maim (Make Image) is a command-line screenshot utility for X11 desktops. It is designed for capturing a complete desktop, a particular window, or an area defined by its coordinates, without requiring a graphical screenshot application.
The program can be used interactively with slop to choose what appears in the image, or from scripts that already know the window or region to capture. Its standard-output behaviour makes it particularly useful alongside other command-line image processing and clipboard tools.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Encodes screenshots as PNG, JPEG, BMP, or WebP images, with automatic format detection from the output filename.
- Captures the root window by default, or targets an individual window using its numeric or hexadecimal window ID.
- Accepts explicit capture geometry, including coordinates relative to a selected window or a separately specified parent window.
- Provides interactive region and window selection through integration with slop.
- Includes the mouse pointer in captures by default, with an option to hide it.
- Offers delayed capture with a countdown, useful when preparing menus and other temporary interface elements.
- Adjusts compression quality, balancing file size against image quality or encoding speed depending on the format.
- Can capture elements beneath a selected window instead of masking the background.
- Supports transparent or black masking of pixels outside the captured display region.
- Allows selection border width, colour, padding, highlighting, and programmable shaders to be customized through slop options.
- Writes image data to standard output by default, enabling direct use with image converters, shell pipelines, and clipboard utilities.
Website: github.com/naelstrof/maim
Support:
Developer: Dalton Nell
License: GNU General Public License v3.0
maim is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| CLI Screen Capture Tools | |
|---|---|
| maim | Make Image aims to improve on scrot |
| scrot | SCReenshOT is a simple command line screen capture utility |
| slop | Queries for a selection from the user and prints the region to stdout |
| wayshot | Screenshot tool for wayland compositors |
| termframe | Terminal output SVG screenshot tool |
| grim | Utility to take screenshots of Wayland desktops |
| shotman | Uncompromising screenshot tool for Wayland compositors |
| shotgun | Minimal screenshot utility |
| ImageMagick | Create, edit, and compose bitmap images |
| HyprCap | Capture screenshots and screen recordings on Hyprland |
| grimblast | Capture windows, selected areas, and screens on Hyprland |
| lqth | Simple but fast screenshot utility inspired by xscreenshot |
| grimshot | Capture windows, selected areas, and screens under Sway |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
 LinuxLinks helps you discover the best free and open source software for Linux. Explore our extensive collection of recommended applications, including alternatives to popular proprietary software.We also publish software reviews, Linux tutorials, hardware reviews, free programming books and articles covering the wider open source community. Browse our Linux resources to discover more. Know a useful free and open source Linux application we haven't covered? Suggest a program for inclusion. Has your software been featured on LinuxLinks? Display one of our Featured on LinuxLinks badges on your website or GitHub README. |
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.