Just like to take this opportunity today to thank and also reply to one of our reader’s enquiry over the weekend. One of our reader who has just switched from being a PC to a Mac user have asked us how to create or take screen shots on Mac OS X (Leopard).

Those who have been Windows users for some time will know that PC keyboards have all got the Print Screen key whereas nowadays Mac keyboards no longer have this on their keyboards but it doesn’t mean the function has been taken away. So though a very simple function, I can understand why the question was sent.

So here are the commands that are required in order to create a screen shot on Mac OS X, the thing to remember is that unlike Windows’ Print Screen function which takes a screen shot of the whole of the screen. Mac OS X gives you the choice of choosing, as long as you remember the right hot key that is!

There are three main ‘modes’ available:

• Apple (Command) Key + Shift + 3

Captures entire desktop to a file on the desktop as ‘picture #’ . This option lets you capture the whole screen. If you want just one window on your screen, you will have to edit the picture using image editing software.

• Apple (Command) Key + Shift + 4

Allows you to use your mouse to select a specific part of your desktop for capture. This will turn your mouse pointer into a cross, please hold down the mouse button and drag to select the part of the screen you want. When you release the button the screenshot will “snap” that part of the screen. Press ‘Esc’ to release.

Here’s a sample screen shot of my dock just taken a second ago:

• Apple (Command) Key + Shift + 4 then press Spacebar

This one can be a handful! But it can be quite useful in some situations because it allows you to select which window to capture.

Of course, there are lots of applications out there that also often the same functionality if not more, but we’ve never needed to download and use any of them, if you know of a good one which you would like to recommend, feel free to leave your comment below!