5 Easy Ways to Screenshot on Linux

Screenshot on Linux

In today’s digital world, capturing screenshots has become an essential task for various purposes, from saving important information to sharing visual content. For Linux users, taking screenshots is a straightforward process that can be accomplished with ease. Whether you’re a seasoned Linux user or a newcomer, this article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to take screenshots on Linux, covering different methods and customization options.

To begin, let’s explore the most basic method of taking a screenshot on Linux using the built-in “Print Screen” key. This key is typically located on the top row of your keyboard, labeled with “Prnt Scr” or similar. When you press this key, it captures the entire desktop screen and saves it as an image file in your Pictures directory. The file name typically includes the date and time of the screenshot, making it easy to identify and organize. While this method is quick and requires minimal effort, it does not offer any customization options.

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For more advanced screenshot options, Linux provides a dedicated utility called “Screenshot.” This tool offers a wider range of features, including the ability to capture specific regions of the screen, add annotations, and save the screenshot in different file formats. To access the Screenshot utility, simply type “screenshot” in the terminal or search for it in the Applications menu. Once launched, you will be presented with a user-friendly interface that allows you to customize the screenshot settings according to your needs.

Using the Keyboard Shortcut

Utilizing keyboard shortcuts is the most direct and convenient method to capture a screenshot on Linux. To perform this action, press the following key combination:

Keys	Function
PrtScn	Captures the entire screen.
Alt + PrtScn	Captures the active window.
Shift + PrtScn	Copies the screenshot to the clipboard without saving it to a file.

Once you have pressed the appropriate key combination, the screenshot will be captured and saved to the following default location:

~/.local/share/screenshots

You can easily access the screenshot file by opening the File Manager and navigating to the above-mentioned directory. By default, the screenshot file will be named with the following format:

Screenshot_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.png

Where YYYYMMDD represents the date, and HHMMSS represents the time at which the screenshot was taken.

Utilizing the Command Line Interface

The command line interface (CLI) provides a powerful way to capture screenshots in Linux. The following commands will guide you through the process:

1. Using the “gnome-screenshot” Tool

Run the following command in the terminal to capture a screenshot of the entire screen:

gnome-screenshot

To capture a specific window or area, use the “-w” or “-a” options:

gnome-screenshot -w window_ID
gnome-screenshot -a area_coordinates

2. Using the “scrot” Tool

Scrot is a versatile tool for capturing screenshots. It offers a wide range of customization options and can be easily integrated into scripts. Here’s how to use scrot:

Capturing the entire screen:
```
scrot
```
Capturing a specific window:
```
scrot -u window_ID
```
Capturing a specific area:
```
scrot -s
```
Saving in a specific format:
```
scrot -e format
```
Setting a delay before capturing:
```
scrot -d delay_in_seconds
```

The following table summarizes the key options of scrot:

Option	Description
`-u`	Select a specific window by its ID
`-s`	Capture a specific area (requires manual selection)
`-e`	Specify output image format (e.g., `-ejpeg`, `-epng`)
`-d`	Set a delay before capturing (useful for timed screenshots)
`-c`	Copy the screenshot to the clipboard instead of saving it to a file

3. Using the “import” Command

The import command can be combined with the X Window System (Xorg) to capture screenshots. Run the following command to save a screenshot of the entire screen as a PNG image:

import -window root ~/screenshot.png

Employing Gnome Screenshot Tool

Within the realm of Linux, a diverse array of screenshot utilities await your exploration, each tailored to specific needs. One such tool, Gnome Screenshot, stands out for its versatility and ease of use. To harness its capabilities, simply press the Print Screen key, and a sleek, minimalist interface will grace your screen, inviting you to capture your desired screenshot. However, if you seek a more comprehensive approach, press the Alt + Print Screen key combination, as this unlocks a myriad of screenshot options that cater to your every whim.

Capturing a Specific Area

If your screenshot ambitions extend beyond capturing the entire screen, Gnome Screenshot has you covered. Employ the rectangular selection tool to meticulously outline the precise area you wish to preserve for posterity. With pinpoint accuracy, this tool allows you to capture only the essential elements, leaving behind the digital clutter that may otherwise encumber your screenshot.

But wait, there’s more! Gnome Screenshot also grants you the power to delay your screenshot capture, providing ample time to arrange your virtual stage and ensure that everything is in its rightful place before the shutter clicks.

Screenshot Options

Option	Result
Delay	Pauses screenshot capture for a specified duration, allowing for meticulous preparation.
Window	Captures the active window, excluding any extraneous elements that may clutter your screenshot.
Screen	Captures the entire screen, providing a comprehensive view of your virtual environment.
Selection	Enables you to capture a specific portion of the screen, allowing for precise and targeted screenshots.

Leveraging KDE Print Screen

KDE’s Print Screen utility provides a comprehensive set of customization options to capture precise and varied screenshots.

Customizing Screen Capture

To customize the Print Screen settings, navigate to System Settings > Shortcuts > Custom Shortcuts. In the “Capture” section, you will find several options, including:

Option	Function
Capture Full Screen	Captures the entire screen
Capture Current Window	Captures the active window only
Capture Selected Area	Allows you to select a specific region of the screen
Capture Targeted Window	Captures the window under the mouse cursor
Capture Last Active Window	Captures the previously active window

Using the KDE Screen Capture Tool

To capture a screenshot using the Print Screen tool, simply press the Print Screen key (usually located on the top row of your keyboard). This will open the Screen Capture Tool, where you can choose the desired capture mode and make any necessary adjustments.

If you prefer a more customizable experience, you can bind a specific shortcut key to the desired capture mode. To do this, go to Keyboard Shortcuts in System Settings, find the “Capture” section, and assign a shortcut key to the appropriate action.

Additional Features

KDE’s Print Screen also offers several additional features, such as:

Delay Mode: Allows you to set a delay before capturing the screenshot, giving you time to position the elements on your screen.
Screencast Mode: Records a screencast of your desktop activity.
Image Editor: Provides basic image editing tools to annotate or enhance your screenshots.

Implementing Shutter

Shutter is a popular screenshot tool for Linus that offers advanced features beyond the basic screenshot functionality. To install Shutter, open a terminal window and run the following command:

sudo apt-get install shutter

Once installed, launch Shutter from the Applications menu. Shutter provides a variety of options for capturing screenshots, including:

Full screenshots: Capture the entire desktop.
Window screenshots: Capture a specific application window.
Region screenshots: Capture a rectangular or elliptical region of the screen.
Menu screenshots: Capture a drop-down menu.
Web page screenshots: Capture a full web page, including any scrolling content.

Shutter also allows you to edit screenshots, add annotations, and apply effects. To capture a screenshot, simply select the desired mode and click the “Capture” button. Shutter will then display a preview of the screenshot, allowing you to edit or save it.

Shutter provides various configuration options to customize its behavior. To access the settings, click the “Preferences” menu item. You can configure options such as:

Option	Description
Default save location	Specify the default location where screenshots are saved.
Image format	Choose the file format for screenshots (e.g., PNG, JPG, GIF).
Keyboard shortcuts	Assign keyboard shortcuts for different screenshot modes.
Advanced settings	Configure additional options, such as the delay before capturing a screenshot and the default screenshot quality.

With its advanced features and customization options, Shutter is a versatile and user-friendly screenshot tool for Linus.

Utilizing Flameshot

Flameshot is an advanced screenshot tool that offers a wide range of features, including region selection, annotation, and cloud storage. To use Flameshot, follow these steps.

1. Installation

Install Flameshot using the following commands:

Distro	Command
Debian-based	`sudo apt install flameshot`
Fedora-based	`sudo dnf install flameshot`
Arch-based	`sudo pacman -S flameshot`

2. Configuration

Once installed, configure Flameshot by launching it from the terminal or application menu.

3. Shortcut

Set a custom keyboard shortcut for Flameshot in the “Preferences” window.

4. Screen Capture

Press the assigned shortcut key to capture a screenshot. A small window will appear, allowing you to select the region you want to capture.

5. Annotation

After capturing the screenshot, use the toolbar to add annotations, such as arrows, text, and shapes.

6. Advanced Features

Flameshot offers several advanced features:

Image Effects: Apply effects to the screenshot, such as blur, sharpen, and grayscale.
Screen Recording: Record a section of the screen and save it as a video or GIF.
Color Picker: Sample colors from any point on the screen, even from under other windows.
OCR (Optical Character Recognition): Extract text from the screenshot and save it in plain text format.
Cloud Storage: Upload screenshots directly to Imgur, Google Drive, or other cloud storage providers.

Exploring GNOME Extension

GNOME extensions are a powerful way to customize your Linux desktop experience. They can add new features, change the look and feel of your desktop, and even integrate with other applications. There are many different GNOME extensions available, so you can find one that fits your needs perfectly.

To install a GNOME extension, you can use the GNOME Extensions website or the GNOME Software Center. Once you have installed an extension, you can enable it by going to the GNOME Extensions panel in the Settings app. You can also disable or remove extensions from this panel.

There are many different GNOME extensions available, but some of the most popular include:

Extension	Description
Dash to Dock	Adds a dock to the bottom of your screen.
Ubuntu Dock	Adds a dock to the left side of your screen.
Applications Menu	Adds an applications menu to the top panel.
TopIcons Plus	Adds icons for running applications to the top panel.
Vitals	Shows system information in the top panel.
Weather	Shows the weather forecast in the top panel.

These are just a few of the many GNOME extensions available. With so many options to choose from, you can find the perfect extensions to customize your Linux desktop experience.

Employing GIMP

GIMP, a comprehensive image editing suite, offers robust screenshot capabilities on Linux. Here’s a detailed guide using GIMP:

Open GIMP: Launch the GIMP application.
Select File Menu: Click on the "File" menu from the top menu bar.
Choose Acquire Option: From the drop-down menu, hover over "Acquire" and select "Screenshot."
Toggle Delay Option: If desired, enable the "Delay" option to provide a brief pause before capturing the screenshot.
Capture Mode Selection: Choose your preferred capture mode from the options: "Single Window," "Window including decorations," "Full screen," or "Area."
Select Target Area: If you select "Area" mode, use the cursor to drag a box around the area you want to capture.
Capture Screenshot: Click the "Capture" button in the Acquire dialogue box.
Post-capture Options:
- Save Screenshot: Choose "File" > "Save" to save the screenshot in various image formats.
- Edit Screenshot: Double-click on the screenshot thumbnail in GIMP to edit it using GIMP’s powerful tools.
- Copy Screenshot: Select "Edit" > "Copy" to copy the screenshot to the clipboard for later use.
- Discard Screenshot: If you don’t need the screenshot, click "File" > "Close" to discard it.

GIMP Screenshot Capture Modes	Description
Single Window	Captures the active window only
Window including decorations	Captures the active window with its borders and title bar
Full screen	Captures the entire screen
Area	Allows you to select a specific area of the screen to capture

Taking Scrolling Screenshots

GNOME includes a screen capture tool that allows you to take regular screenshots or scrolling screenshots that capture a larger portion of a window or webpage. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Screenshot Tool

Press Ctrl + Shift + PrtScn (Print Screen) to open the screenshot tool.

2. Select the “Take Scrolling Screenshot” Option

Click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the screenshot tool and select “Take Scrolling Screenshot” from the list.

3. Adjust the Capture Area

Use your mouse or touchpad to drag a rectangle over the area you want to capture. The rectangle will automatically expand to the full height of the scrolling window.

4. Start Scrolling

Scroll down (or up) on the window using your mouse or keyboard until you reach the end of the content you want to capture.

5. Stop Scrolling

Once you reach the desired end point, click the mouse button or press a key to stop scrolling. The screenshot tool will automatically capture the entire scrolled content.

6. Save the Screenshot

Click the “Save File” icon to save the screenshot to a file on your computer. You can also click the “Copy to Buffer” icon to copy the screenshot to your clipboard for pasting into other applications.

7. View the Saved Screenshot

Open the File Manager and navigate to the location where you saved the screenshot. You can view the screenshot by double-clicking on the file.

8. Customize the Screenshot Tool

You can customize the screenshot tool by clicking on the “Settings” icon (the gear icon) in the top-right corner. You can adjust options such as the output format, the image quality, and the default save location.

9. Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks for taking scrolling screenshots on Linux:

Action	Shortcut	Description
Capture the entire screen	`Ctrl` + `PrtScn`	Takes a screenshot of the entire desktop.
Capture a specific window	`Alt` + `PrtScn`	Takes a screenshot of the currently active window.
Capture a specific area of the screen	`Shift` + `PrtScn`	Opens a crosshair that you can drag to select an area to capture.
Copy the screenshot to the clipboard	`Ctrl` + `C`	Copies the screenshot to the clipboard without saving it to a file.

Customizing Screenshot Settings

The GNOME screenshot tool, gnome-screenshot, offers a range of options to customize the screenshot experience. These settings can be accessed by pressing the “Settings” button in the main window or by using the command line with the -s argument. Let’s delve into each of these settings:

1. **File Format:** Choose the desired file format for screenshots, such as PNG, JPEG, WEBP, or BMP.

2. **Save Location:** Specify the default save location for screenshots.

3. **Filename Prefix:** Set a prefix that will be added to the beginning of the screenshot filenames.

4. **Screenshot Type:** Select the type of screenshot you want to capture, including the entire screen, a specific window, or a custom area.

5. **Preserve Aspect Ratio:** Enable this option to maintain the aspect ratio of the original image when resizing.

6. **Include Pointer:** Decide whether to include the mouse pointer in the screenshot.

7. **Delay:** Specify a delay in seconds before capturing the screenshot, allowing you to prepare the screen.

8. **Quality:** Adjust the compression level for JPEG screenshots.

9. **Visible Watermark:** Add a visible watermark to screenshots, typically used for branding or copyright protection.

10. **Accessibility Settings:** Configure options to enhance accessibility for visually impaired users, such as magnification and high contrast.

Setting	Description
File Format	PNG, JPEG, WEBP, BMP
Save Location	Custom directory
Filename Prefix	Any string
Screenshot Type	Entire screen, window, area
Preserve Aspect Ratio	Maintain original image proportions
Include Pointer	Capture mouse cursor
Delay	1-10 seconds
Quality	1-100% (higher = better quality)

How to Take a Screenshot on Linux

Taking a screenshot on Linux is a simple and straightforward process. The following steps will guide you through taking a full-screen or partial screenshot using your Linux computer.

Taking a Full-Screen Screenshot

1. Use the shortcut key “PrtScn” (Print Screen). This will capture the entire screen and save the image to your ~/Pictures directory.
2. Alternatively, you can use the command line tool “scrot -s” to save the screenshot to a specific file location. For example, “scrot -s ~/Desktop/screenshot.png” will save the screenshot to your desktop.

Taking a Partial Screenshot

1. Press “Shift + PrtScn” to capture only the active window.
2. To select a specific area, use the “Alt + PrtScn” shortcut and drag the cursor to outline the desired area. The selected area will be captured to the clipboard for pasting.