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RMXO · Nov 4, 2002, 01:35 AM

everytime i take a screenshot (command - shift-3), my pic becomes a pdf automatically. is there a way to change this to become a jpeg or tiff?

is this a default setting that turns screenshots into a pdf or did i do something wrong...

KaptainKaya · Nov 4, 2002, 01:36 AM

Na, just open it in Preview and then export it as a .jpeg

RMXO · Nov 4, 2002, 02:11 AM

Originally posted by KaptainKaya:
Na, just open it in Preview and then export it as a .jpeg

thanks....

SirCastor · Nov 4, 2002, 02:29 AM

Originally posted by RMXO:

thanks....

You could probably write an Applescript that did this for you. Less work then.

Axo1ot1 · Nov 5, 2002, 01:09 AM

Doesn't tinker tool have an option to set the format to what you want?

godzookie2k · Nov 5, 2002, 01:22 AM

Originally posted by Axo1ot1:
Doesn't tinker tool have an option to set the format to what you want?

doesn't work in 10.2

RMXO · Nov 5, 2002, 02:38 AM

Originally posted by SirCastor:

You could probably write an Applescript that did this for you. Less work then.

im not a programmer. read about applescript. would it be easier if i learned perl?

WJMoore · Nov 5, 2002, 03:22 AM

Originally posted by RMXO:

im not a programmer. read about applescript. would it be easier if i learned perl?

No, for this task AppleScript is what you would want to use and is probably easier to learn than Perl. However it would appear that Preview is not scriptable, which makes it a bit difficult either way...

Wesley

philm · Nov 5, 2002, 11:48 AM

I find the PDF option a bizarre choice by Apple. Anyway, what I do is:

command-control-shift-4

then hit spacebar to get a choice of cross-hairs or 'window grab', and then click

This set of modifier keys saves the image to the clipboard, ready for pasting into your document (or as a new file in, say, GraphicConverter).

Phil

drmbb2 · Nov 5, 2002, 01:36 PM

You could also use Grab, in your Utilities folder. It saves as tiff.

bartman00 · Nov 5, 2002, 02:02 PM

I really like the PDF idea. I'm using pdf files more and more. If you have dual monitors it saves it as a 2 page pdf, if it saved as a jpg it would have to be 2 files or one realllly long one.

I love how pdf authoring is basically free with the os. I prefer to send resumes out in PDF that was there's no question if they have the correct word processor or fonts installed. It will always display correctly.

Bart

philm · Nov 5, 2002, 06:54 PM

Sure, PDFs are great generally (for resumes or whatever), just not a good choice for screen capture. When I think 'screen capture' I think 'bitmap image'. For me, 'PDF' = 'vector image'.
Phil

Avon · Nov 5, 2002, 07:34 PM

Originally posted by philm:
I find the PDF option a bizarre choice by Apple. Anyway, what I do is:

Phil

Im guessing its becasue Quartz is based on the PDF. Im not programer but, I guess what you are looking at right now is basicaly a PDF...

More info here...
http://developer.apple.com/quartz/overview.html

Gul Banana · Nov 6, 2002, 11:14 AM

It's also rather good compression. A screenshot, in pdf, for me = 112 KB. Exported to JPEG at Best Depth Medium Quality, it's

um

112 KB. Okay then. It looks worse, though

Millennium · Nov 6, 2002, 11:37 AM

Originally posted by philm:
Sure, PDFs are great generally (for resumes or whatever), just not a good choice for screen capture. When I think 'screen capture' I think 'bitmap image'. For me, 'PDF' = 'vector image'.
Phil

The thing is, it is a vector image, of sorts. Try zooming in on the image and you'll note that the text doesn't lose any resolution. Print it out, and your text will look awesome.

Unfortunately, this is not yet true for anything else in the UI. But I think that this might be the next step for the UI (and may be why Apple changed the "look" of Aqua in 10.2; it may be a method which is easier to reproduce using OpenGL). Apple is using a PDF right now, to ease the transition. the real test, though, will be in later releases; will major portions of the UI still be bitmapped? They may be transitioning back to something completely vector-based, just as NeXTStep was.

Note that Apple has another, more insidious, incentive for defining the UI in vectors: it'll make themeing a lot harder. And for some reason, Apple Hates Themes.

moki · Nov 7, 2002, 02:47 PM

Originally posted by drmbb2:
You could also use Grab, in your Utilities folder. It saves as tiff.

...or you could use Snapz Pro X to save it in any format you like. If your computer is a PowerBook or G4 Tower that you purchased in the last year or so, it is bundled free with your machine, check the Applications folder.

If not, you can grab it at the URL below.

G4ME · Nov 8, 2002, 12:20 AM

I ponied up the cash for snap pro X and love it I have and Nvidia card so I can caputer DVD screenshots, I have taken a little over 1000 shots from great DVDs and now have them rotating as my desktop every 5 min and love it, i think thats the best part of OS X