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Capture modes

clarife capture supports two capture modes:
ModeDescriptionShortcut
Region captureSelect a rectangular area of your screenConfigurable in settings
Window captureCapture an entire application windowConfigurable in settings

Region capture

1

Trigger capture

Use your keyboard shortcut or click Capture region from the tray menu.
2

Select area

Your screen dims and a crosshair cursor appears. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture.
3

Confirm

Release the mouse button. The selected region is captured and saved instantly.
During region capture, the companion app window hides automatically so it does not appear in your screenshot. It reappears after capture is complete.

Window capture

Click Capture window from the tray menu and then click on the window you want to capture. The entire window contents are captured regardless of what is visible on screen.

After capture

After each capture:
  1. The screenshot is saved to your local storage
  2. A thumbnail preview appears briefly
  3. If sync is enabled, the screenshot uploads to your clarife account automatically

Screenshot picker

When you have multiple recent captures, you can browse them in the screenshot picker:
  • Click the tray icon to see recent captures
  • Select a capture to preview it
  • Discard captures you don’t need

Tips for better captures

  • Crop tightly — capture only the relevant area to keep screenshots focused
  • Use consistent sizing — similar-sized screenshots look better in tutorials
  • Close notifications — dismiss macOS notifications before capturing to avoid clutter
  • Use light/dark mode consistently — matching screenshots create a professional look

Region capture works across the monitor where you initiate the selection. Switch to the target monitor before triggering capture.
Screenshots are saved as PNG files for lossless quality.
By default, captures are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/app.clarife.capture/captures. You can change the storage location in settings.
No. clarife capture is designed for static screenshots only. For video, use the AI Video feature in the web editor.