Taking screenshots is a common task for many Ubuntu users, whether it’s for sharing information or capturing moments from your favorite videos. Luckily, Ubuntu provides several easy ways to take screenshots. One of the simplest methods is by using keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts are built-in features that allow you to capture your screen effortlessly.
To take a screenshot of the entire screen, press the PrtSc (Print Screen) button on your keyboard. Ubuntu will automatically save the screenshot in the “Pictures” folder with a timestamp as the filename. If you only want to capture a specific area of the screen, use the combination of Shift + PrtSc. After pressing the shortcut, your cursor will turn into a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture. Once you release the mouse button, the screenshot will be saved.
If you prefer to capture only the active window, use the Alt + PrtSc keyboard shortcut. This will save the screenshot of the currently active window instead of the entire screen. This can be useful when you want to capture a specific application or dialog box without any distractions from the background.
Take Screenshots in Ubuntu Using the Gnome Screenshot Tool
Another easy way to take screenshots in Ubuntu is by using the built-in Gnome Screenshot tool. This tool provides a graphical interface that allows you to capture your screen with just a few clicks.
To launch the Gnome Screenshot tool, press the Super key (also known as the Windows key) and search for “Screenshot” in the applications menu. Once you open the tool, you’ll see several options for capturing screenshots. You can choose to capture the entire screen, the current window, or a specific area by selecting the corresponding option.
After selecting your preferred capture mode, click on the “Take Screenshot” button to capture the screen. The screenshot will be saved in the “Pictures” folder with a timestamp as the filename, similar to the keyboard shortcut method.
Capture a Screenshot in Ubuntu With the Flameshot App
If you’re looking for more advanced screenshot capabilities, Flameshot is a powerful open-source app that you can install on Ubuntu. It provides additional features such as annotating screenshots, highlighting specific areas, and blurring sensitive information.
To install Flameshot, open the Terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T and enter the following command:
sudo apt install flameshot
Once Flameshot is installed, you can launch it by searching for “Flameshot” in the applications menu. The app will appear as a small icon in your system tray.
To capture a screenshot using Flameshot, click on the app’s icon in the system tray. This will open a crosshair cursor, allowing you to select the area you want to capture. After selecting the area, Flameshot will open a new window with various annotation tools. You can add text, draw shapes, blur sensitive information, and even highlight specific areas of the screenshot. Once you’re satisfied with the modifications, click on the save icon to save the screenshot.
Take a Screenshot in Ubuntu With Third-Party App Shutter
Shutter is another popular third-party tool that offers advanced screenshot features for Ubuntu users. It provides a user-friendly interface with various options for capturing and editing screenshots.
To install Shutter, open the Terminal and enter the following command:
sudo apt install shutter
Once installed, you can launch Shutter from the applications menu. The app will open with a blank canvas, ready for you to capture your screen. You can choose to capture the entire screen, a specific window, or a selected area by selecting the corresponding option from the toolbar.
After capturing the screenshot, Shutter will open a new window with editing options. You can add text, draw shapes, blur sensitive information, and even crop the screenshot to focus on specific details. Once you’re done editing, click on the save icon to save the screenshot to your desired location.
Take Screenshots in Ubuntu Using the Terminal
For those who prefer the command line interface, Ubuntu provides a powerful tool called scrot that allows you to take screenshots using the Terminal. Scrot is a lightweight and efficient command-line utility that offers various options for capturing screenshots.
To install scrot, open the Terminal and enter the following command:
sudo apt install scrot
Once installed, you can use scrot to capture screenshots by entering the following command:
scrot [options] [filename]
For example, to capture the entire screen and save it as “screenshot.png”, you can use the following command:
scrot screenshot.png
Scrot also allows you to specify a delay before capturing the screenshot, capture a specific window, or capture a selected area. You can explore more options and features by referring to the scrot manual.
