5 Simple Ways to Take a Screenshot on Linux

5 Simple Ways to Take a Screenshot on Linux

Harnessing the ability of screenshots is indispensable for capturing and sharing digital data. Within the realm of Linux, an unlimited and versatile working system, the flexibility to take screenshots is an important ability, enabling customers to protect visible representations of their desktops, functions, and net pages. Whether or not you are troubleshooting technical points, documenting software program processes, or just sharing memorable moments, understanding the right way to take a screenshot on Linux is a useful asset. This complete information will equip you with the required information and strategies to seize screenshots with ease, empowering you to successfully talk and protect digital content material.

The journey to screenshot mastery begins with understanding the elemental strategies out there in Linux. The primary method, leveraging the built-in screenshot utility, is appropriate for capturing your entire display. To execute this method, merely press the “PrtScn” (Print Display screen) key in your keyboard. The ensuing screenshot will likely be robotically saved as a PNG picture within the “Photos” listing. For a extra focused method, think about using the “gnome-screenshot” command. This versatile instrument means that you can seize particular areas of the display, energetic home windows, and even total net pages. By default, “gnome-screenshot” saves pictures within the PNG format, however you possibly can customise the output format and vacation spot listing to fit your preferences.

Past these fundamental strategies, Linux affords a plethora of superior screenshot instruments that cater to specialised wants. One such instrument is “scrot,” famend for its versatility and intensive customization choices. “Scrot” allows you to seize screenshots with various levels of delay, apply customized results, and even specify the output filename. For customers looking for a feature-rich screenshot resolution, “scrot” is a superb selection. One other notable instrument is “Shutter,” which mixes screenshot capabilities with superior picture modifying options. Shutter means that you can annotate, crop, and resize screenshots, making it a great selection for creating visually interesting documentation or tutorials. Discover these superior instruments to raise your screenshot recreation and unlock the complete potential of Linux’s screenshot capabilities.

Understanding the Completely different Screenshot Strategies

Linux affords a variety of choices for capturing screenshots, catering to various person wants and preferences. Relying on the precise Linux distribution and desktop setting, there are a number of strategies out there to customers:

Display screen Seize Instruments

Linux distributions usually come pre-installed with devoted display seize instruments that present an intuitive and user-friendly interface. These instruments sometimes provide a spread of options, resembling:

* Customizable seize space: Customers can choose particular parts of the display to be captured, slightly than your entire desktop.
* Annotations and modifying: Superior instruments permit customers to annotate screenshots with textual content, arrows, or shapes, and carry out fundamental modifying operations like cropping and resizing.
* Integration with different software program: Some instruments seamlessly combine with picture editors or collaboration platforms, enabling straightforward sharing and collaboration.

Here’s a desk summarizing a few of the standard display seize instruments out there for Linux:

Instrument Options
GNOME Screenshot Native instrument for GNOME desktop environments, affords customizable seize strategies and picture modifying choices.
Shutter Characteristic-rich instrument with a user-friendly interface, helps annotation, timer seize, and picture internet hosting.
KDE Spectacle Complete instrument for KDE desktops, offers intensive modifying and customization choices.
Flamme Light-weight and customizable instrument, options real-time preview and integration with picture editors.

Utilizing the Keyboard Shortcut

Taking a screenshot on Linux utilizing the keyboard shortcut is a fast and handy methodology. This is the right way to do it:

Customary Screenshot

To seize your entire display, press the **Print Display screen** key in your keyboard. This can save the screenshot to a file named “Screenshot” within the “Photos” folder. If you wish to copy the screenshot to the clipboard as a substitute of saving it to a file, press **Ctrl** + **Print Display screen**. You may then paste the screenshot into any picture editor or doc.

Area Screenshot

To seize solely a selected area of the display, press **Shift** + **Print Display screen**. Your cursor will flip right into a crosshair. Click on and drag the crosshair to pick out the area you need to seize. When you launch the mouse button, the screenshot will likely be saved to the “Photos” folder or copied to the clipboard relying on whether or not you pressed **Shift** + **Print Display screen** or **Ctrl** + **Shift** + **Print Display screen**. The saved screenshot will likely be named “Screenshot (area)”.

Window Screenshot

To seize solely the energetic window, press **Alt** + **Print Display screen**. This can save the screenshot to the “Photos” folder or copy it to the clipboard relying on whether or not you pressed **Alt** + **Print Display screen** or **Ctrl** + **Alt** + **Print Display screen**. The saved screenshot will likely be named “Screenshot (window)”.

Full-screen Screenshot on Multi-monitor Setup

To seize a screenshot of your entire desktop throughout a number of screens, press **Ctrl** + **Print Display screen**. This can save a single screenshot that features all related shows to the “Photos” folder. The saved screenshot will likely be named “Screenshot (multi-monitors)”.

Shortcut Motion
Print Display screen Customary screenshot
Shift + Print Display screen Area screenshot
Alt + Print Display screen Window screenshot
Ctrl + Print Display screen Full-screen screenshot on multi-monitor setup

Capturing the Total Display screen

Taking a screenshot of your entire display is a standard and easy process in Linux. This is a step-by-step information on the right way to accomplish this:

Utilizing Keyboard Shortcuts

Most Linux distributions assist keyboard shortcuts for taking screenshots. The most typical shortcut is “Print Display screen” or “PrtScn.” Urgent this key will seize your entire display and put it aside as a PNG file within the “Photos” or “Screenshots” listing. Some laptops could require you to press the “Fn” key concurrently.

Utilizing Command Line Instruments

Linux additionally affords command line instruments for taking screenshots. The “scrot” command means that you can seize your entire display and put it aside in a specified format. For instance, the next command will seize the display as a PNG file:

Command Description
scrot -s Captures your entire display and saves it as a PNG file within the present listing
scrot -s my_screenshot.png Captures your entire display and saves it as a PNG file named “my_screenshot.png” within the present listing

Utilizing Graphical Consumer Interface (GUI) Instruments

Many Linux distributions include built-in GUI instruments for taking screenshots. These instruments sometimes provide extra superior options, resembling choosing particular areas of the display to seize, annotating screenshots, and sharing them on to cloud storage companies. One standard GUI instrument is “Gnome Screenshot,” which is on the market on Ubuntu and different GNOME-based distributions.

Taking a Partial Screenshot

Taking a partial screenshot is a handy approach to seize solely a selected portion of your display. This may be helpful for capturing a specific window or a bit of your desktop. To take a partial screenshot, observe these steps:

1. Open the Screenshot Instrument

Press the “PrtScn” key in your keyboard. This can open the Screenshot Instrument.

2. Choose the Rectangular Crop Instrument

Within the Screenshot Instrument, click on on the “Rectangular Crop” instrument. This instrument means that you can choose an oblong space of your display to seize.

3. Drag to Choose the Space

Click on and maintain down the left mouse button and drag the cursor to pick out the realm of the display you need to seize. Launch the mouse button to finish the choice.

4. Customise the Space (non-obligatory)

After choosing the realm, you’ve got the next choices for additional customization:

Possibility Description
Transfer Click on and drag the choice to maneuver it to a unique location in your display.
Resize Click on and drag the perimeters or corners of the choice to resize it.
Copy Press “Ctrl + C” to repeat the chosen space to the clipboard.
Save Click on the “Save” button to save lots of the screenshot as a PNG file. Specify the file identify and site the place you need to put it aside.

5. Seize the Screenshot

As soon as you might be happy together with your choice, click on on the “Seize” button to seize the screenshot. The screenshot will likely be robotically saved to the situation you laid out in Step 4.

Saving and Sharing Screenshots

After getting efficiently captured a screenshot, you’ve got the choice to reserve it for future reference or share it with others.

Saving Screenshots

By default, screenshots are saved within the Photos/Screenshots listing in your house folder. Nevertheless, you possibly can customise the save location by following these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Navigate to the Keyboard settings.
  3. Beneath the Screenshots part, click on the Change button subsequent to Save location.
  4. Choose the specified save location.
  5. Click on Apply to save lots of your adjustments.

Sharing Screenshots

There are a number of methods to share screenshots in Linux:

Utilizing the GNOME Screenshot Instrument:

  • After capturing a screenshot, click on the Share button within the screenshot preview window.
  • Choose the specified sharing methodology from the choices offered, resembling e-mail, social media, or cloud storage.

Utilizing the Command Line:

  • Open a terminal window.
  • Use the scp command to switch the screenshot file to a distant location, resembling a cloud storage service.

Utilizing a Third-Celebration Instrument:

  • Set up a third-party screenshot instrument, resembling Shutter or GNOME Screenshot.
  • Configure the instrument to robotically add screenshots to a cloud storage service or share them through social media.
  • Use the instrument to seize and share screenshots.
Methodology Benefits Disadvantages
GNOME Screenshot Instrument Simple to make use of, built-in into GNOME Restricted sharing choices
Command Line Versatile, permits for automation Requires technical information
Third-Celebration Instrument Superior options, automated sharing Might require further configuration and set up

Screenshotting on Newer Linux Distributions

Newer Linux distributions provide a handy screenshot utility pre-installed within the system. This utility offers a user-friendly interface to seize and save screenshots.

To entry the screenshot utility, press the PrtScn key in your keyboard. This secret is sometimes situated within the top-right nook of the keyboard. Alternatively, you should use the next key mixtures:

PrtScn (Print Display screen)

Captures a screenshot of your entire display and copies it to the clipboard.

Alt + PrtScn

Captures a screenshot of the energetic window and copies it to the clipboard.

Ctrl + PrtScn

Captures a screenshot of your entire display and saves it as a PNG file within the Photos folder.

Ctrl + Alt + PrtScn

Captures a screenshot of the energetic window and saves it as a PNG file within the Photos folder.

Customizing the Screenshot Instrument

Many Linux distributions permit you to customise the screenshot instrument to regulate its habits and preferences. Listed below are the steps to customise the screenshot instrument:

  1. Open the System Settings app.
  2. Navigate to the “Keyboard” or “Shortcuts” part.
  3. Discover the settings associated to screenshots.
  4. Select the specified choices, such because the file format, vacation spot folder, and keyboard shortcuts.
  5. Click on “Apply” or “Save” to substantiate your adjustments.

Using Display screen Seize Instruments

Linux affords a plethora of devoted display seize instruments that present superior options and customization choices. Listed below are some notable functions and their respective instructions:

GNOME Screenshot

GNOME Screenshot is the default display seize instrument in GNOME desktop environments. It affords varied choices, together with capturing your entire display, a selected window, or a particular space.

Command Description
gnome-screenshot Captures your entire display
gnome-screenshot -w Captures the at present energetic window
gnome-screenshot -a Captures a particular space

Shutter

Shutter is a feature-rich display seize instrument that permits for annotations, modifying, and sharing. It offers a number of modes, together with window choice, display area choice, and full-screen seize.

Command Description
shutter Captures your entire display
shutter -w Captures the at present energetic window
shutter -a Captures a particular space
shutter -d Captures a delayed screenshot

Ksnip

Ksnip is a display seize instrument out there in KDE desktop environments. It affords a wide range of choices, resembling cropping, including annotation, and saving in varied picture codecs. Ksnip additionally features a built-in picture editor for fast touch-ups.

Command Description
ksnip Captures your entire display
ksnip -w Captures the at present energetic window
ksnip -a Captures a particular space
ksnip -d Captures a delayed screenshot

Taking Scrolling Screenshots

Utilizing GNOME’s built-in screenshot instrument (gnome-screenshot)

GNOME’s built-in screenshot instrument offers the flexibility to take scrolling screenshots. To do that, observe these steps:

  1. Open the GNOME screenshot instrument by urgent the PrtScn key or by looking for “screenshot” within the Actions search bar.
  2. Within the screenshot instrument interface, choose the “Scrolling Screenshot” choice.
  3. Click on the “Take Screenshot” button to provoke the scrolling screenshot seize course of.
  4. Drag the mouse pointer to pick out the realm of the display you need to seize.
  5. The screenshot instrument will robotically scroll down the web page and seize your entire content material of the chosen space.
  6. As soon as the scrolling screenshot is captured, it can save you it or copy it to the clipboard.

Utilizing third-party screenshot instruments

There are a number of third-party screenshot instruments out there for Linux that present superior options for taking scrolling screenshots. Some standard choices embrace:

Instrument Options
Shutter Helps scrolling screenshots, annotation, and modifying
Scrot A command-line instrument for taking screenshots, together with scrolling screenshots
GreenShot Affords varied screenshot modes, together with scrolling screenshots

To make use of these instruments for taking scrolling screenshots, check with their respective documentation.

Superior Screenshot Choices

Screencast Recording

Does your screenshot must seize transferring pictures? With the GNOME display recorder, you possibly can file a screencast or a portion of your display in a .webm video. This function is a useful gizmo for creating fast tutorials or animations.

Utilizing the terminal, activate the GNOME display recorder with:

gnome-screencast

Screenshot Instrument

The built-in Screenshot instrument in Ubuntu affords further choices for capturing your display. To make use of it, press Shift + PrtScr. You can even entry it by way of the Actions menu. The Screenshot instrument means that you can:

  • Seize your entire display, a window, or a selected space
  • Set a timer for delayed screenshots
  • Annotate your screenshots with varied instruments
  • Save your screenshots in varied codecs, together with PNG, JPG, and PDF

Customized Screenshots

Print Display screen

  • GNOME: Press PrtScn to seize your entire display and put it aside to Photos > Screenshots. Press Alt + PrtScn to seize solely the energetic window.

  • KDE Plasma: Press Print to seize your entire display and replica it to the clipboard. Press Alt + Print to seize solely the energetic window.

  • XFCE: Press PrtScn to seize your entire display and put it aside to Photos > Screenshots. Press Ctrl + PrtScn to seize solely the energetic window.

  • LXDE: Press PrtScn to seize your entire display and put it aside to Photos > Screenshots. Press Ctrl + Alt + PrtScn to seize solely the energetic window.

Different Screenshot Instruments

GNOME:

  • Screenshot: Press Ctrl + Shift + PrtScn to open the Screenshot instrument. You may choose the realm to seize, add annotations, and save or share the screenshot.

  • Shutter: Set up Shutter out of your bundle supervisor (e.g., sudo apt set up shutter). Use it for superior screenshotting options, resembling capturing net pages, including results, and annotating.

KDE Plasma:

  • Spectacle: Press Meta + Shift + Print to open Spectacle. It affords varied screenshot modes, modifying instruments, and save choices.

  • Ksnip: Set up Ksnip out of your bundle supervisor (e.g., sudo apt set up ksnip). It is a light-weight screenshot instrument with fundamental modifying options and clipboard integration.

XFCE:

  • xfce4-screenshooter: Press Ctrl + Alt + PrtScn to open the xfce4-screenshooter. You may select the seize space and save or copy the screenshot.

  • ImageMagick: Set up ImageMagick out of your bundle supervisor (e.g., sudo apt set up imagemagick). Use it to seize screenshots from the command line utilizing instructions like import -window root screenshot.png.

LXDE:

  • LXImage-Qt: Set up LXImage-Qt out of your bundle supervisor (e.g., sudo apt set up lximage-qt). Use it for fundamental screenshotting and picture modifying.

  • GIMP: Set up GIMP out of your bundle supervisor (e.g., sudo apt set up gimp). Use it for highly effective picture modifying, together with screenshotting options.

Troubleshooting Screenshot Points

1. Screenshots usually are not saving

  • Be certain that the suitable screenshots listing exists (e.g., Photos > Screenshots).
  • Examine if in case you have write permissions to that listing.
  • Confirm that the screenshot instruments are correctly put in and configured.

2. Screenshots are clean or black

  • Strive updating your graphics drivers.
  • Disable any extensions or plugins that will intrude with screenshotting.
  • Reboot your system to resolve anytemporary points.

3. Screenshots are partial or of low high quality

  • Guarantee that you’re utilizing the right screenshot methodology on your desktop setting.
  • Strive utilizing a unique screenshot instrument or methodology for higher outcomes.
  • Examine your system settings to regulate the screenshot decision and high quality.

4. No screenshot button or hotkey

  • Configure customized screenshot hotkeys in your desktop setting settings.
  • Set up a third-party screenshot instrument that gives a screenshot button.
  • Use a command-line utility like scrot or import to seize screenshots.

5. Screenshots are blurry or distorted

  • Replace your graphics drivers to make sure compatibility with compositing.
  • Disable compositing in your desktop setting settings, if relevant.
  • Strive decreasing the screenshot decision or adjusting the show scaling.

6. Screenshots usually are not being copied to the clipboard

  • Be certain that your clipboard supervisor is working and has the required permissions.
  • Strive utilizing completely different screenshot strategies or instruments to make sure compatibility with clipboard operations.
  • Restart your clipboard supervisor to resolve any non permanent points.

7. Screenshots have the mistaken facet ratio or measurement

  • Examine your desktop setting settings for show scaling and backbone choices.
  • Use a screenshot instrument that means that you can specify the seize space and backbone.
  • Modify the facet ratio or resize the screenshot manually after capturing it.

8. Screenshots are being saved in an surprising location

  • Configure the screenshot save location in your desktop setting settings or screenshot instrument preferences.
  • Guarantee that you’ve got write permissions to the specified save listing.
  • Use a screenshot instrument that gives customized save choices or means that you can specify the file path.

9. Screenshots usually are not opening or are corrupted

  • Confirm that you’ve got the suitable picture viewer put in and configured.
  • Examine the file permissions and guarantee that you’ve got learn entry to the screenshot.
  • Strive utilizing a unique picture viewer or instrument to open the screenshot.

10. Superior troubleshooting for advanced points

  • Examine your system logs for any errors or warnings associated to screenshotting.
  • Examine the output of dmesg and journalctl for any related data.
  • Use debugging instruments like strace or gdb to research the habits of screenshot instruments.
  • Seek the advice of the documentation or boards on your particular desktop setting and screenshot instrument for additional help.

The right way to Take a Screenshot on Linux

Taking a screenshot on Linux is an easy course of that may be achieved in a number of quick steps. This is the right way to do it:

  1. Find the window or space you need to seize.
  2. Press Print Display screen (or PrtScn) to seize your entire display.
  3. To seize solely a particular space, press Alt + Print Display screen and drag your cursor over the specified space.

By default, screenshots are saved to ~/Photos/Screenshots in PNG format. You may change the default save location and format within the Settings app.

Individuals Additionally Ask:

How do I take a screenshot on Linux with out utilizing the Print Display screen key?

You should use the command-line instrument scrot to take screenshots. Set up it with the next command:

sudo apt set up scrot

To take a screenshot of your entire display, run:

scrot screenshot.png

To take a screenshot of a particular space, add the -s flag:

scrot -s selected_area.png

How do I open the screenshot folder?

To open the screenshot folder, press Ctrl + Alt + F, then sort nautilus within the file supervisor bar.

How do I alter the default screenshot format?

To alter the default screenshot format, go to the Settings app, click on on “System” after which “Show”. Within the “Screenshots” part, you possibly can choose the specified format from the “Screenshot Format” drop-down menu.

Command

Description

gnome-screenshot –help Show out there choices for gnome-screenshot
gnome-screenshot -w Seize your entire display and put it aside as a PNG file
gnome-screenshot -a -f -c Seize the present energetic window and replica it to the clipboard
gnome-screenshot -a -f -c -o

Seize the present energetic window and put it aside to a file