Sure, there are loads of free screen capture tools, but this is not another cheesy, spreadsheet-looking one. This one offers directness, ease of use, and does it with style.

You may ask, what's wrong with Microsoft's own Snipping Tool? It's outstanding, but unfortunately restricted to the Windows Tablet PC Edition, and some versions of Vista. Also, Snipping Tool fails to capture overlay windows (those translucent windows mostly used by desktop gadgets).

PrtScr is a screen capture software for those who are looking for basic features and maximum eye-candy. While it only supports simple desktop and selected area captures, it performs these captures in a really cool and unique fashion.

Features
1. Accessable through Ptr Scr, Ctrl+Prt Scr, or custom hotkey
2. Captures full screen, rectangle selection, freehand selection, or active window
3. Can capture mouse cursor
4. Supports multiple monitors
5. Allows annotation over capture, with smooth, natural mouse drawing
6. Saves capture straight to desktop or to any file, sends it as email, edits, prints or sends to clipboard
7. Exports as JPG, BMP, or PNG (transparent or opaque)
8. Can re-scale capture before exporting
9. Can pre-fill capture title & comments with window title & browser URL

Usage
After standard installation, PrtScr is set to load itself at Windows startup, and replaces your normal screen printing. Of course, you still have the option to load it manually, and assign your own hotkey.

To make a normal capture, press Prt Scr, optionally draw some annotation (using the right mouse button), then select the part to grab using the left mouse button. Hold CTRL while clicking to make rectangle annotations or selections.
The little reminder window displayed on the right fortunately fades out when you approach it, so that you can capture what's behind.

In order to capture the topmost window, use the standard ALT+Prt Scr (a lot of people aren't aware of this hotkey, but yes it's a standard) or, if you defined another hotkey, press ALT+your hotkey.

Keyboard shortcuts
1. LMB (Left Mouse Button): selects the zone to capture and completes the capture (so this should be your last step)
2. RMB (Right Mouse Button): draws annotations over pre-capture
3. Ctrl+LMB/RMB: selects/draws rectangle
4. Mouse wheel: changes thickness of annotation ink
5. Delete/BackSpace: deletes most recent annotation ink
6. Escape: cancels capture
7. Return, Space: selects whole screen for capture
8. ALT+Prt Scr: captures topmost window only
9. (Ctrl+)mouse wheel, NumPad +/-, PgUp/PgDn, Home/End: zooms in/out capture
10. Arrow keys: enlarges/shrinks capture
11. NumPad 7/9/3/1: set capture corners
12. MMB (Middle Mouse Button): toggles resampling quality
13. RMB: gets back to capture

The license of this software is Freeware, you can free download and free use this screen capture software.