How to Annotate Screenshots on Windows

LamShot includes a full-featured annotation editor that opens right after you take a screenshot. Add arrows, labels, shapes, and highlights directly on the image without needing a separate app.

Opening the Annotation Editor

After taking a screenshot, click the Edit button (pencil icon) in the LamShot toolbar. The screenshot opens in LamShot's built-in annotation editor. The toolbar runs along the top or side of the editor window, with all drawing tools accessible in one click.\n\nThe editor uses GPU acceleration, which means drawing and rendering stay responsive even when you are working on a large or high-resolution screenshot.

Annotation Tools

1. Arrow

   Click the Arrow tool, then click and drag on the screenshot to draw an arrow. The arrowhead points in the direction you drag. Arrows are great for pointing out specific UI elements, buttons, or areas of interest. You can adjust the color and line thickness in the tool options bar.

2. Text

   Select the Text tool and click anywhere on the screenshot to place a text box. Type your label or note. You can change the font size, color, and style (bold, italic) using the options that appear in the toolbar. Drag the text box to reposition it after placing.

3. Rectangle

   Use the Rectangle tool to draw a box around an area you want to highlight. Click and drag to size the rectangle. You can choose a filled rectangle or an outline-only rectangle, and pick any border color and thickness.

4. Ellipse

   The Ellipse tool works the same way as Rectangle but draws an oval or circle. Useful for circling a specific element on the screen to draw attention to it.

5. Pen

   The Pen tool lets you draw freehand lines. Hold the mouse button and draw naturally, like using a real pen. Good for underlining text, drawing custom arrows, or making rough sketches on the screenshot.

6. Highlighter

   The Highlighter works like the pen but applies a semi-transparent color band, similar to a physical highlighter marker. Use it to mark important text or regions without completely covering them. Yellow, green, pink, and blue highlights are typically available.

Adding Stickers

Click the Sticker button in the toolbar to open a sticker panel. LamShot includes a library of common stickers: checkmarks, crosses, numbered circles, stars, warning signs, and more. Click a sticker to place it on the screenshot, then drag it to the position you want. You can resize stickers by dragging their corner handles.\n\nStickers are perfect for step-by-step tutorials where you want to number elements on the screen.

Inserting Additional Images

Use the Insert Image option (usually under a plus or insert icon) to overlay another image on your screenshot. This is useful for adding a logo, a second screenshot as a reference, or an icon. After inserting, drag and resize the image to fit where you need it.

Undo, Redo, and Finishing Up

Press Ctrl+Z to undo the last action and Ctrl+Y (or Ctrl+Shift+Z) to redo. You can undo as many steps as needed — there is no fixed undo limit in the editor.\n\nWhen you are happy with your annotations, use the toolbar buttons to copy the annotated image to the clipboard, save it to disk, upload it for sharing, or pin it on your desktop. All of these actions produce the annotated version of the screenshot, not the original.