60 or 60% of keyboards are small, with only the most important keys. They don’t have a number pad or function keys. These compact keyboards give more room on your desk. Gamers and coders like them a lot. However, the lack of a dedicated Print Screen key on most 60% of keyboards can make taking screenshots slightly more challenging. In this article, we will walk through how to screenshot on a 60 keyboard.

Key Takeaways

  • 60% of keyboards lack a dedicated Print Screen key but have many alternative screenshot options.
  • Learn the keyboard shortcuts for your operating system – Windows Key + Shift + S, Command + Shift + 3 on Mac, etc.
  • Use built-in or third-party screenshot software for advanced editing and annotation.
  • Programmable 60% keyboards can often enable Print Screen functionality through their software.
  • Macros on external devices like gaming keypads or Stream Decks provide fully customizable screenshot keys.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Many operating systems feature built-in keyboard shortcuts for taking screenshots, even if your keyboard lacks a Print Screen key. Some widely used options include:

Windows Screenshot Shortcut

There are two main keyboard shortcuts on Windows for taking screenshots, addressing the query “How to screenshot on a 60 keyboard?”

Pressing Windows Key + Shift + S will open the snipping tool, enabling you to capture shots of a custom-selected area, the currently active window, or your entire desktop. This provides the flexibility to screenshot precisely what you need.

Alternatively, hitting Windows Key + PrtScn will immediately take a fullscreen screenshot and save it to your Pictures > Screenshots folder.

So with either shortcut, Windows users have quick and easy ways to capture screens, even without needing a dedicated Print Screen key.

Mac Screenshot Shortcut

MacOS provides three handy keyboard shortcuts for flexible screenshot capturing. You can capture a complete screenshot of the whole screen by pressing Command + Shift + 3; this will automatically save the full screenshot as a .png file directly onto the desktop for quick availability.

 For capturing just a portion of your screen, Command + Shift + 4 opens the snipping tool to select a custom area. For full screenshots you want to paste quickly, Command + Control + Shift + 3 will save the entire screen capture directly to your clipboard so you can easily insert it into any document. 

With these shortcuts, Mac users can easily take screenshots tailored to their needs, even without a dedicated key.

Linux Screenshot Shortcut

  • Press PrtScn: It captures a full screenshot of the display and stores it in the Pictures folder.
  • Press Shift + PrtScn: This will take a screenshot of a selected area.

Once you get used to the keyboard shortcuts for your operating system, taking screenshots on a 60% keyboard is quick and easy. The shortcuts allow you to capture either the entire screen or a custom-selected area.

Using Screenshot Software

You can use dedicated screenshot software if you want more screenshot options than just the basic full-screen or selection capture.

Screenshot Taking Software
Screenshot Taking Software

Here are some free options:

Windows Screenshot Software

  • Snipping Tool: Comes pre-installed in Windows. It lets you capture free-form, rectangular, window, or full-screen screenshots. You can then edit and annotate the screenshots.
  • ShareX: Open source program with advanced capture, sharing, and editing options. Supports full screen, selection, scrolling, and video recording captures.

Mac Screenshot Software

  • Snipping Tool: Comes pre-installed in Windows. It lets you capture free-form, rectangular, window, or full-screen screenshots. You can then edit and annotate the screenshots.
  • ShareX: Open source program with advanced capture, sharing, and editing options. Supports full screen, selection, scrolling, and video recording captures.
  • Skitch: Basic screenshot program from Evernote. Capture, annotate, blur sensitive information, and share screenshots.
  • CleanShot X: Advanced screenshot app with extensive markup, editing, and sharing capabilities.

Linux Screenshot Software

  • Snipping Tool: Comes pre-installed in Windows. It lets you capture free-form, rectangular, window, or full-screen screenshots. You can then edit and annotate the screenshots.
  • ShareX: Open source program with advanced capture, sharing, and editing options. Supports full screen, selection, scrolling, and video recording captures.
  • Skitch: Basic screenshot program from Evernote. Capture, annotate, blur sensitive information, and share screenshots.
  • CleanShot X: Advanced screenshot app with extensive markup, editing, and sharing capabilities.
  • Spectacle: Simple Linux screenshot utility with basic capture and annotation functions.

The benefit of specialized screenshot software is that you get more options like adding text, arrows, shapes, blurring sensitive data, etc. This allows you to customize and edit screenshots before sharing.

Enabling Print Screen on 60% Keyboard

Some 60% keyboards let you make a regular key into a Print Screen key. They use keyboard customization software to do this.

For example:

  • Ducky keyboards can add a Print Screen key using Ducky Macro V2 software.
  • Ducky keyboards can add a Print Screen key using Ducky Macro V2 software.
  • Vortex, Leopold, and Varmilo keyboards can make a Print Screen key with software like SharpKeys or KeyTweak.
  • The Anne Pro 2 keyboard can make any key into the Print Screen using its ObinsKit software.

If your small keyboard doesn’t have customization software, you’ll need to use shortcuts or screenshot apps instead. Check your keyboard’s manual to see if you can customize keys.

Using External Macros and Stream Deck

When figuring out “How to screenshot on a 60 keyboard,” you can take matters into your own hands by utilizing extra keyboards or Stream Decks. Some keyboards let you make macros. Macros are custom keys that do actions when pressed. Make a macro to take screenshots.

Stream Decks have programmable buttons with screens. Set a button to do screenshot shortcuts for your computer’s system. The cool thing about macros and Stream Decks is customizing. Make the Print Screen key work just how you like. Even save screenshots where you want right away.

Extra keyboards and Stream Decks give lots of control. You can customize screenshot keys perfectly.

Crazy Facts 

  • The first screenshot was taken in the 1960s on an IBM S/360 mainframe.
  • “Screenshot” was first used in 1990 to describe capturing computer screens.
  • Over 3 billion screenshots are taken worldwide per day.
  • Windows users take at least ten times more screenshots than Mac users.
  • PrtScn originated as an abbreviation for “Print Screen,” dating back to early IBM PCs.

The Bottom Line

While 60% of keyboards may not include a dedicated Print Screen key, mastering “How to screenshot on a 60 keyboard” is achievable. Leverage built-in keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Mac, and Linux or install free software offering powerful capture and editing capabilities.

For programmable keyboards, activate Print Screen functionality through software customization. Advanced users can even create macros on gaming keypads and Stream Decks. With some preparation regarding your OS and keyboard model, you’ll be screenshotting swiftly and effortlessly on your 60% board, even without a dedicated key.

FAQs about How to Screenshot on 60 Keyboard

Why don’t 60% of keyboards have a Print Screen key?

60% of keyboards remove keys to achieve a compact size. Since Print Screen is not an essential key for basic typing, it is often excluded from these minimalist keyboards.

Can you still screenshot on a 60% keyboard?

Many options exist, like keyboard shortcuts, software tools, or programming keys to enable screenshot capabilities without a dedicated key.

Can any key be made into a Print Screen?

On highly programmable 60% keyboards, keyboard customization software allows remapping keys, including making any key function as a Print Screen.

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