fswebcam
command-line webcam image capture
TLDR
Capture image
$ fswebcam [image.jpg]
Capture from specific device$ fswebcam -d [/dev/video0] [image.jpg]
Set resolution$ fswebcam -r [1280x720] [image.jpg]
Remove banner$ fswebcam --no-banner [image.jpg]
Add timestamp$ fswebcam --timestamp "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M" [image.jpg]
Set frame count for better quality$ fswebcam -F [10] -S [5] [image.jpg]
SYNOPSIS
fswebcam [options] filename
DESCRIPTION
fswebcam is a command-line webcam capture utility. It captures images from V4L2 (Video4Linux) devices and saves them as JPEG or PNG files.
The tool is useful for timelapse photography, security camera snapshots, and automated image capture. It supports overlays, timestamps, and various image adjustments.
PARAMETERS
-d, --device dev
Video device (default /dev/video0).-r, --resolution WxH
Capture resolution.-F, --frames n
Capture n frames.-S, --skip n
Skip n frames before capture.--no-banner
Remove info banner.--timestamp format
Add timestamp overlay.--title text
Set banner title.--subtitle text
Set banner subtitle.-q, --quiet
Suppress output.--png level
Save as PNG with compression.--jpeg quality
JPEG quality (0-100).
CONFIGURATION
~/.fswebcam
Optional configuration file for default settings.
CAVEATS
Requires V4L2 compatible webcam. Initial frames may be dark (use -S to skip). Resolution must be supported by camera. Some cameras need time to adjust exposure.
HISTORY
fswebcam was written by Philip Heron as a simple command-line tool for capturing webcam images on Linux. It's designed for scripting and automation rather than interactive use.