Introduction
Are you (finally) tired of wasting valuable time and effort taking screenshots of important information on your device? Because same.
In today’s fast-paced world, we’re constantly bombarded with information we need to capture and share with our users and team members. And let’s face it, taking screenshots is a tedious, time-consuming task that seriously slows down productivity.
Luckily, there's a perfect solution to your problem: autocapture screenshot.
It’s a game-changing feature designed to save time and effort, especially for those who capture a lot of information on their computer or mobile devices. With autocapture screenshots, you can automatically capture your screen with just a click of a button.
No more fumbling around with your keyboard or trying to get the perfect angle of your screenshot — it’s all taken care of for you.
Autocapture screenshot definition
Autocapture screenshot is a tool that automatically captures screenshots of any web page, document or app.
It works using a preset trigger, such as a time delay or hotkey, to take a screenshot of the active window or specified area of the screen. The screenshot is then saved as an image file that can be easily shared or stored for future use.
But why should you give it a try?
Autocapture screenshot eliminates the need for manual input. This saves a lot of time and effort when capturing multiple screenshots and reduces the likelihood of errors that can occur when working manually like capturing the wrong area or missing important information.
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What are the different ways to autocapture screenshots on a computer or mobile device?
Setting up autocapture screenshot vary depending on your tool or software, but there are a few common ways you can use them.
1. Keyboard shortcuts
Many operating systems like macOS and Windows have in-built keyboard shortcuts for capturing a screenshot. if you don’t want to install additional software, this is a great way to take screenshots faster.
- On Windows, you can press Windows Key + Print Screen to capture the entire screen or Windows Key + Shift + S to capture a selected area.
- On macOS, you can press Command + Shift + 3 to capture the entire screen or Command + Shift + 4 to capture a selected area.
Additionally, you can set up a macro or automation tool to trigger these keyboard shortcuts at regular intervals.
2. Third-party software
Third-party software like Scribe is another popular option to capture screenshots automatically. These tools have their own built-in settings that allow you to customize your screenshot settings.
📌 Check out our ultimate list of the best free screenshot software this year!
For example, you can choose to capture a specific area of the screen, set a timer daily or even specify a file format for your screenshot. Recording videos, scrolling web pages and screenshots from multiple monitors are also possible. You can add annotations and other effects to your screenshots to provide more detail if needed.
Keep in mind that some of these tools may require a subscription fee or license.
3. Web browser extensions
Most web browsers like Google Chrome and Safari have extensions that allow you to capture screenshots of web pages automatically.
These extensions often have options to adjust the capture settings, such as the interval between captures, the size of a screenshot and the format of the image. Some of these extensions let you annotate, highlight or crop the screenshot before saving as well,
📌 Check out our article on how to crop screenshots on Mac.
Scribe is a great way to get started. Simply turn on the extension and go through your process. When you’re done, Scribe will automatically generate shareable how-to guides, with the necessary screenshots, instructions and clicks. Here’s what Carl Storms has to say about the tool.
Mind blown 🤯 by what @ScribeHow can do.
You do a web screen recording, and it does the rest. I did this in 26 seconds! Then spent less than a minute updating it to my liking.
Then with the free version, you can share it as a PDF or URL 👇https://t.co/oAKfIAE0Uz pic.twitter.com/lZxx1BdFdo
— Carl Storms (@theBIMsider) December 8, 2022
4. Scripting
If you have programming skills, write a script that captures screenshots at regular intervals using programming languages like Python or JavaScript. For example, you can use the Selenium WebDriver library to automate the process of capturing screenshots of a webpage.
One of the main advantages of scripting is it gives you more flexibility and control over the capture process. You’ll find this useful if you need to capture screenshots in a specific format, at a specific time or if you want to perform additional actions before or after the capture.
5. Automated testing software
You can configure certain automated testing software solutions like Selenium to capture screenshots of webpages during testing. If you’re already using this software, makes sense to also leverage it for capturing screenshots.
In fact, this option is great for capturing screenshots as part of your testing process, such as verifying the layout or content of a webpage. Keep in mind that it requires additional setup and consideration and may not be suitable for capturing screenshots outside the testing context.
How to save autocapture screenshots to your computer or mobile phone?
Next, let’s talk about saving those screenshots you have been capturing on autopilot. After all, what’s the point of autocapture screenshots if you can’t easily access and share them?
Saving autocaptured screenshots on your computer or mobile device depends on the software or method you use to capture the screenshot, but here are some general guidelines you can follow:
- Have a designated folder: Create a folder on your device to store screenshots. Name it something that makes sense and helps you stay organized. Ensure the capture settings are configured to save screenshots to this specific folder on your device. Trust us, this will save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run.
- Choose the right file format: When capturing screenshots, make sure you’re using the right file format. PNG and JPEG are the most common for screenshots, but you should choose the format that works best for your needs. For instance, PNG is more high-quality, but it takes up more space—and JPEG is of lower quality but better if you have limited storage.
- Save the screenshot: Autocaptured screenshots are saved to the specified location and file format automatically. Check that folder or location to ensure the screenshots are indeed there.
- Organize the screenshots: If you capture screenshots frequently, consider organizing them into folders and subfolders so that they’re easier to find and manage. You can also use file management software or tools to rename, resize or crop the screenshots.
- Use cloud storage: Consider using cloud storage to provide team members on-the-go access to your autocaptured screenshots. services like Google Drive and Dropbox allow you to access screenshots from anywhere and anytime with a stable internet connection. Plus, it’s a great way to back up your files and free up space on your local device.
We get it, all this is a bit overwhelming.
What if I told you there was a way to autocapture screenshots without having to manually customize settings for each of your devices or worrying about any other hassle?
Using Scribe to autocapture screenshots
Scribe is a process documentation tool and Chrome screenshot extension that makes it easier than ever to deliver high-quality documentation with screenshots and other visuals.
It generates customizable step-by-step guides, complete with text and screenshot annotations that you can share with your team or user base.
What’s more, the entire process is fully automated. You don’t have to buy any additional software, write code or really anything else other than going about your process once.
All Scribes are then stored in your personal workspace, where you can see who has viewed it and collaborate with other team members.
Another good thing about the Scribes is that they’re easily shareable. You can:
- Send your screenshots to teammates or clients with URL links.
- Export them as a PDF document or to Confluence.
- Embed them into existing tools and wikis
- Copy them into a document with HTML or Markdown.
Impressive, right?
Regardless of whether you want to create SOPs or training materials — or perhaps share a process with your team — Scribe is all you need. In fact, you can use Scribe to reduce the total time spent creating documentation and editing screenshots by 93 percent!
Here’s one in action:
How to create & share a Scribe guide using automated screenshots?
At this stage, you’re probably wondering how Scribe works. Here’s a breakdown of how you can use Scribe to autocapture your screen and create and share documents with your team:
Using Scribe to capture web-based processes
Note: We’re assuming you’ve already signed up with Scribe and have installed the browser extension. If you haven’t, get it for free.
- Click the Scribe Chrome extension and select Start Recording. You’ll see the red button blinking on your screen towards the lower right-hand corner, indicating the Scribe recorder is now on.
- Next, walk through the process as you normally would. This can include opening up new tabs, showing them how to use a tool or software or filling out a form. You can pause or delete a recording or move the location of the controls while you’re at it, using the additional controls provided by Scribe.
- Once your recording is complete and you’re done capturing your process, stop the recorder.
And that’s it!
After this, Scribe will auto-create and open your guide in a new tab.
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Using the Scribe browser extension to capture desktop-based processes
Note: To use Scribe on desktop applications, you need to be a Pro or Enterprise member. Check out our pricing to learn more.
- Download the Scribe desktop app by going to scribehow.com/get-desktop
- Open the app, and click on New, followed by Full Desktop Recording to start capturing your Scribe. This will capture everything presented on your screen. This makes it not only a great option for desktop applications but also for processes that involve multiple applications across both the browser and the desktop.
- Once you’re done walking through your process, select the Stop button in the top bar of your desktop. Similar to before, your Scribe will then pop up in a new window, ready for use.
Every Scribe already has the autocaptured screenshots, complete with instructions and clicks. But if you want to add more detail, you can always customize it further by editing the screenshots, redacting sensitive information, and adding text, custom branding and annotations.
When you’re happy with the end result, you can then share your very own annotated step-by-step guide using autocaptured screenshots with anyone from your team or customer base, anywhere and at any time.
Scribe also offers tons of third-party app configurations, allowing you to share the guide directly on productivity platforms like Slack or via email in the form of a short link or a exported to PDF.
Get started with Scribe to build a beautiful step-by-step guide in seconds.
