27 Jun 2005 | Print  |

How to Change Screen Capture Formats

by Adam C. Engst

How to Change Screen Capture Formats -- Last week, when talking about the new version of Snapz Pro X in TidBITS, I mentioned that Tiger changes the default file format used for screen captures taken with Command-Shift-3/4 from PDF to PNG. Thanks to Paul Schreiber for alerting me to the fact that you can change that default format back to PDF or to another format, presumably as long as it's one supported by QuickTime, such as JPG (extra points for anyone who wants to figure out all the possibilities and send me a list). Follow the steps below to make Tiger save screenshots as PDF.

<http://db.tidbits.com/article/08132>

1. Open Terminal.

2. Copy the "defaults write" line below, paste it into the Terminal window, and press Return.

   defaults write com.apple.screencapture type pdf

3. Log out or restart your Mac to make it pick up the new setting.

If you wish to reset the file format back to PNG, just repeat the steps, replacing "pdf" in the "defaults write" line with "png". [ACE]

-

Related Articles

• SaveScreenie Switches File Formats (15 Aug 05)
• Snapz Pro X 2.0.2 Provides Tiger Compatibility (13 Jun 05)

Top Articles in this Section

• Apple Reveals New iPod nano and Updated iPod touch (09 Sep 08)
• iTunes 8 Adds Genius; iTunes Store Adds HD TV and NBC (09 Sep 08)
• Amazon Launches Mac-Compatible Video on Demand (08 Sep 08)

VMware Fusion. The most seamless way to run Windows on your Mac.
Backed by nearly a decade of proven virtualization technology.
Try VMware Fusion today for free, or order online for only $79.
Visit: <http://www.tidbits.com/about/support/vmware-fusion.html>