How to use the command spectacle (with examples)
Spectacle is KDE’s screenshot utility that allows users to capture screenshots of their desktop, active window, or a specific region. This article will provide examples for each of these use cases, along with a brief explanation of the command and its arguments.
Use case 1: Capture a screenshot of the entire desktop
Code:
spectacle
Motivation: You may want to capture a screenshot of your entire desktop to showcase your current workspace setup, share it with others, or use it as a reference for later.
Explanation:
spectacle
: This command is used to capture a screenshot of the entire desktop.
Example output: The command will capture a screenshot of the entire desktop and save it to your default screenshot directory.
Use case 2: Capture a screenshot of the active window
Code:
spectacle --activewindow
Motivation: You may want to capture a screenshot of a specific window, such as an application or a dialog box, to highlight and document a particular aspect of your usage.
Explanation:
spectacle
: This command is used to capture a screenshot.--activewindow
: This argument tells Spectacle to capture the currently active window.
Example output: The command will capture a screenshot of the active window and save it to your default screenshot directory.
Use case 3: Capture a screenshot of a specific region
Code:
spectacle --region
Motivation: Sometimes, you may only want to capture a portion of your desktop instead of the entire screen. This can be useful when you want to focus on a specific area or element.
Explanation:
spectacle
: This command is used to capture a screenshot.--region
: This argument allows you to capture a specific region by selecting it with your mouse cursor.
Example output: The command will activate a crosshair cursor, enabling you to select a specific region on your desktop to capture. Once selected, the screenshot will be saved to your default screenshot directory.
Conclusion:
The spectacle
command is a powerful screenshot utility provided by KDE, offering users different options for capturing screenshots. With the ability to capture the entire desktop, active window, or a specific region, Spectacle allows you to easily document and share your work, visually highlight specific areas, or focus on particular elements of your desktop environment.