How to Capture First and Third-Person CS2 Screenshots in Counter-Strike 2

Many CS2 players purchase snazzy new agents and weapon skins to play with in Counter-Strike 2. However, Counter-Strike 2 doesn’t include any built-in screenshot tool for taking pictures of your favorite skins. Sure, you can always capture basic first-person snapshots with the Steam or Windows Game Bar screenshot tool, but CS2 doesn’t include a utility for taking pictures. Nevertheless, you can still capture groovy third and first-person CS2 screenshots of your agents and weapon skins, with the HUD disabled, by utilizing that game’s developer console.

The developer console is an invaluable tool for configuring Counter-Strike 2 by executing commands. One of those commands enables you to remove the CS2 HUD, which is ideal for taking screenshots. You can also capture third-person snapshots of your agent by executing a command that locks the game camera. This is how you can capture screenshots of your favorite CS2 agents and weapon skins by utilizing Counter-Strike 2’s developer console on a Windows PC.

Looking for more Counter-Strike 2 guides from KeenGamer?

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• How to Utilize the Counter-Strike 2 Console for Executing CS2 Console Commands
• How to Play Nighttime CS2 Maps in Counter-Strike 2

First, Adjust Some Counter-Strike 2 Settings

To begin, you’ll need to enable the command console in Counter-Strike 2, which is turned off by default. In addition, I also recommend setting higher graphics settings to make your CS2 screenshots look better. Adjust your Counter-Strike 2 settings as follows.

1. Click on the Settings (cog) button in Counter-Strike 2.
2. Select Game to view settings for that tab.
3. Next, select Yes for the Enable Developer Console option.
   
   

   The Enable Developer Console setting

4. Click Video > Advanced Video to view graphical settings.
5. Select a higher Current Video Values Preset option than the one currently set. For example, select High or Very High if set at medium or higher.
   
   

   The advanced graphics settings in Counter-Strike 2

How to Capture CS2 Screenshots on Standard Practice Maps

Now, you can start capturing CS2 screenshots. A good place to start is on a standard practice map where you can kick all bots out of matches. Then you can take snapshots of your CS2 agents and weapon skins unhindered.

For example, try taking a few shots on the beautiful Greek map of Thera, which is currently included in CS2. Click on Play and Practice to view the map selection. Choose the Thera map and press Go to enter it.

Next, press the ` key when the match starts to activate the console. Enable cheat commands by inputting sv_cheats 1 and pressing Enter. Kick all bots by executing the bot_kick command. Now, you’ll be free to wander the map alone to take screenshots but remember the timer is still active.

The command console

To set up a screenshot, move to a position on the map for capturing it. Execute the cl_drawhud 0 command to remove the HUD. You can always re-enable the HUD by executing a cl_drawhud 1 command.

Now lock the camera position by executing a cl_lock_camera 1 command with the developer console. This command completely locks the camera so that you can move your agent anywhere in front of it. Locking the camera like this enables you to capture third-person screenshots by moving and rotating your agent, as in the screenshot below.

A third-person screenshot of a terrorist in Counter-Strike 2

However, you can also use this camera lock command to capture better first-person weapon skin screenshots. The locked camera gives you complete freedom to move your agent and gun in any way. If you want to capture a CS2 weapon skin snapshot, try rotating your gun like in the snapshot below.

A first-person screenshot of an AK-47

You can capture your CS2 screenshot by utilizing the Game Bar, enabled by default on Windows 11/10 PCs. Press the Windows + G hotkey and click Capture > Take screenshot. Alternatively, press the Windows + Alt + PrtScn keyboard shortcut.

The Windows Game Bar

To view your game snapshots, click See my captures in the Captures window. Click a screenshot to view it in the Game Bar’s Gallery window. You can also open its folder by clicking Open file location.

How to Capture CS2 Screenshots With Inspect Skins

Inspect Skins is a workshop map designed for capturing CS2 screenshots. This map includes a tropical island and background room from which you can capture first and third-person CS2 snapshots with more unique backdrops. This is how you can add Inspect Skins to Counter-Strike 2 and enter that map.

1. Go to this Inspect Skins page.
2. If you’re not signed in to Steam, click login to sign in.
3. Press Subscribe to add the map to your game.
   
   

   The Inspect Skins page

4. Start Counter-Strike 2 from Steam.
5. Click Play and Workshop Maps within Counter-Strike 2.
6. Select Inspect Skins and click Go.

The Workshop Maps tab

The advantage of Inspect Skins is that it doesn’t include bots or match rounds. Thus, you won’t need to kick any bots. You can also shoot Off and On buttons for disabling and re-enabling the HUD. That settings panel includes additional settings for lowering and increasing the brightness of your screenshots.

The HUD options in the Inspect Skins map

Next, check out the skyline options next to the basic configuration settings. There, you can select various alternative skylines for your snapshot by shooting at their boxes. Select a skyline you like and head to the Island room by walking into its arch within the map’s lobby area.

This arch will whisk you to a small sandy island setting for capturing your screenshots. Here, you can capture third and first-person snapshots of your agent or weapon. Walk up to the island and execute the cl_lock_camera 1 command to lock the camera for a suitable snapshot. Move your agent or weapon and take the screenshot with the Game Bar as covered for practice maps.

A third-person screenshot of a counter-terrorist on an island

Alternatively, you can take CS2 screenshots with flat, two-dimensional backgrounds. To do so, walk into the Backgrounds arch within the lobby area of Inspect Skins. This will take you to a room that includes flat backgrounds for CS2 maps, basic colors, and unique landscape imagery. The backgrounds here are primarily for first-person weapon skin snapshots, like the one below. Jump up onto a platform, position the background ahead of your gun, and execute the lock camera command to set up and capture the image.

A first-person weapon screenshot with a unique background

The camera lock and disable HUD commands make up for Counter-Strike 2’s lack of a screenshot tool to some extent. Utilizing the developer console on practice maps or Inspect Skins, as covered above, will enable you to take some great CS2 screenshots of your favorite agent or weapon skins in Counter-Strike 2. You can then show off images of your purchased agent or weapon skins in numerous ways.