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How to add a background to a screenshot on a Mac

A screenshot with some space around it, rounded corners and a soft shadow looks ready for a post, a slide or a README. EasyShoot does this in its Background tab, and can keep the look for every screenshot after.

Guides2 min read
  • Backgrounds
  • Screenshots
  • Mac

Steps

  1. Capture a window or an areaPress Option-Shift-Command-5 and click a window, or Option-Shift-Command-4 and drag. Click the thumbnail to open the editor.
  2. Turn on the backgroundIn the Background tab, turn on Show background.
  3. Choose what goes behindPick a wallpaper (your Mac's own, or EasyShoot's Waves and Gradients), a gradient or a single colour. Blur a wallpaper so the screenshot stays in front.
  4. Set padding, corners and shadowMove the Padding, Rounded corners and Shadow sliders until it looks right. Reset puts a slider back.
  5. Choose a shapePick an aspect ratio in the toolbar, such as 1:1 for a square post or 16:9 for a slide.
  6. Copy or savePress Shift-Command-C to copy, or Command-S to save.

Aspect ratios for where you post

The aspect ratio menu sits in the toolbar beside Crop, and works while the background is on.

  • Auto: the padding wraps evenly around the screenshot.
  • 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:10, 16:9 and 9:16: the background grows so the whole image has that shape, and Alignment decides where the screenshot sits in it.

The same look every time

Open Presets in the editor's toolbar and choose Save Current Style as Preset…. In Settings › Presets, Make Default starts every new screenshot with it. You'll also find 12 starter looks there to add.

Window captures and shadows

A window capture brings the window's own shadow. To use only the background's shadow, turn off Include window shadow in Settings › General; see how to screenshot a window without the shadow.

Questions

Is there a free screenshot beautifier for Mac?

EasyShoot is free. Its Background tab puts a screenshot on a wallpaper, a gradient or a colour, with padding, rounded corners and a shadow, and nothing is uploaded.

Can I use my own picture as the background?

No. You can pick one of your Mac's wallpapers, EasyShoot's Waves and Gradients, a gradient or a single colour.

Does the background make the image bigger?

Yes. Padding and the aspect ratio add space around the screenshot. To post at an exact size, set the width in the Export tab.