Screenshot in Lubuntu 16.04 and Newer

Yes, you can take screenshots in Lubuntu 16.04 and all later versions using built-in tools and keyboard shortcuts. The default screenshot utility is LXQt Screenshot (or scrot on older LXDE releases), and you can also use Spectacle, GNOME Screenshot, or command-line tools like ImageMagick. This article explains the built-in options, how to use them, and common troubleshooting steps.

Background: Screenshot Tools in Lubuntu

Lubuntu is a lightweight Ubuntu variant that historically used the LXDE desktop environment and switched to LXQt starting with version 18.10. The screenshot tool changed with that transition:

• Lubuntu 16.04 and 18.04 (LXDE): Default tool is scrot (a command-line screenshot utility) with a simple GUI wrapper called Lxde-Screenshot.
• Lubuntu 18.10 and newer (LXQt): Default tool is LXQt Screenshot, a GUI application with more options.
• You can also install Spectacle (KDE), GNOME Screenshot, or Shutter from the repositories.

How to Take a Screenshot with Keyboard Shortcuts

The quickest way is to use the default keyboard shortcuts:

• PrtSc – captures the entire screen and saves it to your Pictures folder (or opens the tool depending on settings).
• Alt + PrtSc – captures only the active window.
• Shift + PrtSc – lets you select a region to capture (if supported by the tool).

On Lubuntu 16.04, pressing PrtSc runs scrot and saves a timestamped PNG file directly to your home directory. In later LXQt versions, the shortcut opens the LXQt Screenshot dialog where you can choose the save location and delay.

Using the GUI Screenshot Tools

If you prefer a graphical interface, you can launch the screenshot tool from the menu:

1. Open the Application Menu (usually at the bottom-left).
2. Navigate to Accessories or Graphics and click Screenshot.
3. In the dialog, choose the capture mode (full screen, window, or region).
4. Set a delay if needed (e.g., 5 seconds to capture a menu).
5. Click Take Screenshot and then save the image.

On Lubuntu 16.04, the GUI tool is very basic: it just runs scrot with a file picker. On newer versions, LXQt Screenshot offers options like capturing the mouse cursor and copying to clipboard.

Command-Line Methods (Terminal)

For more control, you can use the terminal. Here are common commands:

• scrot – saves a full-screen capture to the current directory (e.g., scrot myimage.png).
• scrot -s – allows selecting a region with the mouse.
• scrot -d 5 – adds a 5-second delay.
• import (from ImageMagick) – e.g., import -window root screenshot.png for full screen, or import screenshot.png to click a window.
• gnome-screenshot -i – opens the GNOME Screenshot interactive dialog (if installed).

These commands are useful for scripting or when the GUI is not working.

Common Problems and Fixes

If screenshots are not working, try these checks:

• No screenshot file appears – Check the current directory or the Pictures folder. On 16.04, scrot saves to the current working directory when run from terminal.
• PrtSc key does nothing – The keybinding may have been removed. Go to Preferences → LXQt Settings → Shortcut Keys (or Openbox Configuration Manager on LXDE) and assign the scrot command to the key.
• Region selection not working – Some older scrot versions require the -s flag; if you are using the GUI, make sure you selected “Regionâ€� mode.
• Screenshot is black – This can happen with hardware acceleration or when capturing protected content. Try using import -window root or disabling compositing.
• Tool not installed – Install with sudo apt install scrot or sudo apt install lxqt-screenshot (depending on version).

Choosing the Right Tool for Your Needs

Different tools suit different situations:

• scrot – Minimal, fast, and perfect for scripting. It lacks annotation tools.
• LXQt Screenshot – Good for everyday use with a simple GUI.
• Spectacle – Offers more features like annotations and delayed capture; install with sudo apt install spectacle.
• Shutter – A feature-rich tool (edit, upload, etc.) but no longer in default Ubuntu repos for newer releases; you may need a PPA.
• Flameshot – A modern tool with editing capabilities, available via sudo apt install flameshot (starting from Ubuntu 18.04).

For most users, the built-in tool is enough. If you need to annotate or blur parts of the screenshot, consider installing Flameshot or Spectacle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do screenshots get saved by default?

On Lubuntu 16.04, pressing PrtSc saves the image in your home directory (e.g., ~/2020-01-01-123456_screenshot.png). On newer LXQt versions, the default is the Pictures folder, but you can change it in the screenshot dialog.

How do I change the screenshot shortcut key?

Open Preferences → LXQt Settings → Shortcut Keys (or Openbox Configuration Manager on 16.04). Find the “Printâ€� key binding and change the command to your preferred tool, e.g., lxqt-screenshot or scrot -s.

Can I take a screenshot of a specific window without the window manager decorations?

Yes. Use import -window <window_id> (find the ID with xwininfo) or use the GUI tool’s “Windowâ€� mode. In LXQt Screenshot, select “Windowâ€� and then click the desired window.

Why is my screenshot blurry or low resolution?

This usually happens if your display scaling is set above 100%. The screenshot captures at the logical resolution. To get a higher-resolution image, temporarily set scaling to 100% or use a tool that supports HiDPI scaling, like Spectacle.

Is there a way to capture a scrolling webpage or long document?

Not with the built-in tools. You can use a browser extension (like Fireshot) or install gnome-screenshot with the --window option, but for scrolling capture you need a dedicated tool like scrot with a script or a browser add-on.

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