how to take screenshot in ubuntu terminal

Taking screenshots directly from the terminal in Ubuntu can be a convenient and efficient method, especially for users who work primarily in the command line. Unlike traditional methods that involve graphical tools, terminal-based screenshot options offer more flexibility and automation capabilities. By using a few simple commands, users can capture their screen, specific windows, or defined areas and save these screenshots directly to a specified location. This approach is particularly useful for scripting automated screenshots or documenting terminal-based workflows. In this guide, we will explore various command-line tools that make capturing screenshots in Ubuntu a straightforward task.

Using the gnome-screenshot Command

The gnome-screenshot command is a simple and powerful tool available in many Ubuntu distributions. It allows users to capture screenshots directly from the terminal without needing a graphical interface. This tool can be useful for capturing the entire screen, specific windows, or selected areas, and offers options for saving screenshots automatically.

1. Installing gnome-screenshot (if not already available)
In many cases, gnome-screenshot is pre-installed on Ubuntu. If it’s not available, you can install it by running:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install gnome-screenshot

2. Basic Usage of gnome-screenshot
To take a full-screen screenshot and save it in the default pictures folder, simply enter:

gnome-screenshot

3. Capturing Specific Windows with gnome-screenshot
To capture a specific window, use the -w option. This command will let you select a window by clicking on it:

gnome-screenshot -w

4. Delaying the Screenshot
You can add a delay (in seconds) before capturing the screenshot using the -d option. For example, to capture a screenshot after a 5-second delay, use:

gnome-screenshot -d 5

5. Saving the Screenshot to a Custom Location
You can specify the save location with the -f option, followed by the file path. For example:

gnome-screenshot -f ~/Desktop/my_screenshot.png

These options make gnome-screenshot a versatile tool for taking screenshots directly from the terminal with various customizations.

Using the scrot Command for Screenshots

The scrot command is another popular tool for taking screenshots directly from the terminal. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and offers various options for capturing the screen with customizations such as delays, file naming, and specific areas.

1. Installing scrot
If scrot is not already installed, you can add it to your system by running:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install scrot

2. Capturing the Full Screen
To capture the entire screen and save it to the default folder, use the simple command:

scrot

3. Delayed Capture with scrot
To set a delay (in seconds) before capturing the screenshot, use the -d option. For example, to wait 5 seconds:

scrot -d 5

4. Specifying File Name and Location
You can specify a custom name and location for your screenshot using the following syntax:

scrot ~/Desktop/custom_screenshot.png

5. Capturing a Specific Area
The scrot command also allows you to capture a specific area of the screen by using the -s option, where you can select an area with your mouse:

scrot -s

The flexibility of scrot makes it a great tool for capturing screenshots with different customizations from the Ubuntu terminal.

Taking Screenshots with the import Command (ImageMagick)

The import command from the ImageMagick suite is a powerful tool for taking screenshots from the terminal. It allows for capturing the full screen, specific windows, or defined areas, and offers advanced features for users familiar with ImageMagick’s image processing capabilities.

1. Installing ImageMagick
If ImageMagick is not installed on your system, you can install it by running:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install imagemagick

2. Capturing the Full Screen
To take a screenshot of the entire screen and save it, use:

import -window root full_screenshot.png

3. Capturing a Specific Window
The import command allows you to capture a specific window by clicking on it. Run the following command, then click on the desired window:

import window_screenshot.png

4. Capturing a Selected Area
To capture a specific area, you can use the following command and then drag to select the area:

import area_screenshot.png

5. Adding Delay Before Capture
To add a delay before capturing the screenshot, use the sleep command. For example, to wait 5 seconds:

sleep 5; import -window root delayed_screenshot.png

The import command, combined with the capabilities of ImageMagick, makes it a versatile option for capturing and editing screenshots in Ubuntu.

Using xfce4-screenshooter for Screenshots

The xfce4-screenshooter tool is commonly used in the XFCE desktop environment, but it can also be installed and used on other desktop environments in Ubuntu. It’s a straightforward tool with various options for capturing the entire screen, specific windows, or selected areas, and includes a user-friendly interface for saving and managing screenshots.

1. Installing xfce4-screenshooter
If xfce4-screenshooter is not already installed on your system, you can install it with:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install xfce4-screenshooter

xfce4-screenshooter -f

xfce4-screenshooter -w

xfce4-screenshooter -r

xfce4-screenshooter -d 5 -f

xfce4-screenshooter -o

script terminal_log.txt

screen -L

convert -background white -fill black -font Courier -pointsize 12 label:@terminal_log.txt output_image.png

#!/bin/bash
script -c "your_command" log.txt
convert -background white -fill black -font Courier -pointsize 12 label:@log.txt output_image.png

~/Pictures

scrot ~/Desktop/custom_screenshot.png

scrot ~/Pictures/screenshot_%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S.png

nautilus ~/Pictures