i3-scrot

Capture a screenshot of the whole screen and save it to the default directory

$ i3-scrot

$ i3-scrot --window

$ i3-scrot --select

$ i3-scrot --desk-to-clipboard

$ i3-scrot --window-to-clipboard

$ i3-scrot --select-to-clipboard

$ i3-scrot --window [5]

i3-scrot [options] [filename]

-h, --help
    Display help message and exit

-c, --cursor
    Include mouse cursor in screenshot

-s, --select
    Interactively select window or rectangle

-w, --window
    Select and capture a single window

-d DELAY, --delay DELAY
    Wait DELAY seconds before capture

-z, --thumbnail
    Generate a thumbnail image

-e EXEC, --exec EXEC
    Execute command with %s replaced by image path

-f FORMAT, --format FORMAT
    Set image filename format string

i3-scrot is a lightweight screenshot tool designed specifically for the i3 window manager. It leverages scrot (SCReen shOT) to capture screenshots efficiently, supporting full screen, selected window, or interactive region selection. Integrated seamlessly with i3's keybindings, it's commonly bound to modifier+PrintScreen keys for instant use.

Key features include optional mouse cursor capture, delay before shot, thumbnail generation, and post-capture execution of commands (e.g., copy to clipboard or notify). The default filename format is timestamped PNG (%Y-%m-%d-%H-%M-%S_$wx$h.png), saved to ~/Pictures/Screenshots by convention.

Ideal for power users, it requires minimal configuration via i3 config file. Invoke via keybind without arguments for full screen, or use flags for targeted captures. Ensures compatibility with i3's stacking and tiling workflows without disrupting focus.

Requires i3 window manager and scrot package. Interactive modes (-s, -w) may not work outside i3. Default directory ~/Pictures/Screenshots must exist; create if needed. Limited format support depends on scrot.

bindsym Print exec i3-scrot
bindsym Shift+Print exec i3-scrot -s
bindsym Ctrl+Print exec i3-scrot -w
Executes full screen, select region, or window.

i3-scrot -e 'notify-send Screenshot $(xclip -selection clipboard -t image/png -i $f)'
Copies to clipboard and notifies.

Developed around 2013 by i3 community contributor 'procraster' as a contrib script for i3wm. Evolved from simple scrot wrapper to feature-rich tool. Maintained in i3 GitHub contrib repo; widely used in i3 configs. Latest versions align with scrot 1.x for better X11 support.

scrot(1), i3(1), maim(1), flameshot(1)