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| howtos:window_managers:take_a_screenshot [2013/02/09 17:09 (UTC)] – [Imagemagick's ''import'' Command] hazel | howtos:window_managers:take_a_screenshot [2013/02/09 17:15 (UTC)] – [To go further] hazel |
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| <note warning>There may be a bug or at least a glitch on some systems, as ''import -screen'' and ''import -window root'' may show "black boxes" overlaying the window that has been captured, which indicates that some other window(s) are getting on top of it before the capture takes place, even if you don't see it/them!\\ | <note warning>There may be a bug or at least a glitch on some systems, as ''import -screen'' and ''import -window root'' may show "black boxes" overlaying the window that has been captured, which indicates that some other window(s) are getting on top of it before the capture takes place, even if you don't see it/them!\\ |
| I don't know what causes this behaviour, nor have found or really searched for an explanation yet. Nonetheless, it seems that the ''-frame'' switch works better, but it has the same limitations as ''-screen'' (you can't get overlaying windows content). You can also try to minimize all open windows.\\ If it doesn't help, use ''xwd'' for correct captures, or grab your hitchhiking guide and get on google.</note> | I don't know what causes this behaviour, nor have found or really searched for an explanation yet. Nonetheless, it seems that the ''-frame'' switch works better, but it has the same limitations as ''-screen'' (you can't get overlaying windows content). You can also try to minimize all open windows.\\ If that doesn't help, use ''xwd'' for correct captures, or grab your hitchhiking guide and get on google.</note> |
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| The ''import'' command is part of the ImageMagick suite of tools. It works as ''xwd'' but doesn't need the ''convert'' program and use different options (switches). | The ''import'' command is part of the ImageMagick suite of tools. It works like ''xwd'' but doesn't need the ''convert'' program and uses different options (switches). |
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| === Capturing a window === | === Capturing a window === |
| or | or |
| import -frame path/to/screenshot.ext</code> | import -frame path/to/screenshot.ext</code> |
| The ''-window root'' is equivalent to ''xwd'''s ''-root'' switch. It captures the whole desktop. The ''-frame'' option can be used to prevent black boxes as per the warning. | The ''-window root'' is equivalent to ''xwd'''s ''-root'' switch. It captures the whole desktop. The ''-frame'' option can be used to prevent black boxes as in the warning above. |
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| ==== Hints for Fullscreen Applications ==== | ==== Hints for Fullscreen Applications ==== |
| * In the player/viewer, play the video or show the image | * In the player/viewer, play the video or show the image |
| * Choose the fullscreen view mode. | * Choose the fullscreen view mode. |
| * Wait for the crosshair to display, then click. Your screenshot is now recorded. | * Wait for the crosshairs to display, then click. Your screenshot is now recorded. |
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| You can use whatever command switches or even none, it's up to you. Without switches you'll have to click the window to capture, with any of them the screenshot will be taken just after the ''sleep'' countdown reaches 0.\\ | You can use whatever command switches you like or even none - it's up to you. Without switches you'll have to click the window to capture, with any of them the screenshot will be taken just after the ''sleep'' countdown reaches 0.\\ |
| If you are using the automated methods (ie. ''xwd -root'' or ''import -window root''), you can add a bell after the command, so you know the operation is complete. The full command is then: | If you are using the automated methods (ie. ''xwd -root'' or ''import -window root''), you can add a bell after the command, so you know the operation is complete. The full command is then: |
| <code>sleep 15 ; xwd -root | convert - path/to/screenshot.ext ; echo $'\a'</code> | <code>sleep 15 ; xwd -root | convert - path/to/screenshot.ext ; echo $'\a'</code> |
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| ====== To go further ====== | ====== To go further ====== |
| The tools are well documented in their ''man'' pages, I recommend you reading them for fine tuning or better automation of your screenshots: ''man import'', ''man xwd'', ''man convert''.\\ | The tools are well documented in their ''man'' pages, I recommend you to read them for fine tuning or better automation of your screenshots: ''man import'', ''man xwd'', ''man convert''.\\ |
| ''xwd'' has a respective program called ''xuwd''. It reads an ''xwd'' dump (either from dump file or standart input) and displays it. It can be useful for automatic display of screenshots done on remote machines, if you don't need to save the files. | ''xwd'' has a corresponding program called ''xuwd''. It reads an ''xwd'' dump (either from a dump file or from standard input) and displays it. It can be useful for automatic display of screenshots taken on remote machines, if you don't need to save the files. |
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| ====== I do not want to read all this article! I'm in a hurry! ====== | ====== I do not want to read all this article! I'm in a hurry! ====== |
