Print Screen Deluxe User Manual
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Capture

Capture Types Reference

Compare the capture types and learn when to use full screen, active window, window click, auto-scroll, or shape capture.

  • capture types
  • full screen
  • active window

This page explains what each capture type in Print Screen Deluxe is best for.

Use it when you know you want to capture something, but you are not sure which capture type to pick.

FullScreen

Use FullScreen when you want everything on the screen.

  • Best for saving the whole desktop.
  • Starts right away.
  • Works well for quick bug reports and full-page examples.

ActiveWindow

Use ActiveWindow when you want the window you are using right now.

  • Best for the program that is already in front.
  • Starts right away.
  • Good when you do not want the rest of the desktop in the picture.

WindowClick

Use WindowClick when the window you want is not active yet.

  • Best for choosing one window by pointing at it.
  • The app shows a selection overlay.
  • Click the window you want to capture.

AutoScroll

Use AutoScroll when the content is taller than the screen.

  • Best for long web pages, long documents, and tall lists.
  • The app asks you to pick a window first.
  • The app scrolls and stitches the result into one image.

Auto-scroll works best on windows with standard vertical scrollbars. If it fails, try the same content with a normal region capture instead.

Use Menu when you want to capture an open menu.

  • Best for drop-down menus and pop-up menus.
  • The app uses a menu selection step.
  • Keep the menu open until the capture is done.

If menu capture fails, open the menu again, keep the pointer over it, and try once more.

Clipboard

Use Clipboard when the picture is already in the clipboard.

  • Best when you copied an image from another app first.
  • The app creates a new document from the clipboard picture.
  • No screen selection is needed.

Rectangle

Use Rectangle when you want a simple box-shaped area.

  • Best for quick, clean selections.
  • Drag to mark the part you want.
  • Good for most everyday captures.

RoundRectangle

Use RoundRectangle when you want a softer box shape.

  • Best when you want rounded corners.
  • Drag to mark the area.
  • Works like Rectangle, but with rounded edges.

Ellipse

Use Ellipse when you want an oval or circle shape.

  • Best for circular callouts and rounded areas.
  • Drag to mark the area.
  • The picture outside the shape is left out.

Triangle

Use Triangle when you want a triangle-shaped capture.

  • Best for special layouts and custom examples.
  • Drag to mark the area.
  • The triangle shape is cut from the selected area.

Polygon

Use Polygon when you need a custom shape with straight sides.

  • Best for odd shapes that do not fit a box.
  • Click each point to build the shape.
  • Finish the shape when all points are in place.

Freehand

Use Freehand when you want to trace an irregular shape.

  • Best for loose, hand-drawn outlines.
  • Draw around the area you want.
  • Good when the shape is too uneven for a polygon.

Video Recording Notes

Video recording does not use every still-image choice in the same way.

  • FullScreen records the full desktop.
  • WindowClick and AutoScroll ask you to pick a window, then record that window.
  • Menu asks you to pick an open menu, then records that menu window.
  • Other capture choices record a rectangular region.

If you want to record one window, WindowClick is the clearest choice.

AVI Or MP4?

  • MP4 is a common format and can also record audio.
  • AVI is the fallback format when MP4 is not available.
  • On some Windows systems, MP4 may not work until the Media Feature Pack is installed.

If MP4 is not available, Print Screen Deluxe falls back to AVI.

Next Step

Read Capture Basics In Print Screen Deluxe for the main capture workflow.

Read Get Text (OCR) or Video Recording if you need those features in more detail.