HOW-TO: Take screenshot w/ thumbnail

[dude2425]

I've been wanting to post this for some time now, but never really got around to doing it, or remember it for that matter, till now. I just wanted to post it before I forget it again.

First, copy and paste the following into a random text editor:
#!/bin/bash
NOW=`date '+%m_%d_%Y_%M_%S'`
FNAME=screenshot${NOW}
EXT=png
if [ -d $HOME/screenshots ]
then
cd $HOME/screenshots
else
mkdir $HOME/screenshots
cd $HOME/screenshots
fi
sleep 5
import -window root ${FNAME}.${EXT}
convert -resize 320x240 ${FNAME}.${EXT} ${FNAME}_thumb.${EXT}
if [ -d $HOME/screenshots/thumbs ]
then
mv screenshot${NOW}_thumb.${EXT} thumbs/
else
mkdir thumbs/
mv screenshot${NOW}_thumb.${EXT} thumbs/
fi

(Remember the cariage return at the end)

Now save that as something like '/usr/local/bin/screenshot'

Go into gconf-editor, then nav on to '/apps/metacity/keybinding_cammands/cammand_screenshot' and assign the value of 'screenshot' or '/usr/local/bin/screenshot' whichever you prefer.

Now you should be able to take a quick screenshot of your desktop, and have it saved to ~/screenshots, and a thumbnail saved to ~/screenshots/thumbs

Remember, this is my very first ever shell script, and I'm sure this could have been more efficient, but it work's fine for me. I only did this because I didn't like the gnome screenshot thing, and I needed a thumbnail for my image.
Have fun with it

UPDATE:
I was just searching around the net when I found this on O'Reilly, basicly it takes a screenshot with a thumbnail, but also allows you to upload it to a server taking out the hardest part of taking a screenshot.
http://hacks.oreilly.com/pub/h/3181

I havent tested it myself yet as I have no server to upload anything to, but it's here if anybody wants it.

UPDATED: Changed '/usr/bin' to '/usr/local/bin'

[Juippisi]

It seems that this shellscript uses ImageMagick, yo can get it by typing "sudo apt-get install imagemagick"

But really nice howto and it works :)

[kuleali]

Nice howto

[dude2425]

Whoops, I'm sorry, I could have sworn IM was installed by default. I don't remember having to install it extra myself, but synaptic's history says different. My fault.

[macewan]

nice

hell of a time saver too

thanks

[vnbuddy2002]

Or if you don't want to install ImageMagick, you can just simply use GIMP.

Run "GIMP Image Editor", go to "File > Acquire > Screenshot"
:grin:

[crane]

I cannot for the life of me get my screenshots to work. Everything seems to be bound right but the printscreen key does nothing.
Anyone have any ideas?

[Fab]

there seems to be something wrong with this script or my comp :P
if i hit the print button, it will make a screenshot, but the windows on the screenshot are in a different z-order then they really are
e.g.: i got a nautilus window above my desktop, above the nautilus a gaim convo, above the gaim a firefox window. i hit print, and i get the nautilus above the gaim window Oo

[derrick1985]

That worked perfectly!

Thanks.

One problem I did have, I sudo nano and copied/pasted what you had there and saved it as /usr/bin/screenshot When I went to use it the first time, I got a permission error, so I sudo chmod 777 /usr/bin/screenshot and it worked fine the next time.

Thanks again.

[Fab]

ah, i do now know why :) it takes a short amount of time till the screenshot is actually taken, and in the meanwhile i always went to the nautilus window to check the screenshots, argh

[o0f]

ah, i do now know why :) it takes a short amount of time till the screenshot is actually taken, and in the meanwhile i always went to the nautilus window to check the screenshots, argh
sleep 5
changed to sleep 0 works fine.
great script i LOVE you for it.
removed the line to create dir also. My screenshot folder will flourish with them =D.
great for ss whores.

[angrykeyboarder]

Or if you don't want to install ImageMagick, you can just simply use GIMP.

Run "GIMP Image Editor", go to "File > Acquire > Screenshot"
:grin:

For a quick and dirty transaction like this, nothing beats ImageMagick.

Besides, it's a very small program.....

[Nob]

or just use tupe gnome-screenshot in command line..

besides, this script works just fine

[dude2425]

I used the `sleep 5` so I can prepare my screenshots kinda like a camera on a timer. Feel free to change it to 0, or even remove it if you wanted to. I originaly made it for my own lazyness, and then I realized *Hay, other people are lazy too, maybe they'll like this as much as I did.

I love scripts, they just make everything so much easier once you've got them to work.

[cdk]

ah, i do now know why :) it takes a short amount of time till the screenshot is actually taken, and in the meanwhile i always went to the nautilus window to check the screenshots, argh
wicked m8! it still works and its a great time saver!

cheers,

[boborosso]

Now save that as something like '/usr/bin/screenshot'



Hello from a debianist. Debian people recommend to put your own stuff in /usr/local/bin instead, since /usr/bin is managed by the packaging system.

If ubuntu is different, then pay no attention to the above, but I really think it's not.

[dude2425]

Actually, I think that's where I had mine. I can't remember why I typed /usr/bin instead of /usr/local/bin
"The longer lasting brain fart. Now with new lemony smell"

I'll change the orriginal post.

[j8a]

Your advice about GIMP was simple, easy.. excellent