Screenshot, screenshot, screenshot … You can call it in many ways, but this is one of the great Mac utilities that you should know if you usually need it, either to show a page or application to a friend, family member or acquaintance or by labor issues. There is an application focused on this such as CleanShot X, of which we are going to tell you everything in this article because if you did not know it, it could be a very useful tool.
What exactly is this app
As we said at the beginning, in macOS it is possible to take screenshots without installing any third-party application. What’s more, we could dare to say that for 90% of users this native tool is more than enough and therefore applications like CleanShot X might not be of any interest to them at all. What this application does is make improved captures compared to the native ones , both aesthetically and functionally, as we will see in the following sections of this article. It is available for all those Macs that can support macOS 10.12 Sierra and later , so the range of compatible equipment is very wide.
How much does it cost to download CleanShot X?
This application, despite being outside the App Store, has proven reliability in terms of privacy and optimization on Mac. It can be downloaded from its official website and its prices are marked in dollars, so you will have to do the conversion to euros or whatever currency you use. It is divided into several rates depending on the number of computers on which you want to install the application:
- For 1 Mac: $ 29
- For 2 Macs: $ 49
- For 5 Macs: $ 119
- For 10 Macs: $ 229
If you need to install it on more than 10 computers, something that is understood to be associated with a fabric of company computers, it is recommended that you contact the developers from the contact section they offer. The interesting thing about CleanShot X and what you may find most worthwhile is because it is part of Setapp , a subscription service that gives access to hundreds of applications for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Therefore, if you already enjoy this platform or plan to subscribe, you will be able to download CleanShot X without having to pay individually for its service.
It is in English, but it is very intuitive
The first thing you should know is that CleanShot X does not have an app with a common interface. Its tools are built into the macOS menu bar at the top of the screen. It can be left there so that it is always visible from the moment the Mac is turned on or, failing that, open it each time by going to the application drawer, although the latter will not change its appearance because it will be integrated into that section until it is closed again.
It is not translated into Spanish, as it is only in English. However, it is very easy to understand even for those who do not master the language of Shakespeare. When we click on it we find the types of captures available, as well as access to the application settings.
Types of screenshots that can be made
The types of captures that this application makes are very simple to understand and apply, having the following possibilities:
- Capture of an area of the screen that you can select yourself.
- Capture the previous area , a very useful function if you want to make different captures of an element that is always located in the same place and with the same dimensions, having only to put that element and take the capture without having to continuously select the area.
- Capture the entire screen with what would be a complete screenshot of a lifetime, showing all the elements that make up what you are seeing on the monitor.
- Capture a full page scrolling. Very useful if you want to capture an area that includes more space than is shown on the screen and this is one of the most prominent points of the application due to the absence of this function natively.
In addition to these types of captures we find some other very outstanding functions such as the possibility of adding a timer to capture an area . Like there is the possibility of hiding the desktop icons if you do not want them to be visible in the capture.
Edit and export the capture
Once you have taken the capture you will see that a small preview will appear in the same way as the native ones, only that they will be located in the left corner instead of the right. Once you have it located there, you can save it in the folder you have chosen for these screenshots, copy it to the clipboard, share it through AirDrop, email or any other application that you have installed and allow it.
Now, the star function at this point is editing, where you will find a multitude of options. From cutting it to being able to include certain elements such as circles, arrows and other shapes. You can even add text and all this with a quite striking aesthetic without neglecting seriousness. You can even pixelate a part that you don’t want to be visible.
It also records the Mac screen!
Yes, we already know that QuickTime also does it natively, but it is worth noting that from QuickShot X you can also perform this screen recording process with advanced functions. From choosing the determined area with types of captures similar to static ones to being able to accurately configure the audio input and more.
Quick shortcuts can be set
Although all the previously mentioned functions can be done from the application’s control panel in the menu bar, the truth is that it is more comfortable if a keyboard shortcut is used. To be able to execute this type of captures with a shortcut, you must open preferences and go to the shortcuts tab where you can choose the combination you want for each of the capture functions. Our advice is that they be as simple as possible so that you remember them and that if you have any keys without function (F5, F6 in Magic Keyboard for example) take advantage of them to combine them with this application.
Is this app worth it for everyone?
Throughout this article you have been able to see illustrative screenshots of what we were commenting on. All of them have been made with this application and in all the articles written in this medium by a server for some time now, they are also made with it. With this we intend to illustrate that its usefulness can be relevant according to which profiles and is that in our case it is very helpful to be able to make more brilliant captures with which to help you in our articles. However, it is understandable that not everyone takes so many screenshots regularly and therefore can be perfectly without this application, especially if we take into account that it is paid. If you find yourself in a case similar to ours, it is certainly recommended and at least we recommend trying it. There are other equally valid alternatives to these, although in our experience of using it for years in the end we have ended up staying with CleanShot X.
