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The No.1 Screen Capture and Annotation App – 2023

A screenshot capture and annotation application in action.

Did you know that there is an excellent all-around app for screen capturing and annotating the screen? You are reading this article because you don’t know that.

But that annotation app’s name is FastStone. It is an all-rounder for annotating screens or images. I used almost all the apps. But I can’t find a better app than this. So if you use this fantastic annotation app, leave it alone. It is available in both Mac and Windows versions.

In this article, you will learn how to use the FastStone app.

After installing and activating the app, do the following:

  • Launch the window or app that you want to capture a screen shot in.
  • Press “Shift + Prt sc” on the keyboard for screen capture options.

FastStone Annotation Tools Shortcuts

S.No.Keyboard Shortcut (Keyword)Description
1. F1 (Arrow key)F1 is used to select any object you want by clicking
2. F2 (Select Canvas)Select any portion of the screenshot to crop, move, copy, paste, blur, or spotlight.
F3 (Rectangular Text Box)The rectangular text box is used to type something you want to describe any portion of the screen capture
Ctrl + F3 (Oval Text Box)The oval text box is used to type something you want to describe any portion of the screen capture
F4 (Text)Type text on the capture
F5 (Steps)Click to start the steps with the customized numbers
F6 (Line)Draw arrow line
Ctrl+F6Draw a fancy line
F7 (Pencil)Draw something you want
Ctrl + F7 (Eraser)Erase anything from the screen capture
F8 (Line)Draw vertical and/or horizontal line
Ctrl + F8 (Polyline)Draw a polyline in any direction
F9Draw a rectangle
Ctrl + F9Draw a filled rectangle
F10 (Oval)Draw an oval
Ctrl + F10Draw a filled oval
F11 (line highlighter)Highlight the line you want
F12 (Highlight something you want)Highlight something you want
Fill with colourFill the specific area with any colour you want
BlurUncover a specific part of the image to make it invisible
BracketUsed to draw curly brackets or braces wherever you want on the image
Mouse PointerInsert customized mouse pointer
Insert ImageInsert the Image wherever you want and resize
DeleteRemove the selected object
Ctrl + Z (Undo)Go one step backwards
Ctrl + Y (Redo)Go one step forward after taking some steps back
(Zoom in)Zoom in the image to 400%
(Fit to Window)Zoom out to 400% or Fit to Window
1 (Actual Size)Keep the image at the default size
Ctrl + P (Print)Print your annotated image
FastStone Annotation Keyboard Shortcuts

FastStone Editor:

1. File:

New (Ctrl + N):

Create a new image with different units such as pixels, inches, and centimeters in different customized and preformatted sizes.

Steps to follow to create a new blank image:

  • Click File
  • Then click New, or Press Ctrl + N to launch a popup window
  • On the popup window, select a unit name and preformatted size, or type height and width manually, and then choose the color you want.
  • Lastly, click OK
  • You can also import clipboard images (previously cut or copied images were going to the clipboard)

Open (Ctrl + O):

Launches a dialogue box to open saved images on your computer.

Steps to follow to open an image from your computer’s disk:

  • Click File and then click Open or press Ctrl + O
  • Search for saved images on your computer, then double-click to inset.

Import From the clipboard (Just like a Paste):

You can also import an image that was saved to the clipboard by cutting or copying. The imported image was created as a new tab, not pasted on the current image. The keyboard shortcut is Alt+V.

Steps to follow to Import images from the clipboard:

  • Cut or Copy any image or crop an image and cut or copy the cropped area to send it to the clipboard
  • Then click Import from Clipboard or press Alt + V to create a new image.

Save (Ctrl + S):

  • Save the image changes at the current location.

Save Selection (Shift + S):

  • Save the selected part of an image.

Save All (Ctrl + Shift + S):

  • Save all the images on all the tabs.

Recent Files:

  • Opens the recent image in the recent image files list. To open all recent files, press Alt + A. To open the last recent file, press Alt + 1, for the last but one file, press Alt + 2, etc.

Open File Location:

  • The open file location of a current image

Email (Ctrl + M):

  • Send the current image by email.
  • Print the current image

Send to New Tab (Alt + C):

  • Send the image to the new tab while keeping the existing one.

Send to OneNote (Alt + O):

  • Sends the current image to OneNote to launch it immediately for working in OneNote.

Send to Word (Alt + W):

  • Sends the current image to Word to launch it immediately for working in Word.

Send to Excel (Alt + E):

  • Sends the current image to Excel to launch it immediately for working in Excel.

Send to PowerPoint (Alt + P):

  • Sends the current image to PowerPoint to launch it immediately for working in PowerPoint.

Send to Web (FTP) (Alt + T):

  • Sends the current image to the website using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to publish it whenever you want.

Close (Alt + X):

  • Closes the FastStone Editor app completely.

2. Screen “Capture” Options with Keyboard Shortcuts

Open File in Editor:

By using this option, you can create a new file or open the saved one. You can use Tab only after capturing something you want.

Keyboard shortcuts:

New: Creates a new blank file in editor (Ctrl + N)

Open: Opens a saved file location in your computer to open the file (Ctrl + O)

Import from clipboard (Alt + V): Open the file that was stored in the clipboard (After cutting or copying the file)

Show Editor: Open a FastStone editor window (Ctrl + E)

Open Last File Location: Opens the latest created file (W), You can also use keyboard shortcuts from Alt + 1 to Alt +9 to open images that have been created recently

Capture Active Window (Alt + Prt Sc):

  • Used to capture the currently active window.

Capture Window/Object (Shift + Prt Sc)

Used to capture any window by hovering over and clicking the window you want

Capture Rectangle Region (Shift + Prt Sc)

When you use this option or keyboard shortcut, the mouse pointer will be turned into horizontal and vertical lines like an x and y axis.

At that time, hover the x and y axes over the capture rectangle region using the mouse

Then click and hold down on the top left corner of the rectangle region that you want to capture

And drag down towards the bottom right corner of the rectangle region, and then release the mouse button to take a screenshot.

Capture Freehand Region (Ctrl + Shift + Prt Sc):

Capture any region of the window you want to capture by clicking and selecting the region with the mouse pointer.

Capture Full Screen:

Use this option to take a full-screen capture.

Capture Scrolling Window (Ctrl + Alt+ Prt Sc)

This is very useful for capturing an invisible, long window region that is taller than the computer screen.

To do so, Use this option or press Ctrl + Alt + Prt Sc and do one of the following:

Autoscroll Mode: → Hover over the screen to confirm the region, then press the left mouse button. Wait until the entire screen is scrolled and captured.

Custom Scroll Mode: → Hold down the Control key. Select the top left corner of the area that scrolls vertically. Click the down arrow on the scroll bar. Wait until the entire screen is scrolled and captured.

Capture Fixed Size Region (Ctrl + Alt+ Shift + Prt Sc)

Select this option or press Ctrl + Alt+ Shift + Prt Sc → Then right-click → Select the size that fits properly → Hover over the area you want to take a screenshot of and click there.

Screen Recorder

This app also includes a screen recorder option. Using this, you can record screens in whatever sizes you want.

Delay before capture

You can delay capturing the area by setting a time limit.

Set the output destination

Setting the output destination is one of the best options in FastStone capture. You can set the output destination to Editor, Draw, Clipboard, File, Auto Save, Printer, OneNote, Word, Excel, PPT, Include mouse pointer, Copy to clipboard, Auto Caption, and Auto Edge/Watermark.

Settings (F12)

  1. Convert annotated captures to a PDF file using Office applications
  2. Send the image to email and web using the FTP account
  3. Capture a different-Sized Window.
  4. Edith with external sources
  5. Adjust the image color to suit your specific needs.
  6. Add a watermark to the image to protect online and offline
  7. Apply effects to the screen you want
  8. Combine all images into one
  9. Change the Annotation settings you want
  10. Cut, copy, and paste the specific area of the screen capture
  11. Add a caption to the next use
  12. Add different Text Boxes wherever it is necessary
  13. Type text in any size of the image
  14. Add auto-serialized, numbered steps to describe and get your image to the next level
  15. Add arrows for directions in the image with different formatting
  16. Write something and feel like a real pencil
  17. Erase something that you don’t want
  18. Draw 360-degree straight or curved lines
  19. Draw filled and empty rectangles and ovals.
  20. Highlight something that you want to focus on in a specific part of the image
  21. Fill, burr, or highlight the specific part of the picture with colour
  22. Use brackets to express additional information
  23. Insert mouse different pointers and icons
  24. Insert the image from your computer disk
  25. Expand the canvas. expand it to the new size
  26. Delete the object that you have recently added to the image
  27. Undo, and redo the steps that you have done earlier
  28. Zoom out or in the captured screen
  29. Finally, you can also print the captured and annotated image.

Work Faster with Essential Snipping Tool Shortcuts – Windows

How to Include a Mouse Pointer in Screen Capture

On the FastStone Toolbar, click Output, then select “Include mouse pointer” under the options.

What is a FastStone?

FastStone is the best screen capture and annotation app.

Can I use this app for professional purposes?

Yes, many professionals use such apps for creating tutorials, presentations, and documentation.

Is customer support available for this app?

Reputable apps usually offer customer support through various channels, such as email or online chat.

Does the app require a subscription, or is it a one-time purchase?

The pricing model can vary; some apps offer one-time purchases, while others may require subscriptions.

What features does the app offer for capturing screens?

The app often provides tools to capture the entire screen, specific windows, or custom areas, with options to include annotations.

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