In the age of digital communication, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for sharing information. Whether you need to capture a website, document, or error message, there are several methods to take a screenshot on Linux Mint and MacBook. Understanding the different techniques allows you to choose the most suitable method for your needs and preferences.
Taking a screenshot is a straightforward process on both Linux Mint and MacBook. Linux Mint offers built-in tools that allow users to capture the entire screen, a specific window, or a selected area. To capture the entire screen, simply press the “PrtScrn” key. However, if you only want to capture a specific window, press “Alt” + “PrtScrn” and use the mouse to select the desired area. Additionally, Linux Mint provides advanced screenshot tools like “scrot” and “gnome-screenshot” that offer more customization options.
MacBooks, on the other hand, offer a dedicated screenshot utility that provides various capture modes. To capture the entire screen, press “Command” + “Shift” + “3.” To capture a specific window, press “Command” + “Shift” + “4,” then spacebar and click on the desired window. For a selected area, press “Command” + “Shift” + “4,” then drag the cursor to select the desired area. MacBooks also offer advanced options like capturing a portion of the screen or using a timer. By leveraging the built-in features or exploring third-party applications, you can effortlessly capture screenshots on both Linux Mint and MacBook and seamlessly share visual information.
Taking Screenshots on Linux Mint
Linux Mint, a popular Linux distribution known for its user-friendliness and sleek design, provides several convenient methods for taking screenshots. Whether you want to capture the entire screen, a specific window, or a selected area, Linux Mint has you covered.
Taking Screenshots Using the Keyboard Shortcuts
Linux Mint offers a range of keyboard shortcuts that make taking screenshots a breeze. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
-
Capture the entire screen: Press the Ctrl + Printscreen keys simultaneously. This will capture a screenshot of the entire desktop, including all open windows and applications.
- Advanced options:
- Ctrl + Shift + Printscreen: Captures a screenshot and saves it directly to your Downloads folder.
- Ctrl + Alt + Printscreen: Captures a screenshot and copies it to your clipboard, allowing you to paste it directly into other applications.
- Advanced options:
-
Capture a specific window: Press Alt + Printscreen followed by Left-click on the desired window. This will capture a screenshot of only the selected window, excluding other open elements on your desktop.
- Advanced option: Shift + Alt + Printscreen captures a screenshot of the window and copies it to your clipboard.
-
Capture a selected area: Press Shift + Printscreen and use your mouse to drag a selection box around the area you want to capture. Release the mouse button to take the screenshot.
- Additional option: Alt + Shift + Printscreen copies the selected screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving it as a file.
Command-Line Screenshot on Linux Mint
The Linux Mint command line offers a powerful way to capture screenshots. This method provides greater control and flexibility, allowing you to capture specific areas, apply effects, and save in various formats. Here’s how to take a screenshot from the command line in Linux Mint:
Using the “import” Command
The “import” command is a versatile tool for capturing screenshots. It allows you to specify the area, apply effects, and save the image in a variety of formats. The following syntax demonstrates its usage:
import [options] [display_connection]:[display_number].
Here’s an example of capturing the screenshot of the entire screen:
import screenshot.png
You can also capture a specific area by providing the X and Y coordinates along with width and height:
import -window root -crop 100×100+100+100 screenshot-area.jpg
To apply an effect, such as applying a blur to the screenshot, use the “-blur” option:
import -window root -crop 100×100+100+100 -blur 10 screenshot-blur.jpg
The supported image formats include PNG, JPEG, and BMP. Specify the desired format using the “-format” option, followed by the file extension:
import -window root -crop 100×100+100+100 -format BMP screenshot-bmp.bmp
The table below summarizes the commonly used options for the “import” command:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -window | Specifies the window to capture. |
| -crop | Defines the area to capture in the format widthxheight+xoffset+yoffset. |
| -blur | Applies a Gaussian blur with the specified radius. |
| -format | Sets the output image format. |
Using the Screenshot Tool on Linux Mint
Linux Mint comes with a pre-installed screenshot tool that provides an easy way to capture and edit screenshots. To use the screenshot tool, follow these steps:
1. Open the screenshot tool by pressing the PrtScn key. This will open the screenshot tool window.
2. Select the type of screenshot you want to take. You can choose between capturing the entire screen, a specific window, or a selected area of the screen.
3. Customize the screenshot settings. You can choose the file format of the screenshot, the save location, and whether to include the cursor in the screenshot.
Additional Customization Options
The screenshot tool in Linux Mint offers a range of additional customization options to tailor the screenshot to your specific needs. Here are some of the key options:
Delay:
You can set a delay before the screenshot is taken, allowing you to position the elements on your screen before capturing the image. This is particularly useful for capturing drop-down menus or other dynamic elements.
Annotation Tools:
The screenshot tool includes basic annotation tools that allow you to add highlights, arrows, and text to your screenshots. This can be helpful for clarifying or emphasizing certain elements of the image.
Integration with Other Applications:
The screenshot tool integrates seamlessly with other applications, such as image editors and social media platforms. You can directly share your screenshots to these applications from within the screenshot tool, saving you time and effort.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Delay | Sets a delay before taking the screenshot |
| Annotation Tools | Allows adding highlights, arrows, and text |
| Integration with Other Applications | Easy sharing to image editors and social media |
Screenshot on a Macbook Using a Shortcut
Taking a screenshot on a Macbook using a keyboard shortcut is a simple and convenient way to capture an image of your screen.
To take a screenshot on a Macbook using a keyboard shortcut, press the following three keys simultaneously:
- Command (⌘)
- Shift
- 3
This will capture a screenshot of the entire screen and save it as a PNG file on your desktop.
To take a screenshot of a specific area of the screen, press the following three keys simultaneously:
- Command (⌘)
- Shift
- 4
This will turn your cursor into a crosshair. Click and drag the crosshair to select the area of the screen you want to capture.
Once you have selected the area you want to capture, release the mouse button. The screenshot will be captured and saved as a PNG file on your desktop.
Additional Options for Taking Screenshots on a Macbook
In addition to the basic screenshot shortcuts described above, there are a number of additional options you can use to take screenshots on a Macbook:
| Keyboard Shortcut | Result |
|---|---|
| Command (⌘) + Shift + 3 + Spacebar | Captures a screenshot of a specific window. |
| Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 + Spacebar | Captures a screenshot of a specific menu or palette. |
| Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 | Opens the Screenshot utility, which provides additional options for taking and editing screenshots. |
Utilising Grab for Screenshots on a Macbook
Grab is a powerful and easy-to-use tool for taking screenshots on a Macbook. With a range of versatile options, you can capture the entire screen, a specific window, or a selected portion. Here are the steps to use Grab for screenshots:
1. Open the Grab Application:
Launch the Applications menu by clicking the Apple logo in the top-left corner and selecting “Applications.” Locate the “Grab” application and click to open it.
2. Selecting the Capture Mode:
Grab offers four capture modes: “Selection,” “Window,” “Screen,” and “Timed Screen.” Choose the appropriate mode based on your requirements.
3. Capturing the Screenshot:
For “Selection” mode, define the area to capture by dragging the cursor. For “Window” mode, select the desired window from the drop-down list. For “Screen” mode, the entire screen is captured. For “Timed Screen,” set a delay before the screenshot is taken.
4. Customising the Screenshot:
After capturing the screenshot, Grab displays a preview. You can perform basic editing tasks like cropping, rotating, and adjusting brightness and contrast. Click “Show Annotations” to add text, shapes, or arrows to the screenshot.
5. Saving and Sharing the Screenshot:
Once you’re satisfied with your screenshot, click “File” > “Save.” Choose a file format (PNG, JPEG, PDF, etc.), provide a file name, and click “Save.” Alternatively, you can use the share icon to directly upload the screenshot to social media platforms or send it via email.
| Capture Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Selection | Captures a specific rectangular area of the screen. |
| Window | Captures the content within a selected window. |
| Screen | Captures the entire screen. |
| Timed Screen | Captures the entire screen after a specified delay. |
Grab also provides additional options for setting hotkeys, enabling automatic file naming, and adjusting image quality. You can access these options from the Grab preferences.
Capturing Screenshots on a Macbook with Terminal
The Terminal app in MacOS provides a command-line interface for taking screenshots. To capture a screenshot of the entire screen, use the following command:
screencapture -x ~/Desktop/Screenshot.png
To capture a screenshot of a specific window, use the -w flag followed by the window’s title:
screencapture -w ~/Desktop/Screenshot.png -t jpg
Customizing Screenshots
You can customize the appearance of screenshots by using additional flags:
-s: Save the screenshot as a PDF.-i: Include the mouse cursor in the screenshot.-r: Set the resolution of the screenshot in pixels.
Delaying Screenshots
To delay the screenshot by a certain number of seconds, use the -d flag followed by the number of seconds:
screencapture -d 5 ~/Desktop/Screenshot.png
Table of Screenshot Flags
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
-x |
Save the screenshot to the specified filepath. |
-w |
Capture a screenshot of the specified window. |
-t |
Specify the file format of the screenshot (e.g., jpg, pdf). |
-s |
Save the screenshot as a PDF. |
-i |
Include the mouse cursor in the screenshot. |
-r |
Set the resolution of the screenshot in pixels. |
-d |
Delay the screenshot by the specified number of seconds. |
Screen Capture with Shift-Command-3
This method captures a screenshot of the entire screen and saves it to the Desktop as a PNG file. To use this method:
- Press and hold the Shift key.
- Press and hold the Command key.
- Press the 3 key.
- Release all three keys.
- The screenshot will be saved to the Desktop as a PNG file with the name “Screen Shot [date and time].png”.
You can also use the Shift-Command-3 keyboard shortcut to capture a screenshot of a specific window. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click on the window that you want to capture.
- Press and hold the Shift key.
- Press and hold the Command key.
- Press the 3 key.
- Release all three keys.
- The screenshot will be saved to the Desktop as a PNG file with the name “Screen Shot [date and time] [window title].png”.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Shift-Command-3 | Captures a screenshot of the entire screen and saves it to the Desktop as a PNG file. |
| Shift-Command-3 and then click on a window | Captures a screenshot of a specific window and saves it to the Desktop as a PNG file. |
| Shift-Command-4 | Lets you select a specific area of the screen to capture. |
| Shift-Command-4 and then press Spacebar | Lets you capture a screenshot of a window. |
| Shift-Command-5 | Opens the Screenshot app, which gives you more options for capturing and editing screenshots. |
Selective Screenshot with Shift-Command-4
To capture a screenshot of a specific portion of your screen, follow these steps:
- Position your cursor over the area you want to capture.
- Press and hold the Shift key.
- Press and hold the Command (⌘) key.
- Press the 4 key.
- Drag the crosshairs to select the desired portion of the screen.
- Release the mouse button to capture the screenshot.
- You can adjust the size and position of the selection rectangle by dragging the corners or sides.
- Once satisfied with the selection, click the Enter key or release the mouse button to take the screenshot.
Note: You can also use the Spacebar instead of the Enter key to capture the screenshot.
The captured screenshot will be automatically saved to your Desktop as a PNG file.
Additional Options:
While using the Shift-Command-4 combination, you can access additional options by using the following modifier keys:
| Modifier Key | Effect |
|---|---|
| Option (⌥) | Includes the cursor in the screenshot. |
| Control (^) | Saves the screenshot to the Clipboard instead of the Desktop. |
| Shift-Option-Command-4 | Captures a screenshot of a window or menu. |
Timed Screenshot with Command-Shift-5
The Command-Shift-5 key combination provides a convenient way to capture a timed screenshot. This feature allows you to choose between capturing the entire screen, a specific window, or a selected portion of the screen. Once you have selected the desired capture option, you can set a delay of up to 10 seconds before the screenshot is taken. This provides ample time to position windows or arrange elements on the screen before capturing the image.
To use the timed screenshot feature:
- Press Command-Shift-5.
- Select the desired capture option (Entire Screen, Window, or Selected Portion).
- Click the “Options” button in the bottom-right corner of the screenshot toolbar.
- Set the desired delay (from 0 to 10 seconds).
- Click the “Start Timer” button.
Once you start the timer, the screenshot will be captured automatically after the specified delay.
Here are the steps in a table format:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Press Command-Shift-5. |
| 2 | Select the desired capture option (Entire Screen, Window, or Selected Portion). |
| 3 | Click the “Options” button in the bottom-right corner of the screenshot toolbar. |
| 4 | Set the desired delay (from 0 to 10 seconds). |
| 5 | Click the “Start Timer” button. |
Advanced Screenshots with Command-Shift-6
The Command-Shift-6 combination offers advanced screenshot options for capturing specific portions of your screen. To use this method, simultaneously press Command (⌘), Shift (⇧), and 6 keys on your keyboard.
After initiating the command, your cursor will transform into a reticle. Move the reticle over the area you wish to capture and click. This will take a screenshot of the selected region and save it to your desktop as a PNG file.
Alternatively, you can drag the reticle to create a rectangular selection. Once the desired area is selected, release the mouse button to capture the screenshot.
By default, screenshots taken with Command-Shift-6 are saved in the ~/Desktop directory. You can customize the default save location by navigating to System Preferences > Screenshots > Save screenshots to: and selecting the desired folder.
The table below summarizes the key combinations for taking screenshots in Linux Mint Cinnamon:
| Key Combination | Action |
|---|---|
| Command-Shift-3 | Captures a screenshot of the entire screen. |
| Command-Shift-4 | Captures a screenshot of a selected area. |
| Command-Shift-5 | Opens the screenshot utility with more options. |
| Command-Shift-6 | Captures a screenshot of a specific portion of the screen. |
How to Take a Screenshot on Linux Mint
Taking a screenshot on Linux Mint is a simple process that can be done in a few different ways. The most common method is to use the keyboard shortcut “PrtScn” or “Print Screen” key, which will capture a screenshot of the entire screen and save it to a PNG file on your desktop.
If you want to capture only a portion of the screen, you can use the “Alt” + “PrtScn” keyboard shortcut, which will allow you to select the area of the screen you want to capture. The selected area will be saved to a PNG file on your desktop.
You can also use the “gnome-screenshot” tool to take screenshots. This tool provides more options for capturing screenshots, such as the ability to capture a specific window or a specific area of the screen. To use the “gnome-screenshot” tool, press the “Alt” + “F2” keyboard shortcut and type “gnome-screenshot” into the command prompt. The “gnome-screenshot” tool will then appear, and you can use it to capture a screenshot.
