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Terminal Tips: Change your current screenshot format

by Cory Bohon Sep 11th 2008 at 9:30AM

Do you like using the built-in Mac OS X screenshot utility but dislike the format of the output file? With this simple Terminal hack, you can easily change the file format of the image. Open Terminal.app (/Applications/Utilities) and type the following command:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg

You can replace "jpg" with your desired file format (example: tiff, pdf, png, etc.). If you wish to change it back to defaults, Mac OS X originally grabs screens in png format. To activate the changes, just logout of your account and then log back in.


Want more tips and tricks like this? Visit TUAW's Mac 101 and Terminal Tips sections.

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Do you like using the built-in Mac OS X screenshot utility but dislike the format of the output file? With this simple Terminal hack, you...
 

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Frou

What would have been helpful is a tip to change the default format for Grab.app. Grab creates .tiff files. There is no GUI method to change the format.
Apple can be stupefyingly underwhelming sometimes.

September 12 2008 at 1:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Erik

Protip: Cmd + C & Cmd + V are your friends

September 11 2008 at 12:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dee

my comments: Skitch! all the way baby!

September 11 2008 at 12:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lachlan Hunt

Please, don't do this. There is no point. JPEG is the worst format for taking screenshots, since it's not designed for that type of image. Consider how many times have you seen a screenshot published on the web, which has horrible compression artifacts? I see it frequently and it's so annoying. PNG is the best format for taking screenshots.

September 11 2008 at 11:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Drew Scott

If it takes you all day to "peck it in with two fingers" you have bigger problems

September 11 2008 at 11:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
The Kid

Sharpshooter all the way. Genius app, love it.

September 11 2008 at 11:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Big John

Thanks for the tip! I'd say about 90% of the time when TUAW puts up a new Terminal tip, I implement it immediately.

September 11 2008 at 10:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
HandyMac

URL:
http://www.ego-systems.com/Products/screenshotsprefpane.html

(I guess this comment system doesn't like html.)

September 11 2008 at 9:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
HandyMac

Or you could just use any of numerous GUI utilities that'll do the same with less hassle. I prefer the Screenshots Preference Pane, as I frequently need to switch between .png and .jpg screenshots.

Didn't we see this same tip not long ago at TUAW?

September 11 2008 at 9:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to HandyMac's comment
Big John

Eh? How is installing a GUI "less hassle" than dropping in a line into the Terminal, and having it for good? If you're switching between formats, sure, that would be easier. I just need a one-time change to JPG and I want it to stick -- I don't need a GUI for that.

September 11 2008 at 10:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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