How to Screenshot A PDF Document on Different Devices

PDF files are essential documents that you can use. The reason is that it is a read-only type of document and doesn’t easily get altered. Aside from that, it retains its outline regardless of which device you open it on. With that being said, different PDF readers are being released now and then. Although branded differently, it is a fact that PDF readers almost have the same features and lack a screenshot feature. On that note, a tool that can screenshot PDF documents is a must-have. Luckily, this post features some ways that you can use to take snapshots of PDF.

How to Take a Snapshot of PDF on Windows (Default Way)

Most Windows users are familiar with this way. This method is readily available from any Windows keyboard. Aside from that, it is probably one of the easiest ways since you can accomplish it with a single press of a button. However, for those who don't yet know how to screenshot PDF on Windows, follow these steps.

Step 1 Open the PDF file on Your Reader

The first thing that you need to do is to open the PDF file that you need to screenshot. Please search for the document name, and then double-click on it to launch it. Alternatively, you can right-click on the PDF icon and then select "Open With" from the menu. Choose your default PDF reader to open the document.

Step 2 Choose a Page to Screenshot

You can use the page directory of the PDF document to jump to the exact page that you want to capture. On the other hand, you can regularly scroll while scanning for any information that you want to capture.

Step 3 Take Screenshot of the PDF

To capture an image, you can stay on the page that you want, and then from your keyboard, press the "PrtSc" key. The entire desktop screen will then be captured after that.

Step 4 Paste the Image on Paint

After capturing, the image will be copied to the clipboard. All you need to do is to open the "Paint" application on your desktop, or any image processing tool that you use, and then paste the image. Right-click on the canvass, and then select "Paste." Crop the image and retain the PDF screenshot, and then save it on your PC.

Tip: You can capture images on your Windows PC using this method, even while playing games. All you need to do is to press a key on the keyboard.

How to Screenshot a PDF on Mac (Default Way)

Aside from Windows, Mac devices also provide ways to capture screenshot images. However, the process is slightly different from the usual method on Windows. It is easy to get confused since Mac has some keys on its keyboard that are not present on Windows. So to prevent any further confusion in taking PDF screenshots on Mac, follow the steps below.

Step 1 Launch the PDF Document on Mac Preview

From your Mac desktop, launch the "Finder" tool. From there, search for the PDF that you want to take an image, and then open it on "Preview," which is the default PDF reader app for Mac computers.

Step 2 Capture the PDF Area that You Want

You can go to the PDF page that you want to capture from the "Preview" tool, and then using your keyboard, press "Command," + "Shift" + "4" to capture in region mode. Drag the mouse cursor using the touchpad, and cover the parts of the PDF that you want to screenshot. The image will then be saved on your desktop, and you can rename it afterward.

Tip: You can capture the entire screen area by pressing "Command" + "Shift" + "3."

How to Take Screenshot in PDF with Screen Grabber Premium

Yes, the tools mentioned above are very useful. But this time, I will show you an alternative to capture a PDF document on your Windows and Mac computers, and this is called the Screen Grabber Premium. This tool is also helpful when it comes to capturing images or any PDF documents on your computer screen. Also, this tool consists of editing functions wherein you can use it to annotate the documents that you captured by adding text, images, shapes, and a lot more. You can also save your files into different formats such as JPG, PNG, GIF, and so on. So, if you want to test this tool on your own, see the steps provided below.

Step 1 Download the tool and Install it on your Computer

To start using this program, install it on your computer by hitting one of the "Download" buttons that you can see above. Then, an installation wizard will appear. Follow it to install the software on your PC. Once done, launch it to access its main interface.

Step 2 Start Capturing PDF file

Use a PDF reader to open a PDF document. After that, switch to the tool and hit the "Start Capture" button and drag the cursor from the PDF documents that you wish to capture. You can also edit the captured PDF document by adding shapes, text, images, and more on it.

Step 3 Save and Upload the PDF Image

To save the captured PDF docs, you have to click the "Save" icon at the lower right portion of the interface. Then, a window will pop-up where you can save your captured PDF docs.

Tip: Aside from screen capture, you can also use this tool to record all the activities on your computer screen anytime you want.

How to Capture PDF Screenshot with Chrome Extension

Chrome users can also capture online PDF documents without downloading them on your computer. This is by using Chrome extensions that you can add to your Google Chrome browser. The good thing about these extensions is they only stay within the Chrome browser. This means that it won't physically consume disk-storage. With that being said, Nimbus Screenshot & Screen Recorder is your best choice. As the name suggests, it can capture screenshot images and record Chrome activities. You can edit images before saving them on your local storage in PNG format using Nimbus Screenshot. Apart from that, you can also upload the photos directly on Google Drive, Dropbox, and even print them on your printer. To learn how to screenshot PDF on Chrome, follow the steps below.

Step 1 Install Nimbus Screenshot on Chrome

Start by visiting the Chrome Web Store on your Chrome browser. After that, search for Nimbus Screenshot on the search field and then click the "Add to Chrome" button and then select "Add Extension."

Step 2 Screenshot PDF on Chrome

After installation, the extension icon will appear on the "Extension Tray." To use the tool, open a different tab, and then open the PDF document that you want. After that, click the extension icon, which is represented by the letter "N." Choose the "Selected Area" option and then select which part of the PDF to capture. Drag the mouse cursor across a document that you want to capture.

Step 3 Edit the Screenshot

Before saving the image, you can first edit the image using Nimbus. Do so by clicking the "Pen" icon from options under the image, and the editor will open a new tab. Use the available editing options from the toolbar. Once done, you can either save or upload the photo online.

Tip: Use the tool to capture images from videos from different video streaming sites.

How to Get Screenshot from PDF on Android and iOS

Android and iOS devices can store and open PDF documents using mobile PDF reader applications. Just like on any computer, there are also default ways where you can screenshot PDF iPhone and on Android. These methods will surely save you a lot of time, and even storage space since there is no need to install any application. If you are a new user of Android or iOS devices, then follow these steps to start capturing screenshots.

Step 1 Launch the PDF Document on Mobile

Regardless if you are an Android or iOS user, you will need to open your PDF document on mobile. First, you will have to make sure that you have a mobile app capable of opening PDF documents. Install these apps from the Google Play Store for Android or App Store for iOS.

Step 2 Capture Screenshot on Android and iOS

Once the PDF is ready, you can start capturing the screenshot of each PDF page. To do so, you only need to press the "Lower volume rocker" and "Power" button together. The screenshot will then be captured and saved on your Android device. The image icon will appear on your "Notification bar" and tap it to open the image.

Tip: For iOS users, they can also apply this method. However, a much easier way is by using the "Assistive Touch" menu. You only need to tap the white-overlay button on your iOS screen and then double-tap the "Screenshot" button to add the image to the clipboard. You will be able to edit the picture after that, and once satisfied, tap the "Done" button. Choose where to save the image from the menu that will appear.