> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.openrecorder.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to take screenshots with Open Recorder on macOS

> Capture screenshots of a display, window, or drawn area. Screenshots save to ~/Pictures/Open Recorder with a project entry for easy access later.

Screenshot capture in Open Recorder takes a still image of a display, window, or hand-drawn area and saves it as a PNG to `~/Pictures/Open Recorder`. Each screenshot also creates a `.openrecorder` project entry, so you can find, re-open, and re-export it from the Project Library at any time. After capture, Open Recorder opens the screenshot editor where you can style the image before saving or sharing.

## Take a screenshot

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Open Recorder and start screenshot mode">
    Launch Open Recorder. From the main HUD, click **Screenshot** to enter screenshot setup.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a source type">
    Select **Screen**, **Window**, or **Area** to define what gets captured. For Screen, pick a display from the list. For Window, select an open app window from the source selector.
  </Step>

  <Step title="For Area screenshots, draw your region">
    If you chose Area, a selection overlay appears across your screen. Drag to define the rectangular region you want to capture. Open Recorder captures the screenshot immediately after you confirm the selection — no additional click required.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Capture">
    For Screen and Window sources, click **Capture** in the HUD. Open Recorder hides its own windows, captures the image, and then brings the editor forward.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Screenshot saves to ~/Pictures/Open Recorder">
    The PNG file is written automatically. You do not need to manually save from the editor unless you want to export a styled version.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Screenshot editor

After capture, Open Recorder opens the screenshot editor where you can style the image before exporting. The editor has two independent layers you can adjust:

* **Background layer** — choose a background style (color, gradient, or preset), set padding (0–140 px), corner radius (0–64 px), and shadow intensity.
* **Image layer** — adjust corner radius (0–48 px) and shadow intensity independently from the background.

When you are satisfied with the result, click **Export** to open the export dialog. From there you can either **Save** the composed PNG to a folder of your choice, or **Copy** it directly to the clipboard for sharing.

<Tip>
  Use **Reveal File** in the screenshot settings panel to open the original, unstyled PNG in Finder.
</Tip>

## Where screenshots are saved

Screenshots are saved to `~/Pictures/Open Recorder`. A corresponding `.openrecorder` project file is created in `~/Library/Application Support/Open Recorder/Projects`, storing the project metadata and any editor state (background style, padding, and layer settings) so you can re-open and adjust the styling later.

## Recent screenshots

Open Recorder maintains a recent screenshots index of up to 100 entries. When the limit is reached, the oldest entries are removed from the index automatically. All entries remain accessible in the Project Library so you can quickly find and re-open your latest captures.