maim: Screenshot utility

maim: Screenshot utility

maim is a lightweight command-line tool for taking screenshots. Below are practical, example-first explanations to get you capturing with confidence.

Quick start: capture the whole screen

  • Capture the full screen and save to a file:
maim /path/to/screenshot.png
  • Tip: if you omit the path, maim will print a file path to stdout and may require redirection depending on your setup.

Capture a selected region

  • Use the select mode to draw a region and save it to a file:
maim -s /path/to/screenshot.png
  • If you want to preview or adjust the selection before saving, combine with your editor or viewer as needed.

Copy region to clipboard (requires xclip)

  • Capture a selected region and pipe it to the clipboard:
maim -s | xclip -selection clipboard -t image/png
  • Explanation:
    • -s or —select enables region selection.
    • xclip handles clipboard interaction; the -t image/png sets the MIME type.

Capture the current active window (requires xdotool)

  • Grab the active window and save to a file:
maim -i $(xdotool getactivewindow) /path/to/screenshot.png
  • This relies on xdotool to determine the currently focused window.

Common variants and tips

  • If you want to capture the active window and then copy to clipboard:
maim -i $(xdotool getactivewindow) - | xclip -selection clipboard -t image/png
  • To save to a temporary file, then open it with a viewer, you can chain commands:
maim /tmp/screenshot.png && xdg-open /tmp/screenshot.png

Common pitfalls

  • Missing dependencies: maim can rely on xclip and xdotool for extended features. If a command fails due to missing tools, install them (e.g., sudo apt install xclip xdotool) and retry.
  • Path permissions: ensure the destination path is writable. Use a directory like ~/Pictures or /tmp when testing.
  • Clipboard nuances: clipboard behavior varies across desktop environments. Some setups require the clipboard selection to be X11-based; verify your environment supports xclip integration.
  • Region selection insanity: if -s hangs or behaves oddly, ensure your terminal is in a graphical session and you’re not in a Wayland-only session that lacks xdotool functionality.

Troubleshooting quick checks

  • Verify maim is installed:
maim --version
  • Basic screenshot to a file:
maim ~/Pictures/screenshot.png
  • If you need to check dependencies, verify xclip and xdotool are installed:
dpkg -s xclip xdotool >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo 'dependencies present' || echo 'install xclip and xdotool'

Summary

maim provides simple, script-friendly screenshot capabilities without heavy GUI tooling. Start with a full-screen capture, progress to region or window captures, and integrate with your clipboard workflow as needed. As with any command-line tool, test paths and dependencies in your environment to avoid surprises.

See Also