Filed under: Terminal Tips
Terminal Tips: Change your current screenshot format
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 jpgYou 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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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
HandyMac said 9:52AM on 9-11-2008
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?
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Big John said 10:51AM on 9-11-2008
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.
HandyMac said 9:53AM on 9-11-2008
URL:
http://www.ego-systems.com/Products/screenshotsprefpane.html
(I guess this comment system doesn't like html.)
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Big John said 10:52AM on 9-11-2008
Thanks for the tip! I'd say about 90% of the time when TUAW puts up a new Terminal tip, I implement it immediately.
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jeremy said 11:10AM on 9-11-2008
Good news, I guess. But given that they are giving you a high quality *.png I have trouble thinking of any occasion why anyone would want a jpeg or a gif.
@ BigJohn
The reason a GUI is "easier" for some is that they don't use command line much. The speed advantage of using the tip here is derailed if you have to peck it in with two fingers and take all day to do it. Also it leaves those kind of users in a bad situation in that if they want to change it back later, they have to go out and look it up again, find the site, and then peck out the arcane command again. CLI is only easier if you are already into CLI. Otherwise it's just as much of a hassle to GUI users as the GUI would be to CLI users like yourself.
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Drew Scott said 11:33AM on 9-11-2008
If it takes you all day to "peck it in with two fingers" you have bigger problems
Cooper said 12:41PM on 9-11-2008
Protip: Cmd + C & Cmd + V are your friends
Marc J said 11:22AM on 9-11-2008
Sharpshooter all the way. Genius app, love it.
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Lachlan Hunt said 11:48AM on 9-11-2008
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.
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deevee said 12:31PM on 9-11-2008
my comments: Skitch! all the way baby!
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Frou said 2:19AM on 9-12-2008
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.
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