iOS devices have a very complete screenshot tool to edit screenshots easily and quickly. Here are 9 very useful features.
iOS devices have a screenshot tool with a number of interesting features. From turning hand-drawn lines into straight segments to hiding sensitive information, iOS can do more than you think. Here’s how to get the most out of the screenshot utility.
Converting hand-drawn lines to geometric shapes
Once a screenshot is taken on your iPhone, you can use the Pencil tool to annotate it. And if you’re using a pencil to draw a basic geometric shape like a circle, triangle, pentagon or whatever, you can hold the screen for a while and the iPhone will transform your outline into the perfect shape.
The best way to hide sensitive information
The next time you take a screenshot of sensitive information like phone numbers, addresses, or even movie spoilers, you won’t have to draw with a pencil, brush, or anything else. These methods make it difficult to properly blur or erase, and even blurry content can be reproduced.
Instead, grab the Rectangle Tool and draw an opaque shape over the information you want to hide. To do this, take a screenshot and tap the pencil icon (to the left of the trash can icon) at the top of the screen. Click the + button in the lower right corner of the screen and select the square icon. This will add a transparent rectangle to your screenshot. To make it opaque, click on the square with the round icon in the bar at the bottom (first icon on the left). A small window will open with four options, and you can select the first one from the left, an opaque square icon.
Now you can move the shape around the screen and hide whatever you want. The result is much neater and you will hide everything more effectively.
Pick colors easier
When you hide information in a screenshot with an opaque rectangle, you can use the same color as the background to completely hide all traces of the information in question.
To do this, you need to use the color tool. After sketching a screenshot or drawing a shape, tap the colorful circle icon next to the + button in the bottom bar. This will open the color palette. To pick up colors, tap the eyedropper icon in the upper left corner next to Colors. You will then see a magnifying glass on the screen, point it at the color to reproduce and release when you are done.
The color will then be matched and you can do whatever you want with it.
Save colors for quick access
When you use the eyedropper tool to achieve the perfect color, it can be saved. To do this, take a screenshot, click on the pencil icon at the top, and then on the multi-colored circle icon next to the + button at the bottom to open the color palette. Use an eyedropper to find the perfect color or choose from a palette. You can then click the + button to save it and you can easily use it in your other shots.
Use a ruler to draw precise lines and shapes
The ruler tool is perhaps the most underrated. Draw geometric shapes, but not only. You can also place it anywhere on the screenshot and fill it with color, which makes it a very useful coloring tool.
Add text or subtitles
The screenshot tool also lets you quickly add a caption or description, making it easy to find in the Photos app on iPhone. Click the pencil icon at the top, then the + button on the bottom bar, and select “Description”to add a description.
Similarly, if you select the Text tool just below Description, you can add text to the snapshot.
Add Caption to Screenshots
If you feel the need, you can sign each screenshot you take. Take a screenshot, tap the pencil icon and then the + button at the bottom. Select Signature from the list of tools, sign and you will see your signature on the screenshot.
Use the opacity tool to adjust your wallpaper
If you’ve drawn the shapes in the screenshot and want to make them stand out, use the opacity tool. Once again, the pencil icon at the top of the screen, annotate the shot, then press the + button at the bottom and choose Opacity. In the bar at the bottom, you can move the opacity slider to the right to make the background more opaque, or to the left to make it more transparent.
Quickly highlight text in a screenshot
If you have an iOS 15 device, you can quickly select all text in a screenshot. Grab the snip and make sure the pencil icon is not selected – the drawing tools are not visible at the bottom of the screen. Tap the scan icon in the bottom right corner of the screen and your iPhone will highlight all the text in the screenshot.