If they say a picture is worth a thousand words, then a screenshot is worth at least a few minutes of saved time. Taking screenshots or snips of something on your computer display allows you to quickly and efficiently communicate in a visual way. Here are a few ways you can start using screenshots to save time:

1. Quickly capture a website or document - you can take a screenshot of the important information and data, then save the image in the appropriate location.

2. Highlight specific information for a colleague - you can take a snip and add your own graphics and arrows to highlight information for them.

3. Gather research in a virtual notebook - you can compile screenshots of various articles, designs, or products, rather than just collect URLs to reference later.

While there are a variety of screenshot tools on the market, our team at Innovatively Organized uses the Windows Snipping Tool and Skitch (created by Evernote) depending on what we’re using the screenshot for. Here is a quick summary of why we like each tool:

Windows Snipping Tool

The snipping tool is excellent for quick screenshots that do not require a lot of extra notations—you can capture the entire screen or make a smaller selection.  It allows you to easily copy and paste screenshots into other Microsoft programs, like Outlook, Word, and OneNote.  Plus, you can pin the snipping tool to your task bar for easy access.  The snipping tool is not available for Apple products.

Skitch

Skitch is a product created by Evernote—and it’s a better solution if you want to add specific annotations to your screenshots.  You can add boxes, lines, arrows, and text, plus use a variety of colors.  It provides a cleaner look and has more options for editing after you take a screenshot.  Skitch is great for adding screenshots to PowerPoint presentations, sending instructions or comments to colleagues, or sending feedback.  Skitch is available for Macs, Windows, iOS, and Androids.

How do you use screenshots to save time and what are some of your favorite tools?