Python: Taking a screenshot

[musicinmybrain]

I want to take a screenshot using Python. I can import and use any module necessary, and the solution can be platform-dependent. This seems like it should be simple using pygtk or something, but my Google-fu fails me. Any ideas?

[earobinson]

you could install a program like scrott, then just call that program from python

[musicinmybrain]

Aha! Yes, immediately after posting this it occurred to me I could just call ImageMagick (or scrot).

import os
os.system("import -window root temp.png")

Perfect! Thanks.

[earobinson]

sweet. Glad things are working.

[WW]

In case you ever want to do it without using system():

import gtk.gdk

w = gtk.gdk.get_default_root_window()
sz = w.get_size()
print "The size of the window is %d x %d" % sz
pb = gtk.gdk.Pixbuf(gtk.gdk.COLORSPACE_RGB,False,8,sz[0],sz[1])
pb = pb.get_from_drawable(w,w.get_colormap(),0,0,0,0,sz[0],sz[1])
if (pb != None):
    pb.save("screenshot.png","png")
    print "Screenshot saved to screenshot.png."
else:
    print "Unable to get the screenshot."

[musicinmybrain]

Now, that's nice, too! It's a good bit faster that invoking ImageMagick, as well. That's pretty much what I had originally thought I might be able to do, but hadn't been able to spelunk through the pygtk docs well enough to figure out. It's excellent to have two ways to do it.

I greatly appreciate the help from both of you.

[Imagist]

Sorry to revive this thread from the dead, but I'm looking for the EXACT same thing, except that my program needs to be cross-platform. Obviously the system-based solution won't work, but what about the other one? Does the GTK module come with Python for Windows or does it require a separate installation? I would try this myself except that my laptop is currently down with its motherboard broken.

[musicinmybrain]

Unfortunately, installing PyGTK on Windows requires four separate installations for the GTK+ stack bundle, PyCairo, PyGobject and PyGTK. It's a bit of a pain, although it does work. If you're not using GTK+ for a GUI, it may be easier just to use PIL to take the screenshot on Windows.

[days_of_ruin]

Unfortunately, installing PyGTK on Windows requires four separate installations for the GTK+ stack bundle, PyCairo, PyGobject and PyGTK. It's a bit of a pain, although it does work. If you're not using GTK+ for a GUI, it may be easier just to use PIL to take the screenshot on Windows.

They would still have to install image magick otherwise.

[musicinmybrain]

They would still have to install image magick otherwise.

In which case?