Want to take pictures or screenshots using your iPad? Need to open a QR code? Want to convert handwritten text to typed text?
Today’s Tip
There are many possible capabilities that exist with your Camera app. While most people are familiar with the point and click nature of taking pictures and have used camera apps for a while, some lesser known features of the iPad include taking screenshots, QR code scanning, and Live Text selection.
Taking Screenshots
Screenshots can be useful ways to save what’s on your screen quickly. You may want to save screenshots to come back to a project at a later time or communicate what you’re looking at more clearly. Taking a screenshot is super easy:
- On whatever you’d like a screenshot of, press the top button and the Home button simultaneously, releasing both quickly.
- After taking your screenshot, a thumbnail preview will appear in the lower left corner of the screen, which can be opened to make edits or drawings on the screenshot. You can also swipe left to dismiss the preview.
And that’s all there is to it! All screenshots will save to your Photos app, so find them there and consider organizing your Photos into folders.
QR Code Scanning
QR codes can be fast ways to get to websites, apps, or other online content. Scanning them with your iPad is also very simple!
- Open the Camera app.
- Focus the camera on the QR code.
- Tap the notification that will appear on the screen to access the app or website connected to that QR code.
Live Text Selection
One of the lesser known features of the Camera app is Live Text. Live Text can recognize text within an image and provide options for selecting text, sending emails, or searching for more information. This would be a great way to digitize content that is handwritten on paper and/or classroom whiteboards. Much like QR Code scanning above, using Live Text can be very simple.
- Open the Camera app.
- Focus the camera on the content you want to digitize.
- Tap the Live Text button.
- Touch a word and move the start and end points to adjust your selection.
- Using the text options, select the option that you want to use in order to proceed with your workflow (such as Copy).
The Live Text option can also be accessed on pictures you’ve already taken and saved by accessing the image in the Photos app and selecting the Live Text icon.
Note: While the Live Text option is pretty good at picking up handwritten text, it is recommended that digitized text is reviewed and edited for any errors that may have come through.
Video Tutorial
A brief video tutorial about Taking Pictures (run time: 3:30) has been created to help illustrate these functions and capabilities.
Additional Support
Check out some of the resources we’ve curated on this topic for more support: