The copy to clipboard feature is always enabled because, when coupled with Alfred's multi-clipboard functionality, the clipboard makes short order of reusing previously captured screenshots.

I’ve opted to not check the Open Annotate tool after image capture option because I’ve configured the CONTROL + OPTION + COMMAND + 2 keyboard shortcut for this specific purpose (see below). The opposite is true for video because capturing video generally requires a bit of editing or, at a minimum, a cursory review.

My desktop is rarely cluttered but use of a custom background is handy when capturing images/video for a consistent look and feel.

When it comes to capturing windows — like many of the screenshots in this article — I prefer the transparent background, though I do wish there was an option for defining shadow length.

You’ll want to spend time figuring out what workflow is best for you but shortcuts are my favorite feature since they reduce the need for a mouse. Here’s what I found works best for my setup:

Auto-close is disabled because it tends to be too much file maintenance. Plus, as mentioned earlier, makes for a killer combo when used in conjunction with the Alfred Clipboard.

Drag and drop and cloud upload support are worth enabling for further automation and less maintenance on your part.

Display of recording time is super useful and shows up when hovering over videos in the Quick Access area.

While I have an Alfred macro for enabling Do Not Disturb, letting CleanShot handle this automatically saves me an extra step.

Click highlighting and keyboard shortcuts are generally enabled, by default, but toggle on and off depending on the type of recording captured. Click highlighting improves mouse tracking usage. I sometimes couple this feature with Keymou highlighting as well. In rare cases where click highlighting is not needed, it can be temporarily disabled for individual recordings via the UI.

Keyboard keystrokes, like click highlighting, helps capture command key usage. This makes watching videos more intuitive. This feature can be disabled for individual recordings via the UI as well.

Disabling the dimming of the screen allows you to clearly read notes or view other windows. The area being recorded will have a red border when disabled like this but, if enabled, the entire desktop will be dimmed except for the recording area.

Freeze screen and crosshair mode are enabled by default so you can ensure the screen remains frozen during the time you are trying to capture a screenshot. Crosshair support, via the COMMAND key, lets you use the magnifier for pixel perfect capture when you need it.

Adding labels to each color is a nice touch and worth considering. Most critically, though, enable the Dock icon so you can quickly ALT + TAB back to the Annotate Tool when distracted by other windows.

Links to a free account where images self destruct after 30 days. I seldom use this feature, myself, but is useful in a pinch.

For file names, I prefer the following:

The default is a date/time only.