Q: What is the Windows Snipping Tool and how do I use it? ( 2552 views)     2/24/2007 2:47:08 PM | Posted By: Admin What is the Windows Snipping Tool and how do I use it? A:  There are many times when the user wants to get a screenshot of multiple windows, but doesn’t need the entire desktop. To get just what you want, this often means having to edit the picture. The new Snipping Tool in Vista allows the user to select exactly what they want to include in the screenshot with a simple and easy to use tool. No longer will the user have to remember to press Alt+PrintScreen to get the active window, or take the time to edit out what they don’t want included in the screenshot. Windows Vista Snipping Tool gives the user 4 types of snips to choose from to get just what they want in a screenshot. There is a Freeform snip, a Rectangular snip, a Window snip, and the Fullscreen snip. These options allow much more flexibility to the user and allow for much more creative screenshots. In Windows Vista build 5365 and up, the Snipping tool may be accessed from Start Menu>All Programs>Accessories>Snipping Tool, or by entering ‘Snipping Tool’ (or even just ‘Snipping’) into the search box on the Start Menu. The first time you use the Snipping Tool, you will be provided an option to add it to your quick launch bar. Once a user has captured a snip, there are a number of great features which are built into the Snipping Tool program. There is a configurable pen tool which you can use to draw on the captured image in various colors and line styles. A yellow highlighter is also available to highlight text and other areas of your captured image. An eraser is included which will erase either pen or highlighting marks you have made on the image. These tools are especially helpful when taking screenshots for bug reports as they allow you to highlight and emphasize items related to the bug. The snipping tool will allow you to save the captured in images in a variety of formats - a single file HTML document (MHT), as well as PNG, GIF, or JPG formats. You can also send to an  email recipient either embedded in the email, or as an attachment. This is a great little tool which greatly improves the ability to take custom screenshots from within Windows. Although it is a basic and simple program, it fulfills a need for users, and is a welcome addition to Windows Vista.