Area Screenshot
What an area screenshot is, how to select a custom region, and when to use one instead of full-screen capture.
An area screenshot captures a rectangle of the screen that you define, rather than a whole display or a single window. The rectangle has an origin point plus a width and a height. Anything outside it, such as the menu bar, the Dock or notifications, is left out of the file.
On macOS, sizes are measured in points. On a Retina display each point maps to 2 by 2 pixels, so an area of 1000 by 1000 points saves as a 2000 by 2000 pixel image. On a standard 1x display the same area saves at 1000 by 1000 pixels.
macOS offers a one-time area capture with Shift+Command+4 and the Screenshot toolbar with Shift+Command+5.
Area screenshot vs window capture vs full-screen
| Type | What it records | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Area | A rectangle you draw | One panel, a reader page, a fixed region |
| Window | One app window, wherever it sits | An app screen without the desktop |
| Full-screen | The entire display | Context, multi-window layouts |
An area capture stays at fixed screen coordinates. If the window moves, the area does not follow it. A window capture follows the window but includes its whole frame.
Where area screenshots are used
- Page-by-page capture of a reader view, where only the page content should appear.
- Monitoring one chart or status panel over time.
- Documentation images that need a fixed size, such as 1600×900 for slides.
- Hiding private parts of the screen by leaving them outside the rectangle.
Aspect ratio presets
Drawing a rectangle by hand rarely produces an exact ratio. Presets fix the shape before capture. In Temposhot, the Custom Area picker starts as a centered 16:9 area, or as the area you saved last time. It has Lock aspect and presets for 16:9 (1600×900), 9:16 (900×1600), 4:3 (1200×900), 1:1 (1000×1000), 3:2 (1500×1000), iPhone 17 Pro (402×874), iPhone 17 Pro Max (440×956), Galaxy S25 (360×780) and Pixel 9 (360×808).
Common mistakes with area screenshots
- Moving or resizing the target window after drawing the area, so later shots cut off content.
- Including a scroll bar, cursor or toolbar edge that changes between frames.
- Assuming the output pixel size equals the area size in points on a Retina display.
- Drawing a slightly different area each time, so images in a series do not line up.
Taking the same screenshots again and again?
Temposhot repeats an area capture on a timer and can press a key between shots. See screenshot automation on Mac or download Temposhot.
Common questions
Does an area screenshot include the cursor?
The macOS shortcut leaves the cursor out by default. Other tools have their own setting, so check before a long run.
Can I reuse the same area later?
Temposhot saves the last Custom Area and reopens the picker on it. Press Escape once to reset the area and again to close the picker.
Sources
Related resources
- Capture sources: how Screens, Windows and Custom Area differ.
- Automated capture: stop conditions, interval and key press.
- Aspect Ratio Calculator: work out a size for a target ratio.
Taking the same screenshots again and again?
Temposhot captures a screen, window or area on a timer and exports the set as a PDF, images, ZIP or MP4. The free browser tools fix single images.
Related resources
Related terms
- Window CaptureWhat window capture is, how it differs from full-screen and region capture, and when to use it.
- Viewport ScreenshotWhat a viewport screenshot is, how it differs from full-page capture, and when it's the right choice.
- Aspect RatioWhat aspect ratio means for images and screenshots, common ratios, and mistakes to avoid.
- Image CroppingWhat image cropping is, when to crop screenshots, and mistakes to avoid.
- Screen CaptureWhat screen capture means, the different capture methods, and how to choose the right one.