How to copy image to clipboard, to paste to another application?

Question

I want to set the clipboard to file abc.jpg, in image format, so I can paste it to gpaint, etc. X11 applications, can I?

I have enabled Screen snapshot feature in Compiz windows manager, and I need to give a command line to copy the snapshot image file to the clipboard.

Answer 1

First, install python, and pygtk

sudo apt-get install python pygtk

Now save the following script somewhere as imgclip.py (see http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3571855/pasting-image-to-clipboard-in-python-in-linux)

#! /usr/bin/python

import pygtk
pygtk.require('2.0')
import gtk
import os
import sys

def copy_image(f):
    assert os.path.exists(f), "file does not exist"
    image = gtk.gdk.pixbuf_new_from_file(f)

    clipboard = gtk.clipboard_get()
    clipboard.set_image(image)
    clipboard.store()


copy_image(sys.argv[1]);

To use it:

python /path/to/imgclip.py filename.png

Note: tested pasting in gimp and xournal. Note: this is for gnome desktop (hence gtk). I bet there's something similar for kde

Answer 2

I'd disable Compiz's screenshot feature, just Head over to System -> Preferences -> Keyboard Shortcuts (under Desktop category) and bind Print Screen to Take a Screenshot

---

Now whenever you hit PrintScreen a sreencapture will be taken with an option to copy to clipboard, or just to save the file.

Answer 3

Check out xclip. It allows you to move text, or files to the clipboard from the command line.

EDIT:

There are command-line screenshot apps discussed in this post: http://www.linux.com/archive/feed/57772 including scrot. This is from the scrot man page:

scrot  is  a  screen capture utility using the imlib2 library to aquire
       and save images.  scrot has a  few  options,  detailed  below.  Specify
       [file]  as  the  filename  to save the screenshot to.

One last option is to find an X app which just takes a screenshot when clicked (no prompts, dialogue boxes etc), assign it to a hotkey combination and use xdotool to simulate that keypress from the command line??