Macworld: Screen capture file format has changed ...

Up to Discussions in Mac OS X

8 Replies Last post: May 28, 2005 5:50 PM by dougster

pnorton

21 posts since
Jan 30, 2001

May 27, 2005 9:57 AM

Screen capture file format has changed in 10.4

I liked having the screen shot capture file being saved as a pdf file, like it was with 10.2 and 10.3. Now they are being saved as png (portable network graphics image) files in 10.4.

Any way to restore screen capture file format to pdf, other than with 3rd party applications?

BigFatDuck

773 posts since
Sep 12, 2002

1. May 27, 2005 10:55 AM

in response to: pnorton

Re: Screen capture file format has changed in 10.4

i'm on 10.3 and i'd prefer it to save as .jpg instead of .pdf. why do i want to save images as pdf instead of an image format i can actually use in online photo galleries and so forth? not to hijack your thread, but is there any way to change this in 10.3.9?

sorry i was no help to you. :\

d00d

12,136 posts since
Apr 24, 2001

2. May 27, 2005 11:30 AM

in response to: pnorton

Re: Screen capture file format has changed in 10.4

As far as I know, there's no way to change the default. You can use Preview to convert the files or even make your own Automator script that invokes the screenshot mechanism and converts it automatically.

drmbb

2,353 posts since
Jun 14, 2001

3. May 27, 2005 2:41 PM

in response to: d00d

Re: Screen capture file format has changed in 10.4

Plus, don't all Mac's come with a copy of GraphicConverter? All the powerbooks and powermacs I've seen have this.

--

d00d

12,136 posts since
Apr 24, 2001

4. May 27, 2005 2:51 PM

in response to: drmbb

Re: Screen capture file format has changed in 10.4

Just the "Pro" machines come with Graphic Converter (and you better make sure never try to update it).

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

5. May 28, 2005 8:38 AM

in response to: d00d

Re: Screen capture file format has changed in 10.4

Personally, I prefer the .png format for screen capture. I never understood why pictures would be captured as a PDF, more so for users who default PDF viewing to Adobe Acrobat/Reader (as not everyone uses 'Preview').

PNG, unlike JPEG, is lossless. It does a good job with compression, is patent free (possibly another reason to go with this format due to the lawsuits over royalities for using JPEG) and is supported on Macs, Windows and Linux. Default opens in Preview where I can then save it to a different format if I choose.

Kudos to Apple for going this route!

dougster

4,161 posts since
Feb 25, 2001

6. May 28, 2005 10:43 AM

in response to: BigFatDuck

Re: Screen capture file format has changed in 10.4

In reply to:<hr />

i'm on 10.3 and i'd prefer it to save as .jpg

<hr />

For personal reasons I also prefer .jpg, and use DropJPEG . Just drop the .pdf or .png onto the DropJPEG, located in the Dock, and presto-->Picture 1.jpg. Many folks have their own flavors for certain reasons.

-doug

Philbert

2,358 posts since
Jun 11, 2001

7. May 28, 2005 11:56 AM

in response to: dougster

Re: Screen capture file format has changed in 10.4

Why bother with a converter or a format you don't like? Instead of making a screen capture "file", simply copy the capture to the clipboard by using the Control key modifier. (For instance, Command+Control+Shift+4 gives you the "draggable" option) You can then paste it into a graphics application and save it in the format of your choice.

And if you use Photoshop, it's really painless. Select "New" from PS's file menu and the image size defaults to clipboard - already sized perfectly to your capture! (I just think that's so cool!) You can even paste it into TextEdit if you're using Rich Text.

I haven't searched for a screen capture file in years ....

dougster

4,161 posts since
Feb 25, 2001

8. May 28, 2005 5:50 PM

in response to: Philbert

Re: Screen capture file format has changed in 10.4

-phil,

In reply to:<hr />
And if you use Photoshop, it's really painless. Select "New" from PS's file menu and the image size defaults to clipboard -

<hr />

Yikesss...totally forgot about the 4 key combo to the clipboard, and love that size default for PS. Thanks for the Holiday tip reminder -phil. This is G-R-E-A-T

-doug

Go to original post

May 27, 2005 9:57 AM

Screen capture file format has changed in 10.4

Actions

More Like This