# i3 Screenshot Tool

A collection of scripts for taking screenshots in i3 window manager on Linux (CachyOS), with a focus on the "freeze and select" functionality.

## Features

- **Freeze and Select**: Freeze the screen and then select an area to capture
- **Simple Selection**: Direct area selection without freezing (faster but without the freeze effect)
- **Clipboard Integration**: Automatically copies screenshots to clipboard
- **Notifications**: Desktop notifications when screenshots are taken
- **Timestamp Naming**: Automatically names files with timestamps

## Requirements

These scripts depend on various Linux utilities. Install them using your package manager:

```bash
# For Arch-based distros (including CachyOS)
sudo pacman -S maim slop i3lock feh scrot imagemagick xclip xdotool

# For Debian/Ubuntu-based distros
sudo apt install maim slop i3lock feh scrot imagemagick xclip xdotool
```

## Installation

1. Clone this repository or download the scripts:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/i3-screenshot.git
cd i3-screenshot
```

2. Make the scripts executable:

```bash
chmod +x i3-screenshot.sh i3-screenshot-alt.sh i3-screenshot-simple.sh
```

3. Move the scripts to a directory in your PATH (optional):

```bash
sudo cp i3-screenshot*.sh /usr/local/bin/
```

## Configuration

Add the following lines to your i3 config file (typically `~/.config/i3/config`):

```
# Screenshot with freeze and area selection (main script)
bindsym Print exec --no-startup-id /path/to/i3-screenshot.sh

# Alternative screenshot with freeze and area selection
bindsym Shift+Print exec --no-startup-id /path/to/i3-screenshot-alt.sh

# Simple screenshot with area selection (no freeze)
bindsym Ctrl+Print exec --no-startup-id /path/to/i3-screenshot-simple.sh
```

Replace `/path/to/` with the actual path to the scripts.

## Usage

- Press `Print Screen` to use the main freeze-and-select screenshot tool
- Press `Shift+Print Screen` to use the alternative freeze-and-select tool
- Press `Ctrl+Print Screen` to use the simple area selection tool without freezing

After pressing the key combination:
1. For the freeze scripts: The screen will freeze, and you can select an area with your mouse
2. For the simple script: The screen will dim, and you can select an area with your mouse
3. The screenshot will be saved to `~/Pictures/Screenshots/` with a timestamp
4. The screenshot will also be copied to your clipboard
5. A notification will appear confirming the screenshot was taken

## How It Works

### Main Script (`i3-screenshot.sh`)
Uses `maim` to take a full screenshot, displays it with `i3lock` to freeze the screen, then uses `slop` for area selection and `maim` again to capture just that area.

### Alternative Script (`i3-screenshot-alt.sh`)
Uses `scrot` for the initial screenshot, `feh` to display it fullscreen, `slop` for selection, and `imagemagick` to crop the image.

### Simple Script (`i3-screenshot-simple.sh`)
Uses just `maim` with the `-s` flag for direct area selection without freezing the screen first.

## Customization

You can modify the scripts to change:
- The save location by editing the `SAVE_DIR` variable
- The notification messages
- The file naming convention

## Troubleshooting

- If the scripts don't work, make sure all dependencies are installed
- Check that the scripts have executable permissions
- Verify your i3 config has the correct paths to the scripts
- If using the i3lock method, ensure your system supports i3lock with image display

## License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.