimes known as a screen dump or screenshot. These images can be generated by software within the operating system or by a camera that records the image output. A screen capture can be used to display screen content for various uses, to demonstrate a procedure or program, or to illustrate a problem.
Screen captures are often featured on video game packages. These images can demonstrate the quality of the graphics used in the game. They can also reveal the characters and settings that are presented throughout the game.
A video game screen capture can also be used in guides designed to assist users. The images can illustrate a technique, or path, that will help with advancement or accomplishment through the game. Screenshots are also sometimes used on websites that review or sell video games.
Entertainment-based screen captures are prevalent online. A fan of a TV show or movie can use a screen capture to create an icon for use on an Internet forum or website. These images can also be integrated into fanart. Fanart is a work of art that generally uses images from various entertainment-based visual media sources. This can take the form of wallpapers, banners or other creative projects.
Some programs have a built-in ability to create a screen capture. Both Apple® Mac OS X and Microsoft® Windows® allow users to easily copy images of what is on the screen. In Mac OS X, command + shift + 3 takes a screenshot of the entire screen. Windows users can achieve the same purpose by pressing the Print Screen key. The resulting image is placed on your computer’s clipboard and can be edited using photo editing software.
iPhone® and iPod® Touch devices also have screen capture capabilities. Pressing and holding the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons simultaneously will create a .png image of the current screen and save it to your device. These images can then be transferred via email or computer sync.
Diagnostically, screen captures can be helpful when troubleshooting a problem with an electronic device. When referring to a specific screen or part of a program, a screenshot usually clarifies the issue to customer service personnel. Images are also useful for providing clear instructions for a particular piece of software or device in a guide or other support document.
A big question related to the use of screenshots is copyright infringement. Some companies may object to the manipulation and use of screenshots of their products, programs or software by anyone other than the owner. In general, screen captures are thought to be protected by the fair use clause in US copyright law.
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