How to use the command i3-scrot (with examples)
The i3-scrot command is a wrapper script around the scrot screenshot utility specifically designed for the i3 window manager. By default, it saves the screenshots in the ~/Pictures directory, but this location can be changed by modifying the ~/.config/i3-scrot.conf file.
Use case 1: Capture a screenshot of the whole screen and save it to the default directory
Code:
i3-scrot
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to quickly capture a screenshot of the entire screen without any specific selection. It allows for a fast and easy way to capture and save a screenshot for later use.
Explanation: The i3-scrot command without any options captures a screenshot of the whole screen. Since no additional arguments are provided, it saves the screenshot to the default directory specified in the configuration file.
Example output: A screenshot of the whole screen is saved to the default directory, which is usually ~/Pictures.
Use case 2: Capture a screenshot of the active window
Code:
i3-scrot --window
Motivation: This use case is helpful when you only want to capture the active window instead of the whole screen. It allows you to focus on a specific application or window for documentation or sharing purposes.
Explanation: By adding the --window option to the i3-scrot command, it captures a screenshot of the active window instead of the entire screen.
Example output: A screenshot of the active window is saved to the default directory.
Use case 3: Capture a screenshot of a specific rectangular selection
Code:
i3-scrot --select
Motivation: This use case is beneficial when you want to capture a specific portion of the screen instead of the entire screen or a single window. It allows for greater control over the content that is captured.
Explanation: By using the --select option, the i3-scrot command enables the user to select a rectangular portion of the screen. Once the selection is made, a screenshot of that specific area is captured and saved to the default directory.
Example output: A screenshot of the selected rectangular area is saved to the default directory.
Use case 4: Capture a screenshot of the whole screen and copy it to the clipboard
Code:
i3-scrot --desk-to-clipboard
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to quickly capture a screenshot of the entire screen and directly paste it into another application or document without saving it as a file. It eliminates the extra step of saving the screenshot.
Explanation: The --desk-to-clipboard option instructs the i3-scrot command to capture a screenshot of the whole screen and copy it to the clipboard instead of saving it as a file.
Example output: A screenshot of the whole screen is copied to the clipboard.
Use case 5: Capture a screenshot of the active window and copy it to the clipboard
Code:
i3-scrot --window-to-clipboard
Motivation: This use case comes in handy when you want to capture the contents of a specific window and paste it directly into another application or document without saving it as a file. It allows for seamless integration between different software tools.
Explanation: By adding the --window-to-clipboard option, the i3-scrot command captures a screenshot of the active window and copies it to the clipboard.
Example output: A screenshot of the active window is copied to the clipboard.
Use case 6: Capture a screenshot of a specific selection and copy it to the clipboard
Code:
i3-scrot --select-to-clipboard
Motivation: This use case is beneficial when you want to capture a specific portion of the screen and paste it directly into another application or document without saving it as a file. It allows for a more precise and efficient workflow.
Explanation: The --select-to-clipboard option enables the i3-scrot command to capture a screenshot of a user-defined rectangular selection and copy it to the clipboard.
Example output: A screenshot of the selected rectangular area is copied to the clipboard.
Use case 7: Capture a screenshot of the active window after a delay of 5 seconds
Code:
i3-scrot --window 5
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to capture the contents of a specific window after a certain delay. It allows you to set up the desired state or position of the window before capturing the screenshot.
Explanation: By specifying the --window option followed by the desired delay in seconds, the i3-scrot command waits for the specified time and then captures a screenshot of the active window.
Example output: A screenshot of the active window is saved to the default directory, but only after a delay of 5 seconds.
Conclusion:
The i3-scrot command provides several useful options for capturing screenshots with the i3 window manager. Whether it’s capturing the entire screen, a specific window, or a custom selection, i3-scrot offers a versatile and convenient way to capture and save or copy screenshots. With its configurable options and integration with the clipboard, it provides flexibility and efficiency in the screenshot workflow.
