View source for Documentation:Snapshots

{{RightMenu|documentation play howto toc 0.9}}
There are two ways to take snapshots (i.e., screenshots or frame grabs) with VLC:
#Go to Video -> Snapshot, or
#Press the snapshot hotkey
#*Windows / Linux / Unix: Ctrl-Alt-s
#*Mac OS X: Command-Alt-s

When a snapshot is taken, it will briefly preview as a thumbnail with its filename and then fade away.

To change the hotkey, go to Preferences -> Interface -> Hotkeys settings.  Check Advanced options, and set Take video snapshot.

==Snapshot location, format and name==
The snapshot location depends upon your operating system:
*Windows: My Documents\My Pictures\
*Linux / Unix: $(HOME)/.vlc/
*Mac OS X: Desktop/

The default format for snapshots is PNG, but this may be changed to JPEG.  Also, the default name for snapshots is ''vlcsnap-'' followed by a timestamp that is ''not'' the time of the frame in the video you're viewing.

The location, format and name of snapshots may be changed in the Preferences.  Also, you may substitute other text for ''vlcsnap-'' in the ''Video snapshot file prefix'' and you may choose to have snapshots numbered sequentially (i.e., 000001, 000002, 000003, and so on) instead of with a timestamp.  As of version 0.9.0, you may even use [[Documentation:Play HowTo/Format String|variables]] in the text used for the filename.  For example, ''$T'' (must be upper case) will insert the video's time code into the file name.  If you were to change the prefix to ''Friends-$T-'' while watching a DVD of ''Friends'', then the snapshot filenames would look something like this: Friends-00_05_21-00004.png .  This indicates a snapshot taken at 5 minutes and 21 seconds into the video; and it was the number 00004 snapshot of the day.

For a full list of variables, please see [[Documentation:Play HowTo/Format String]].