TinkerShot

Guides

How to add a background to a screenshot on a Mac

A screenshot on a background, with some padding and a shadow, is easier to read in a doc, a chat or a post. Here is how to do it in a few seconds.

What macOS can do on its own

The screenshot tool built into macOS has no background or padding option. The closest you get is a window capture (⇧⌘4, then Space, then click the window): macOS saves the window with its shadow on a transparent background. For a coloured background, padding or rounded corners, you need another app.

With TinkerShot

  1. Capture. Click the TinkerShot icon in the menu bar, choose Capture Region (⇧⌘2) and drag over the area you want. For a whole window, choose Capture Window. The first time, macOS asks for Screen Recording permission. Already have the image? Copy it and choose Paste from Clipboard, drop it on the editor, or use Open Image….
  2. Pick a background. In the Style tab, under Background, choose Auto-match for a background built from your screenshot’s own colours. Or choose a gradient (Lagoon, Sunset, Ocean, Peach, Mesh, Slate), a solid colour, one of the two drawn scenes (Dusk, Leaf), or Transparent.
  3. Set the space around it. Under Layout, drag Padding for the margin, Radius for rounded corners and Shadow for depth. Inset adds a border around the screenshot, in a colour that matches its edges or one you pick. If your capture has more empty space on one side, turn on Balance to even out the margins.
  4. Optional: a frame or a size. Under Frame, pick a Mac window, phone, tablet or laptop. The Size menu has aspect ratios and post sizes for X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Leave it on Auto to keep your screenshot’s pixels 1:1.
  5. Copy or save. Click Copy in the editor toolbar (⌘C) and paste the PNG anywhere. Export saves it to ~/Pictures/TinkerShot; Save As… in the Export tab lets you choose a place. The Export tab also sets the scale: 1×, 2× or 3×.
The TinkerShot editor with a pull request screenshot on an Auto-match background. The Style tab shows Background, Layout sliders for Padding, Inset, Radius and Shadow, Balance, Frame and Size.
The Style tab: background on top, layout sliders below, then Frame and Size.

The result

A terminal screenshot on a dark Auto-match background, with padding, rounded corners and a shadow.
A terminal capture with Auto-match, padding, radius and shadow. Real TinkerShot output.

Good to know

  • TinkerShot works offline. It has no network access, so your screenshot never leaves your Mac.
  • Save the look you like as a preset (Save as New…), and apply it next time in one click.
  • The free version adds a small “Made with TinkerShot” mark to exports. The Lifetime Unlock, $4.99 once, removes it.
  • TinkerShot needs macOS 15 or later.

Next: How to make screenshots look clean in GitHub pull requests.