Using Shutter to take screenshots in Linux

The procedures in this document can help use the Shutter screenshot tool for Linux. You can capture your entire desktop, an active window, or any rectangular area you select. Shutter lets you save your screenshots directly as JPEG image files. In contrast, pressing PrtScn (Print Screen) to capture a desktop, or Alt+PrtScn to capture an active window, lets you save your screenshot only as a PNG file. If you want a JPEG, you must separately convert it from a PNG.

You can install Shutter through the software-application catalog in your Linux operating operating system. For example, for Ubuntu, you can use the Ubuntu Software Center.

Configuring Shutter

To configure Shutter, do the following:

1. Open Shutter to display its window as shown in Figure 1.
2. Click the down arrow at the right of Selection, and then select Advanced selection tool. This lets you resize your selection rectangle before you take a screenshot.
3. In the Shutter toolbar at the top of the desktop, click Edit, and then click Preferences to display its window as shown in Figure 2.
4. Set Image-format to jpeg, Directory to Desktop, select (check mark) Include cursor when taking a screenshot and then set the capture delay to 15 seconds.

Figure 1 - Shutter lets you take a screenshot as a Selection, Desktop, or Window.
In Ubuntu 11.04, the Shutter toolbar is above your desktop, at the left.

Figure 2 - My recommended Preferences are setting Image-format to "jpeg,"
Directory to "Desktop," selecting (check marking) "Include cursor when
taking a screenshot" and setting the capture delay to "15" seconds.

Capturing your desktop

To take a screenshot of your desktop through Shutter, do the following:

1. Start Shutter, click the down arrow at the right of Desktop, and then click Capture all Workspaces to take the screenshot and place an icon for its new JPEG on your desktop.
2. In the Shutter window, close the image tab by clicking on its X, and then minimize the Shutter window.
3. Double-click the new icon to display an image similar to Figure 3.

Figure 3 - A desktop screenshot.

Capturing an active window

To take a screenshot of an active window through Shutter, do the following:

1. Select a window to activate it. For example, I activated the Calculator window as shown in Figure 3.
2. Start Shutter, click the down arrow at the right of Window, and then click "Active Window" to take the screenshot and place an icon for its new JPEG on your desktop.
3. In the Shutter window, close the image tab by clicking on its "X," and then minimize the Shutter window.
4. Double-click the new icon to display an image similar to the fourth image above.

Figure 4 - An active-window screenshot.

Capturing a rectangular area

To take a screenshot of a rectangular area through Shutter, do the following:

1. On your desktop, group whatever items you plan to include in your captured rectangular area.
2. Start Shutter, click Selection, use your mouse to draw a rectangular area, and then press Enter to take the screenshot and place an icon for its new JPEG on your desktop.
3. In the Shutter window, close the image tab by clicking on its X, and then minimize the Shutter window.
4. Double-click the new icon to display an image similar to Figure 5.

Figure 5 - A selected-rectangular-area screenshot.