How To Screenshot On 60 Keyboard: Master The 60% Layout
Navigating the compact world of 60% keyboards requires understanding their unique key placements, especially for essential functions like screenshots. This guide explains the various methods to capture your screen, whether you are using Windows, macOS, or Linux. The primary challenge lies in locating the "Print Screen" key, which is often remapped or shared with other functions on these compact devices.
The 60% keyboard layout, prized for its minimalism and efficiency, sacrifices a number pad and often function keys to achieve a significantly reduced size. For new users, the absence of dedicated arrow keys and the compact arrangement of special functions can be confusing. Taking a screenshot is a fundamental computer operation, and knowing how to execute it on your specific hardware is vital for productivity and documentation. This article will dissect the process for the most common operating systems, ensuring you can capture your screen instantly.
### Understanding The 60% Layout Challenge
The core of the difficulty stems from the keyboard’s design. A standard full-size keyboard includes a dedicated row of function keys (F1-F12), a numeric keypad, and a cluster of navigation keys including arrow keys and Home/End/PgUp/PgDown. The 60% keyboard condenses all of this into a single, often clustered, row of keycaps. The "Print Screen" (PrtScn) key, which on a full-size keyboard is typically located in the top-right corner of the main alphanumeric block, is the key to capturing your screen.
On a 60% keyboard, this key is frequently omitted entirely, replaced by a secondary function on another key or relocated to a different row. This is part of the layout’s trade-off: saving space in the main typing area by removing less frequently used keys. Users must adapt by learning keyboard shortcuts that bypass the physical key or by remapping keys on their keyboard's firmware.
The specific key that houses the "Print Screen" function varies significantly by manufacturer and model. On many 60% boards, you might find it layered onto a key like "FN," "Scroll Lock," or one of the cluster keys near the bottom row. Understanding your specific keyboard's layout is the first step.
### Methods For Windows Users
For Windows 10 and Windows 11 users, there are several pathways to taking a screenshot, even without a dedicated PrtScn key. The operating system includes robust native tools that rely on key combinations rather than a single button.
**Using The Windows Key Combinations**
Microsoft has integrated several screenshot shortcuts directly into the Windows shell. These are often the most reliable method for 60% keyboard users because they utilize keys that are almost always present on the keyboard.
1. **PrtScn Equivalent:** On many keyboards, the "Print Screen" function is printed on a key alongside another function, such as "Scroll Lock" or "Pause/Break." You must hold the `Fn` key and then press that key. For example, if "PrtScn" is labeled on the "Scroll Lock" key, you would press `Fn + Scroll Lock` to capture the entire screen. The image is copied to your clipboard. You can then paste it into an image editor like Paint (`Win + R`, type `mspaint`, Enter) or an image hosting application.
2. **The Modern Snipping Tool:** Windows 10 and 11 come with a built-in Snipping Tool. You can open it by searching for "Snipping Tool" in the Start menu or by using the shortcut `Windows Key + Shift + S`. This combination instantly changes your cursor to a crosshair, allowing you to click and drag to select any portion of your screen. The captured snippet is copied to your clipboard, and a notification will appear, allowing you to open and save the image immediately.
3. **Game Bar For Active Windows:** If you are capturing a specific open window, such as a game or a video, the `Windows Key + G` shortcut opens the Game Bar. Within this overlay, you will find a "Capture" section with a "Screenshot" button. Clicking this takes a screenshot of the active window, and the image is saved in your `Videos > Captures` folder.
**Leveraging Third-Party Software**
While the native tools are sufficient, many users prefer dedicated screenshot software for its advanced features. Applications like **Snagit**, **Lightshot**, or the open-source **ShareX** offer scrolling captures, advanced image editing, and direct uploading to cloud services. The method for triggering these varies. Some install a global hotkey during installation (like `Ctrl + PrtScn`), which you can use if your `Fn` key combo is mapped correctly. Others require you to assign a custom shortcut within the application's settings, which you can then program to a key combination that suits your 60% keyboard layout.
### Methods For MacOS Users
Apple's ecosystem relies heavily on keyboard shortcuts for screenshot functionality, which is perfect for compact layouts where keys are multi-labeled. The process is intuitive once you understand the key combinations.
**The Core Shortcut**
On a Mac, the standard "Print Screen" action is handled by a specific command sequence:
* **Capture Entire Screen:** Press `Shift + Command (⌘) + 3`.
* **Capture A Selected Area:** Press `Shift + Command (⌘) + 4`. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area.
* **Capture A Specific Window:** Press `Shift + Command (⌘) + 4`, then press the `Spacebar`. Your cursor changes to a camera icon. Hover over a window and click to capture it.
By default, these screenshots are saved as `.png` files on your desktop. If you are using a 60% keyboard, you must ensure that the `Command` key, located where the `Ctrl` key usually is on a full-size keyboard, is easily accessible. The `Shift` and `Option` keys are standard and pose no issues.
**Using The Screenshot App (macOS Mojave and later)**
For more control, including recording video and accessing a quick gallery of recent captures, macOS includes a dedicated Screenshot app. You can open it by pressing `Command (⌘) + Shift + 5`. This brings up a toolbar at the bottom of the screen with options for capturing the whole screen, a window, or a selection. The interface is visual and guides you through the process. This is arguably the most powerful method, centralizing all screenshot and screen recording controls in one place.
### Methods For Linux Users
Linux distributions offer a wide variety of desktop environments (GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, etc.), and the screenshot methods can differ. However, the underlying principles are similar: use key combinations or find a graphical tool.
**Keyboard Shortcuts In Popular Environments**
* **GNOME (Ubuntu default):** The standard shortcuts mirror those of Windows. Press `PrtSc` to capture the entire screen, `Shift + PrtSc` to select an area, or `Alt + PrtSc` to capture the active window. On a 60% keyboard lacking the `PrtSc` key, you must find the key where this function is printed and press it, often in combination with `Fn` or `Shift`.
* **KDE Plasma:** This environment provides a robust screenshot utility accessible via `Print Screen` or by searching for "Screenshot" in the application launcher. It offers more granular control, such as delaying the capture or capturing the cursor.
**Command-Line Tools**
For power users, the terminal offers the most flexibility. Tools like `scrot`, `maim`, or `grim` (for Wayland) can be scripted and controlled with precision. For example, the command `scrot '~/Pictures/%Y-%m-%d-%s_screenshot.png'` will save a timestamped screenshot to your Pictures folder. This method bypasses the need for any specific key on the keyboard, relying solely on memorized commands.
### Remapping Your Keyboard
If your 60% keyboard lacks a convenient key for screenshots, the most elegant solution is to remap a key on its firmware. Many mechanical keyboards come with proprietary software (e.g., Razer Synapse, Logitech G Hub, Keychron Utility) or support open-source firmware like QMK or VIA.
Through these tools, you can program any key to send the "Print Screen" command when pressed. For instance, you could assign the `F13` layer (a pseudo-key created by the keyboard firmware) to output the PrtSc scan code. Once set up, you can use the `Fn + F13` combination to take a screenshot, creating a dedicated, muscle-memory-friendly shortcut. This process requires some technical knowledge but offers the most seamless long-term fix for dedicated 60% keyboard users.
