How to Use the Command 'grim' (with Examples)

The ‘grim’ command is a versatile tool designed to capture screenshots within the Wayland compositor environment. It offers a streamlined approach to taking images of your desktop or specific sections thereof. This utility is particularly useful for those who need to document, share, or save visual information from their Wayland sessions. Here, we will delve into several use cases of the ‘grim’ command, providing a comprehensive understanding of its functionalities and applications.

Screenshot all outputs

Code:

grim

Motivation:

The ability to take screenshots of all outputs in a single command is incredibly useful for users who work with multiple monitors. Whether you’re preparing a comprehensive presentation or debugging display configurations, capturing the entire screen setup at once ensures no detail is overlooked.

Explanation:

This command runs grim without any additional arguments. By default, grim captures all active outputs (monitors) and saves the screenshot to a predetermined location with a timestamped filename.

Example Output:

Executing the command will create an image file named something like screenshot-2023-10-05-15-30-00.png, housing the captured image of all active monitors.

Screenshot a specific output

Code:

grim -o path/to/output_file

Motivation:

Sometimes, capturing an image of a specific monitor is necessary, especially when focusing on specialized work hosted on a particular screen. This could include design work or specific application usage that is best shared as standalone content.

Explanation:

Here, the -o flag specifies a path where the screenshot will be saved. You need to replace path/to/output_file with the actual display identifier you wish to capture, obtained from Wayland utilities or your desktop environment settings.

Example Output:

After execution, you might have an image file named output1-2023-10-05-15-35-00.png, showcasing only the targeted monitor’s display.

Screenshot a specific region

Code:

grim -g "<x_position>,<y_position> <width>x<height>"

Motivation:

Selecting a specific region is advantageous when you only need a fragment of the display, such as when taking visual notes, creating tutorials, or gathering evidence of a bug without excess detail.

Explanation:

The -g flag allows you to specify a geographic region. <x_position> and <y_position> define the top-left corner of the capture area, while <width>x<height> denotes the dimensions of the region to be captured.

Example Output:

Running this command with values like grim -g "100,100 800x600" might yield a file called region-screenshot-2023-10-05-15-40-00.png, displaying just the defined region.

Select a specific region and screenshot it, (using slurp)

Code:

grim -g "$(slurp)"

Motivation:

When precision is crucial, using slurp in conjunction with grim affords users the ability to visually select the desired capture area. This method is beneficial for those who need to interact each time they capture an area, reducing the margin for error.

Explanation:

Here, slurp is a separate tool used to interactively select a screen region. The grim -g "$(slurp)" command utilizes this tool to let users manually highlight an area to screenshot, effectively creating a dynamic way to determine the capture area.

Example Output:

Upon execution and area selection, you might see a file called interactive-screenshot-2023-10-05-15-50-00.png that accurately reflects the region you manually selected with your cursor.

Use a custom filename

Code:

grim "path/to/file.png"

Motivation:

Establishing explicit control over the filename ensures that the screenshots can be easily identified and organized post-capture. This is especially useful for productivity-focused users who generate numerous screenshots and require systematic storage for future reference.

Explanation:

This command specifies a custom filename directly by providing a path. Instead of relying on the default naming convention, the file will be saved to a specific location with a specified name, like my-screenshot.png.

Example Output:

Executing this command will save the screenshot directly as path/to/file.png within your system.

Screenshot and copy to clipboard

Code:

grim - | clipboard_manager

Motivation:

In workflows requiring rapid image transference, such as when pasting directly into chat applications or graphic editing software, copying a screenshot straight to the clipboard enables seamless sharing without intermediate saving steps.

Explanation:

The - argument directs grim to send the image data to standard output. Piping this into a clipboard_manager effectively copies the image to your clipboard, ready for pasting.

Example Output:

The command does not explicitly create a file but rather stores the captured image in your clipboard. You can instantly paste it into any compatible application with standard paste commands.

Conclusion:

Utilizing the ‘grim’ command within a Wayland environment offers a versatile array of capabilities for capturing screenshots, tailored to diverse user needs. Whether capturing all screens simultaneously, focusing on a specific monitor, selecting distinct regions, or interacting visually, ‘grim’ presents an adaptable toolkit to ensure you capture exactly what you need, the moment you need it.