Gadwin PrintScreen

A good tool to make screenshots on Windows (Gadwin states that is compatible with all versions from win 98, also with NT) is to use Gadwin Printscreen . It is a freeware and also has a payed professional version. You can download it here. The installer is easy and straitforward.

When you install and run it a small tray icon appears on the start-up bar.

tray icon

roll up menu

Right-click the tray icon will roll-up small menu with some options like Properties and Capture folder. Capture folder will open windows explorer to folder which is destined to store screenshots. Properties will open window with setup of Gadwin Printscreen.

On Preferences page setup the following:

1. Hot key to PrintScreen
2. Run at Windows startup
3. Uncheck everything else

Preferences settings

On Source page setup the following:

1. Rectangular Area
2. Uncheck everything else

Source settings

On Destination page setup the following:

1. Copy captured area to Clipboard
2. Copy captured area to File
3. Ask for the file name after capturing
4. Create a folder on your desktop and set the Capture Directory to it.
   

   
   Select Directory

    
5. Uncheck everything else

Destination settings

On Image page setup the following:

1. Set Type of Image to GIF Image (*.gif)
2. Uncheck everything else
3. It would be better to use PNG file, but Gadwin doesn't support 8 bit color PNG files. But if you're able to transform the PNG to 256 colors (8 bit) it would be preferable. You can transform the image by many programs including XnView, IrfanView, ACDSee ...

Image settings

Now just click OK and you a ready to use Gadwin Printscreen.

1. Press PrintScreen button.
2. Drag your selection box on area you wish to capture. Don't worry about the Zoom window, it will not be captured on final image.
3. Resize and move the selection box to match the area precisely.
4. Press Enter (Return) to confirm or Esc (Escape) to cancel.
5. When you pressed Enter type the name of the screenshot and celebrate.