I used to use this, but it's not freeware anymore. I upgraded the version, and then 30 days later it told me it needed $20 to be used further. :\

BugMeNot

Like BugMeNot says, no longer freeware. Hasn't been for quite some time.

I use Screenshot Captor now.

Avengelist

If you need a quick screen capturing and uploading tool, then you should just use the freeware Shup. Shup allows you to upload to stashbox, flicker, waffel images, imageshack, and more. Although it's not necessarily big on the editing, when you screen capture, generally, a user just wants to capture the screen with no frills. The program is awesome, and super lightweight.

www.shup.com

evangelistc01

I use ScreenJot, which works a lot like OSX's screencap tool. [www.liquidthought.com]

Aanidaani

ImageShack offers a download in their Tools section called QuickShot, and I've been using it without problem for a long while. Alt-I to capture just the active window, Alt-U to capture the full desktop (both can be changed to any hotkey), then uploads it to ImageShack and copies the url to your clipboard. Doesn't edit images and such however, it's a one-function tool.

synth7

FastStone Capture went shareware at version 5.4 (it's 6.0 now). If you REALLY want FastStone Capture, version 5.3 is available here:

[www.aplusfreeware.com]

Consider MWSnap instead. Very simple interface, no frills, no install, lightweight (400k) and really free. Also offers multilingual support.

[www.mirekw.com]

Buzz Lightyear

I use the Pearl Crescent Page Saver extension for Firefox. It's a simple program that easily allows either full page or visible capture. Not many frills, but the capture can be moved into any editing program for adjustment.
There is a free version and a pay version, but the free edition is all I need. Find it at:[pearlcrescent.com]

tombuch

Skitch is great if you're on a mac. Screenshot or iSight a picture, annotate it and then save or upload.

alarobric

yep, it's not free any more. $20 for a license

bnosach

Mac owners might be interested a free dashboard widget called 'ScreenShot Plus'.

"Take screen captures quickly and easily. Screenshot Plus can take full screen captures, grab portions of the screen, and even capture windows, desktop icons, and other widgets. Captures may be saved to the clipboard or to the hard drive, or they may be exported to any application directly from the widget. Captures may be saved in the formats: png, tiff, jpg, pdf, gif."

FizzyPopMan

How do the above suggestions compare to Snagit 7? Which I have been please with, but always looking for an upgrade.

BraveGiant

There's this new thing called the Jing Project for Macs and PC and is very quite like this FastStone, except it also can take short (max: 5 min) screecasts.

[www.jingproject.com]

runiteking1

Any good tools for the Ubuntu Linux crowd? The built-in "Take Screenshot" utility offers a few useful features such as adding a drop-shadow or setting a delay. However, the simple built-in editor mentioned here sounds very useful.

--Scott

Scott Wegner

The "snipping tool" in Vista works just fine. AND Skitch (currently on available on OSX is coming to Windows). That'll be a nice option eventually.

xxdesmus

I'm a fan of "Prt Scr", that button on my keyboard. MS Win only, I believe.

lsg

jing is slow, snagit is bulky and costs $, skitch doesnt work on my hackintosh 10.4.8 .. keeps crashing... & none work on ubuntu... only one i found is captura by hanansoft..

forgotthename

I'm using Fireshot extension for Firefox and find it helpful. I also use the Vista Snipping Tool for smaller things. Between the two I'm covered for free.

asfg812

Cropper ftw!

A3sthetix

I haven't tested it, but there is a portable version of FastStone Capture, which should mean you could be able to keep "trying it" every 30 days.

BugMeNot

Portable Freeware still has a free previous version of Faststone Capture -
"FastStone Capture appeared to have gone payware starting from V5.4. Since the license agreement does not prohibit redistribution, I have made the last freeware version (V5.3) available for direct download."

Stephen A

aidan_cage

I used Faststone until they wanted $. Tried MWSnap but switched to Screenshot Captor because for more features, including scrolling web page capture, which I never gotten to work. Everything else works great. The editor interface can be a little confusing.

SciotoSurfer

@Scott Wegner: Check out KSnapshot [freshmeat.net] for a good Linux screenshot tool.

Aanidaani

I've been using Faststone 5.3 for a while & find it not lacking anything I need. I especially like that it captures scrolling windows for those looog web pages.

Prolly will need to upgrade at some point down the road, then I'll have to find another free tool if they are charging for it.

BlogsOfSteel

The snipping tool in vista works really well - but not having Vista I couldn't use it. Part of my job involves taking screenshots and marking them up in to mini-howtos for a web system and I use Faststone Capture. I paid the fee, it was well worth the price. What I like about this vs many others I've used is that the lines and boxes are anti-aliased, and have a drop shadow. It's just a bit of polish that makes my work look better.

shockwaver

@jeromy: *screenshot captor* +1

jeromy

Screenshot Capture +1

jeromy

[www.bcheck.net]

Purrint, as small and easy as it gets. Yay for no bloat!

5h17h34d

I use wisdom-soft screen hunter which comes in handy writing procedures for the non-techs at work.

drkkgt

Jason Fitzpatrick

Going to have to try this, Thanks.

ma5t3rw1tt

gamesover

Hit - Print Screen -> Open IrfanView -> Hit Ctrl + V -> Edit to your hearts desire

BugMeNot

I have been using 5.3 for a year or longer, and it really provides everything you need to meet your screen capturing needs. And it's portable too, which is a plus in my book.

I just recently bought a license for 6.0 - mostly to show my support, 5.3 provides it all. But $20 really is a more than fair price for this piece of software.

Peter Dahl

I am surprized no one mentioned Snagit. Though not free, it is best one available. It captures both images nad videos
[www.programtr.org]

toofaan

The minimalist word processor, Jarte, includes a built-in screen capture. I like 2-in-1 things and pop-up Jarte for screen capture almost daily. Don't remember if the screen capture was a feature of the free version though, I moved up to the $17 version right away.

AMRetrow

Don't forget Hardcopy. Looks a bit outdated but does its job pretty good. Freeware, but the author likes to get a tip.

[www.gen.hardcopy.de]

timesplitter

CaptureIt

AutoIt based application, full screen capture, window capture, selected area capture. Hotkey enabled. :)

googeling

FastStone Capture 5.3 is the last freeware version. You can still download it from some sites.

cicom3nd3z

Not only free as in free beer, but free as in free speach: open source software Greenshot ([greenshot.sourceforge.net]). Quite similar to FastStone Capture.

msauter

Faststone Capture v5.3 is freeware, and redistributable! It is available at [www.portablefreeware.com] Better yet, it is completely portable and works with Vista, at least 32-bit.
This program could not be easier to use or more flexible.

allinthefamily

You can download previous, freeware, versions of the FastStone Capture -- that do not expire after 30 days here: [www.oldapps.com]

nbizman

According to the developer's website, the Capture program is shareware.

dimatx

A great tool, but no longer freeware. It now costs $ 19.99 for a lifetime license.

Maub

I think it's Tial version. The last freeware version was 5.3.

cicom3nd3z

Please change the text next to the link to [Portable Freeware]. This is not Portable Apps in the least. They only make open-source software available. Thanks.

photoben

If you write computer how-to's for your colleagues or friends, this is completely INDISPENSABLE. I bought it and never looked back. Freeware version has about everything you need. Get this.

Jimmer

@forgotthename: snagit7 is free, the newer versions cost something. I've been using snagit7 for about 6 months now since a previous lh post and can't imagine a reason to try anything else.

has ability to choose rectangular areas, automatically formats in my usual selections (i like to have drop shadow or 'torn edges' looks), hotkeys for everything, and good screen to .avi capture to boot.

It's been mentioned on my show [techtalk.wrlr.fm] as a coolsite of the week before too, so i am perhaps somewhat biased!

TechTalk WRLR 98.3FM

Fireshot Firefox extension.

[screenshot-program.com]

gopanthers

[tomuse.com]

In the past I just hit the 'Print Screen' button then opened up Paint and pasted it in.

Does anyone know how to do this on a Macbook keyboard? I'm running Windows XP on my Macbook via Parallels and miss this.

Any other forever free alternatives?

VizionQuest

DarrenL

Yeah, that link seems to be non-functional, but if you run a quick Google search for FastStone 5.3 (apparently the last FREE version of the software) there are a few other shareware link sites out there that provide downloads of FastStone.

Beware tho - make sure you give that download a good anti-virus scrub; I can't vouch for the safety of any of those shareware link sites.

Qa'id

@DarrenL: Apparently you guys were a bit enthusiastic about downloading it ;-) There is a version available at VersionTracker.com, link:

[tc.versiontracker.com]

Jason Fitzpatrick

Feh... SnagIt's better and worth the money...

frankz00

etnie21

I have been using Gadwin PrintScreen that has everything I need. It is also a freeware.

[www.gadwin.com]

geezery

Been using Capture for a long time already, very nice clean&simple tool! Within Firefox, the addon Abduction is a great alternative for screendumping websites or parts of them!

[addons.mozilla.org]

elmo13th

Zapgrab is a very simple way of doing basically the same thing.

JaimeZX

freeware clip2net does pic and vid grabs and offers an uploading feature. it was posted here not too long ago. i'm wondering if lifehacker thinks this one is better in some ways.

helloali

Just use ALT-Printscreen to capture anything to the clipboard, then paste it into your favorite image editor.

Hello_Newman

I have to just add my agreement that FireShot is excellent. I have been usign it for sometime now and can honestly say its work perfectly. A real asset and a great tool. [screenshot-program.com]

neotoxic

@Buzz Lightyear: MWSnap was a great piece of software, but who knows what happened to the author. The program has been pretty much abandoned for 7 years.

Faststone 5.3 is great, but I'm going to check out other alternatives listed here.

maximillianx

When I was doing lots of documentation for the office I ended up using windows print screen and pasted it into Visio - I had an awesome template set up and it made this a snap.

Now that I'm out of the office I no longer use Visio, but checked out Jing the other day and noticed that the formatting for frames and arrows almost completely matches the styles I'd set up in visio. Aside from the great look of Jing it also seems way too simple to do exactly what you need, I'm looking for a catch but haven't found one - hopefully they keep this product available for good.

Fierock

tf76

I have been using version 4.7 of FastStone Capture for several years now. That version is freeware.

I carry it on my USB thumb drives as a portable PDF generator, since one of the formats you can save to is PDF. With its ability to capture entire documents, even those that require scrolling to see the entire document, FastStone Capture can be that elusive portable PDF creator so many have looked for.

genghis_schmengis