6
readers helped!

This helped me

How to Create Annotated Screenshots Using Windows Paint

Frequently you need to create screenshots of your desktop for different usages as demonstration for your job or for educational utilisation. You need to annotate them and highlight the important parts to emphasise further and attract the attention of the audience to certain parts of the demonstration. This is "How to" use the Microsoft Windows Paint facility to achieve this goal.

Steps

  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Take screenshot of...
    Take screenshot of the desired images on your monitor as described in How.com.vn article How to Take a Screenshot in Microsoft Windows.
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Do not use the sniping tool's pen or highlighter at all.
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Save your work in an ongoing task folder that you create.
  4. Step 4 Right click on the image file and select "Edit" from the menu.
    Microsoft Windows Paint opens your screen shot for editing.
  5. How.com.vn English: Step 5 Select the color of text from the palette.
    Next to it there is the drop-down menu for thickness of lines for drawing shapes.
  6. How.com.vn English: Step 6 Insert text.
    At last, click on Text Tool button (shown as A) to insert text on the desired place.
  7. How.com.vn English: Step 7 Select fonts.
    First click on the desired point for inserting the text to open the Text Insertion Box (box means that dotted rectangle). When the text insertion rectangle opened decide for the font size, style and face.
  8. Step 8 Use "Move" cross handle to move the text box around.
    Use "Resize" double head arrows to resize the text box.
  9. How.com.vn English: Step 9 Decide if your text should hide part of the background image (opaque text box) or show it (transparent text box).
  10. How.com.vn English: Step 10 Write your text.
    After deciding on font, transparency and finished your typing, before you click out of the text box, You can resize the box, move it around, change fonts, color, new line feed just any like a text editor. Once you clicked out of the box the format of the box will be frozen and can't be changed. You can "undo" it if you are not happy by pressing "Ctrl + z" on your keyboard or at the top of the Paint's GUI.
  11. How.com.vn English: Step 11 Surround the texts by shapes.
    You can use different shapes, arrows, and speech bubbles to surround your text.
    • Decide for the color and thickness for your desired shapes.
      How.com.vn English: Step 11 Surround the texts by shapes.
  12. How.com.vn English: Step 12 Move or resize shapes to desired location and size.
  13. How.com.vn English: Step 13 Rotate or flip shapes to point to the right directions.
    • Before clicking out of the shape box, right click inside the box and select desired orientation, outline and fill.
      How.com.vn English: Step 13 Rotate or flip shapes to point to the right directions.
    Advertisement
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Make a Frame for Snapshots

  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Use your artistic talent and practice to discover and improve the finished job.
    For example frame your snapshot to contrast it with the background.
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Open your Shot in the Windows Paint.
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Select All from the drop-down menu.
  4. Step 4 Click on "Cut" from menu or "Ctrl + X" from your keyboard.
    Make the blank background larger using "Resize" arrow.
  5. How.com.vn English: Step 5 Select a colour...
    Select a colour of your choice (here red) and take the "bucket" from the menu and click it on the white are to be filled with red.
  6. How.com.vn English: Step 6 Click on Paste to put your snapshot back on the frame.
    Move the snapshot and resize the red frame for a desired frame size.
    Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Use Rulers and Gridlines

  1. Step 1 Use "View" menu to put rulers and gridlines on your work.
    If you like to meticulously position your annotation on the prepared screenshots you might be interested to add coordinates to facilitate and achieve that goal.
  2. Step 2 Click on "View" and check the required option boxes.
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Draw polygons (here a regular octagon) and circles considering their geometric properties.
    • To draw a circle put the curse in corner of one of the subdivisions. Read its coordinates from the horizontal and vertical rulers. Then move the cursor horizontally straight without changing its height, as much as you want its diameter. Next, move it vertically downwards equal to the value of the diameter. Then release the mouse cursor.
      How.com.vn English: Step 3 Draw polygons (here a regular octagon) and circles considering their geometric properties.
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Know that the...
    Know that the free "Paint" application that comes with your Windows has versatile capabilities that with some patience and practice could be used as a professional tool.
    Advertisement


Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I get a pointing arrow on the screenshot?
    How.com.vn English: Community Answer
    Community Answer
    In Home, there are shapes. Choose the arrow, left-click on the image, and drag the arrow to the desired size and shape.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit

      Advertisement

      About this article

      How.com.vn is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 59,066 times.
      How helpful is this?
      Co-authors: 8
      Updated: May 4, 2021
      Views: 59,066
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 59,066 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      ⚠️ Disclaimer:

      Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
      Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.

      Notices:
      • - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
      • - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
      • - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
      • - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.

      Advertisement