How to Edit Screencapture Effortlessly? (No PAINT!)

In 2021, we often work with others online and through messages.
Screenshots are very important for both questions and answers.

But how do you mark up and give instructions easier?

Window 10

Default setting:

PrtScn – Capture selection, copied to the clipboard
You will need to open another software (e.g. paint), paste it there and then save.

But if you can paste it directly by using Ctrl + V.
If you have multiple things in clipboard then Win + V and then click the one you want to paste.

Win+ PrtScn – To capture entire screen and save

Alt + PrtScn – Capture entire screen and copied to the clipboard
You will need to open another software (e.g. paint), paste it there and then save.

Mac

Default setting:

Command + Shift 3 –  Capture a portion of the screen
You will need to open another software (e.g. paint), paste it there and then save…

Command + Shift + 4 – Capture a portion of the screen
Drag the crosshair to select the area of the screen to capture. To move the selection, press and hold Space bar while dragging. 
To cancel taking the screenshot, press the Esc (Escape) key.

Command + Shift + 4 + Space –  Capture a window or the menu bar
Move the camera pointer over the window or the menu bar to highlight it, then click.

Command + Shift + 5 – Various options to take screenshots or screen recording

Command + Shift + 6 – Capture the Touch Bar

Customise these keyboard shortcut

On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Keyboard, then click Shortcuts.

How About Mark Up?

This is really important too, espedcially when you want to emphasize or instruct certain thing.

Lightshot (For Window & Mac)

Lightshot is easy to use and flexible for mark up.

Mark up tools:

• Straight line
• Arrow
• Rectangle
• Highlighter
• Pencil

Even better, there are so many choices of colour and even custom colour.

What to do next?

Ctrl + C = Copy
Ctrl + S = Save
Ctrl + P = Print
Ctrl + G = Search similar images on Google
Ctrl + D = Upload to prntscr.com
Ctrl + X / Esc = Cancel (Without markup)
Ctrl + X / Esc x2= Dismiss (With markup)

If you copy(Ctrl + C), then just paste(Ctrl + V) directly to most of your message inbox or email.

If you have multiple things in clipboard then Win + V and then click the one you want to paste.

There are many options but you just need ONE that works.

Thank you for reading.

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How To Switch Apps Efficiently

Have you ever thought that switching from app to app very energy draining?

And there must be a better way to do it?

I am going to talk about different common ways that to do it, the substitute and the best solution I think.

Not So Good Way #1 Click Taskbar/Dock Using a Mouse

Window

It might not feel that serious just to get down and select an app, if you only have a few.

If you are Window user, you can use shortcut keys to navigate taskbar apps.
I have included shortcut keys in another post, click here if you want to read more!

Mac

But if you use a Mac, it is very likely to distract you.

Or if you don’t get distracted, you used(wasted) quite a lot energy and time just to search for the right app, move your hand to the mouse to aim for it.

Be sure to remove the apps you don’t use to be focus.
This is totally unnecessary and deduct some points everytime from your limited energy tank.

Not So Good Way #2 The “View All” options

Again, it forces me to opt out of the window and requires me to search for that app and move the cursor…blah blah

I need to be honest here, I have been using this method for nearly 5 years…

I could not find a better default way to do it on my Macbook and I cannot imagine how much time I wasted from this method.

With that said, it can be useful in some ways if you are dealing with many different windows within the app.

But I would never use this if I knew what I know now.

Not So Good Way #3 The Preview options

You usually get this by Alt + Tab or Window + Tab on Window10.
If you are Mac user, then Command + Tab.

It is already better than the previous ones, some might even recommend you to do it that way.
BUT it is not good enough as there is still a step for your brain and eyes to process.

If you only have 2 apps, that’s acceptable, but I will still recommend better shortcut key, read my shortcut keys post here.

What’s the better way to do this?

Window, you can use Alt + ESC to switch app without preview.
But this also causes some work if you have multiple apps.

Therefore, recommend you to use this if you are using less than 3 apps.

Solution #1 Spotlight

You can use the internal launcher within Mac (Command + Space) or Window10 (Window key)

This will alow you to filter out many unwanted noise and interface.

If you are happy with this, then you can stop reading.

But if you are like me, who wants even to search the web and open files in the fastest possible way, keep reading…

Solution #2 Quick Launcher

Ueli for Window

There are some FREE apps you can leverage to achieve open app, files, search Google, Youtube, Amazon within few keyboard keys.

I have tried different launchers, and I would recomend Ueli to you.

There are many customised shortcuts, web search.

By pressing Alt + Space, you can start searching for files.

How about web search?

You can set ” “(type a space) in Prefix to signal Google search, which means after Alt + Space and Space, type things you would like to search, then Enter.

It will open a new tab or your default browser i.e. Chrome.

Another example, if you would like to search on amazon about something, you can set “a “(a + space) to signal Google search, which means after Alt + Space and Space, type things you would like to search, then Enter.

How to set up the URL?

1. Enter a space in Prefix
2. Simply search something on the browser you want (i.e. fish)
3. Copy and paste the url to here and replace your search (i.e. fish) with {{query}}

The setting is quite flexible and easy to do, you can play around with it.

Download Ueli here for both Window and macOS for FREE

2. Alfred For Mac

Alfred is the other launcher option that is reliable, but only for MacOS.
You can download Alfred here for FREE

Feel free to try it out and find the one that is the best suitable for you!

Summary

1. Arrange your taskbar/ dock to optimize your usage

2. Leverage shortcut keys suitable for you

3. Leverage quick launcher (spotlight if you are happy with it)

The problem to solve here is more about energy more than time, and be aware that energy management is as important as time management.

If you have used up your energy, there’s nothing more you can do even though you have time.

That’s it for now, talk soon.

Secret to Instantly Get Back 2 Seconds Per Minute

Did you know that you might be wasting 8 DAYS per year, just to click buttons?

Can you imagine you are moving cursor and clicking buttons in 8 days straight?

What can you do if you have 8 days MORE than your competitors?

No…

It doesn’t require you to get up before 5am…

It doesn’t require you to take a freezing cold shower…

It doesn’t require you to even move your body at all.

It’s simple and easy, right under your finger tips.

Shortcut Keys

By leveraging shortcut keys that already built, you can save hundreds of thousands of seconds, maybe much more if you work mainly in front of your screen.

Window Shortcut Keys:

Here are the shortcut keys you should already be using:

Level 1: Basics
Ctrl + C = Copy
Ctrl + V = Paste
Win + V = Show Clipboard (Turn on clipboard history in Clipboard Setting)
Ctrl + Z = Undo
Ctrl + X = Cut
Ctrl + S = Save
Ctrl + A = Select all

Level 2: Navigation

Window
Win + D = Show Desktop
Win = Searching/ Launching Files & App
Win + Up = Maximize Current Window
Win + Down = Minimize Current Window
Win + Left = Snap Selected Screen To The Left
Win + Right = Snap Selected Screen To The Right
Win + Shift + Right= Snap Screen To Right Screen (if applicable)
Win + Shift + Left = Snap Screen To Left Screen (if applicable)


Between Apps
(Just add shift to go reverse direction!)
Alt + Tab = Switch App
Win + Tab = Switch Page/ Desktop
Alt + Esc = Switch App Without Preview


Taskbar
(Recommend to pin frequently use apps at fixed position)
Win + 1 = Open First App in Task Bar
Win + 2 = Open Second App in Task Bar
Win + 3 = Open Third App in Task Bar
Win + 4 = Open Fouth App in Task Bar

Command
Win+ K = Open Bluetooth Setting
(press separately)
Win -> X -> U -> U = Shut Down
Win -> X -> U -> R = Restart
Win -> X -> U -> S = Sleep
Win -> X -> U -> I = Log Out

Chrome
Ctrl + Shift + T = Open Recently Closed Page
Ctrl + 1 = First Tab
Ctrl + 2 = Second Tab
Ctrl + 3 = Third Tab
Ctrl + F = Search Certain Word/ Sentence

You can also pin the frequently used page in Chrome at fixed position, as long as you don’t find it distracting.
**If you find yourself keep switching from page to page because it is so easy to do and hard not to notice them, just press F11 for full screen to focus.

Is It Possible To Revamp Keys?

Yes, it is rather easy to do, and you can configure the keys to any key or shortcuts you want!

For example, if you find out a key that you seldom use, that might be opportunity for you to place a shortcut key on it e.g. “Ctrl + Shift + T” instead of “Screen Lock”.

Download PowerToys here for FREE.
If you want to know exactly how to do it, you can read further guide here.

Do You Need Keyboard and Mouse With Programmable Keys?

If you want more advanced customisation, fast execution, it is definitely a good investment.
Consider how much time and energy you will buy back.

For that I recommend Logitech mouse G502, and keyboard G815.

Below is the app Logitech G HUB that you can assign different keys to your programmable keys.

Like This:

They have many programmable keys and have definitely helped me to save so much time and energy.

I even assign my email address on one of the key, as I think that is the most frequent repetitble thing I need to type LOL

Thank you for reading.

If you have got value in this post, please kindly like and share for me. 🙂

Don’t forget to sign up for my email list, that I write weekly fresh emails to keep you updated, sharing things I learn throughout my copywriting journey!