[FEATURE] replace Pinta with better screenshot annotation tool

[nhasian]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

While Pinta allows you to edit images, it is not the best tool to edit or markup screenshots.

After taking a screenshot, I would like to be able to annotate or mark it up with features such as:

• arrow mark
• highlight text
• blur a section (blur or pixelate an area)
• add a text
• draw something
• add an incrementing counter number (ie 1., 2., 3., etc)

Describe the solution you'd like

I think Pinta should be replaced with a different markup or annotation tool such as satty.

For example, using grim and satty to annotate a rectangle screen selection:

grim -g "$(slurp -o -c '##ff0000ff')" -t ppm - | satty --early-exit --initial-tool rectangle --copy-command wl-copy --annotation-size-factor 2 --fullscreen --filename -

Describe alternatives you've considered

No response

Additional context

No response

Support or Contribution

• I am willing to contribute or support this feature

[codeRSH]

I would also like to see a replacement and ideally the Screenshot script should immdiately call the editor for annotation as it usually happens. Currently using the --instant-area option only saves the file. I modified the script to also copy to clipboard, but would want to open it in an image editor as well.

[ArekKubinski]

I would also like to see a replacement and ideally the Screenshot script should immdiately call the editor for annotation as it usually happens. Currently using the --instant-area option only saves the file. I modified the script to also copy to clipboard, but would want to open it in an image editor as well.

What you did to copy a file? I tried to modify a command and failed miserably. Copy and save should be the default.

[codeRSH]

My updated script for your reference.

#!/bin/bash
#  ____                               _           _
# / ___|  ___ _ __ ___  ___ _ __  ___| |__   ___ | |_
# \___ \ / __| '__/ _ \/ _ \ '_ \/ __| '_ \ / _ \| __|
#  ___) | (__| | |  __/  __/ | | \__ \ | | | (_) | |_
# |____/ \___|_|  \___|\___|_| |_|___/_| |_|\___/ \__|
#
# Based on https://github.com/hyprwm/contrib/blob/main/grimblast/screenshot.sh
# -----------------------------------------------------

# Screenshots will be stored in $HOME by default.
# The screenshot will be moved into the screenshot directory

# Add this to ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs to save screenshots in a custom folder:
# XDG_SCREENSHOTS_DIR="$HOME/Screenshots"

prompt='Screenshot'
mesg="DIR: ~/Screenshots"

# Screenshot Filename
source ~/.config/ml4w/settings/screenshot-filename.sh

# Screenshot Folder
source ~/.config/ml4w/settings/screenshot-folder.sh

# Screenshot Editor
export GRIMBLAST_EDITOR="$(cat ~/.config/ml4w/settings/screenshot-editor.sh)"

# Example for keybindings
# bind = SUPER, p, exec, grimblast save active
# bind = SUPER SHIFT, p, exec, grimblast save area
# bind = SUPER ALT, p, exec, grimblast save output
# bind = SUPER CTRL, p, exec, grimblast save screen

# Function to copy image to clipboard using wl-copy
copy_to_clipboard() {
  local file="$1"
  if [[ -f "$file" ]]; then
    wl-copy <"$file"
    notify-send -t 1000 "Screenshot copied to clipboard"
  fi
}

# Quick instant mode: full screen
take_instant_full() {
  grim "$NAME" && notify-send -t 1000 "Screenshot saved to $screenshot_folder/$NAME"

  # Copy to clipboard
  copy_to_clipboard "$HOME/$NAME"

  # Move to screenshot folder
  [[ -f "$HOME/$NAME" && -d "$screenshot_folder" && -w "$screenshot_folder" ]] && mv "$HOME/$NAME" "$screenshot_folder/"
}

# Quick instant mode: area selection
take_instant_area() {
  local pid_picker region

  # freeze screen for region selection
  hyprpicker -r -z &
  pid_picker=$!
  trap 'kill "$pid_picker" 2>/dev/null' EXIT
  sleep 0.1

  # user selects region; kill picker on cancel
  region=$(slurp -b "#00000080" -c "#888888ff" -w 1) || exit 0
  [[ -z "$region" ]] && exit 0

  # unfreeze screen
  kill "$pid_picker" 2>/dev/null
  trap - EXIT

  # capture and notify
  grim -g "$region" "$NAME" && notify-send -t 1000 "Screenshot saved to $screenshot_folder/$NAME"

  # Copy to clipboard
  copy_to_clipboard "$HOME/$NAME"

  # Move to screenshot folder
  [[ -f "$HOME/$NAME" && -d "$screenshot_folder" && -w "$screenshot_folder" ]] && mv "$HOME/$NAME" "$screenshot_folder/"
}

# Quick instant mode: full screen with clipboard only (no save)
take_instant_full_clipboard() {
  local temp_file="/tmp/screenshot_$(date +%s).png"
  grim "$temp_file" && wl-copy <"$temp_file" && notify-send -t 1000 "Screenshot copied to clipboard"
  rm -f "$temp_file"
}

# Quick instant mode: area selection with clipboard only (no save)
take_instant_area_clipboard() {
  local pid_picker region temp_file="/tmp/screenshot_$(date +%s).png"

  # freeze screen for region selection
  hyprpicker -r -z &
  pid_picker=$!
  trap 'kill "$pid_picker" 2>/dev/null' EXIT
  sleep 0.1

  # user selects region; kill picker on cancel
  region=$(slurp -b "#00000080" -c "#888888ff" -w 1) || exit 0
  [[ -z "$region" ]] && exit 0

  # unfreeze screen
  kill "$pid_picker" 2>/dev/null
  trap - EXIT

  # capture, copy to clipboard, and clean up
  grim -g "$region" "$temp_file" && wl-copy <"$temp_file" && notify-send -t 1000 "Screenshot copied to clipboard"
  rm -f "$temp_file"
}

# Handle instant flags
if [[ "$1" == "--instant" ]]; then
  take_instant_full
  exit 0
elif [[ "$1" == "--instant-area" ]]; then
  take_instant_area
  exit 0
elif [[ "$1" == "--instant-clipboard" ]]; then
  take_instant_full_clipboard
  exit 0
elif [[ "$1" == "--instant-area-clipboard" ]]; then
  take_instant_area_clipboard
  exit 0
fi

# Options
option_1="Immediate"
option_2="Delayed"

option_capture_1="Capture Everything"
option_capture_2="Capture Active Display"
option_capture_3="Capture Selection"

option_time_1="5s"
option_time_2="10s"
option_time_3="20s"
option_time_4="30s"
option_time_5="60s"
#option_time_4="Custom (in seconds)" # Roadmap or someone contribute :)

list_col='1'
list_row='2'

copy='Copy'
save='Save'
copy_save='Copy & Save'
edit='Edit'

# Rofi CMD
rofi_cmd() {
  rofi -dmenu -replace -config ~/.config/rofi/config-screenshot.rasi -i -no-show-icons -l 2 -width 30 -p "Take screenshot"
}

# Pass variables to rofi dmenu
run_rofi() {
  echo -e "$option_1\n$option_2" | rofi_cmd
}

####
# Choose Timer
# CMD
timer_cmd() {
  rofi -dmenu -replace -config ~/.config/rofi/config-screenshot.rasi -i -no-show-icons -l 5 -width 30 -p "Choose timer"
}

# Ask for confirmation
timer_exit() {
  echo -e "$option_time_1\n$option_time_2\n$option_time_3\n$option_time_4\n$option_time_5" | timer_cmd
}

# Confirm and execute
timer_run() {
  selected_timer="$(timer_exit)"
  if [[ "$selected_timer" == "$option_time_1" ]]; then
    countdown=5
    ${1}
  elif [[ "$selected_timer" == "$option_time_2" ]]; then
    countdown=10
    ${1}
  elif [[ "$selected_timer" == "$option_time_3" ]]; then
    countdown=20
    ${1}
  elif [[ "$selected_timer" == "$option_time_4" ]]; then
    countdown=30
    ${1}
  elif [[ "$selected_timer" == "$option_time_5" ]]; then
    countdown=60
    ${1}
  else
    exit
  fi
}
###

####
# Chose Screenshot Type
# CMD
type_screenshot_cmd() {
  rofi -dmenu -replace -config ~/.config/rofi/config-screenshot.rasi -i -no-show-icons -l 3 -width 30 -p "Type of screenshot"
}

# Ask for confirmation
type_screenshot_exit() {
  echo -e "$option_capture_1\n$option_capture_2\n$option_capture_3" | type_screenshot_cmd
}

# Confirm and execute
type_screenshot_run() {
  selected_type_screenshot="$(type_screenshot_exit)"
  if [[ "$selected_type_screenshot" == "$option_capture_1" ]]; then
    option_type_screenshot=screen
    ${1}
  elif [[ "$selected_type_screenshot" == "$option_capture_2" ]]; then
    option_type_screenshot=output
    ${1}
  elif [[ "$selected_type_screenshot" == "$option_capture_3" ]]; then
    option_type_screenshot=area
    ${1}
  else
    exit
  fi
}
###

####
# Choose to save or copy photo
# CMD
copy_save_editor_cmd() {
  rofi -dmenu -replace -config ~/.config/rofi/config-screenshot.rasi -i -no-show-icons -l 4 -width 30 -p "How to save"
}

# Ask for confirmation
copy_save_editor_exit() {
  echo -e "$copy\n$save\n$copy_save\n$edit" | copy_save_editor_cmd
}

# Confirm and execute
copy_save_editor_run() {
  selected_chosen="$(copy_save_editor_exit)"
  if [[ "$selected_chosen" == "$copy" ]]; then
    option_chosen=copy
    ${1}
  elif [[ "$selected_chosen" == "$save" ]]; then
    option_chosen=save
    ${1}
  elif [[ "$selected_chosen" == "$copy_save" ]]; then
    option_chosen=copysave
    ${1}
  elif [[ "$selected_chosen" == "$edit" ]]; then
    option_chosen=edit
    ${1}
  else
    exit
  fi
}
###

timer() {
  if [[ $countdown -gt 10 ]]; then
    notify-send -t 1000 "Taking screenshot in ${countdown} seconds"
    countdown_less_10=$((countdown - 10))
    sleep $countdown_less_10
    countdown=10
  fi
  while [[ $countdown -ne 0 ]]; do
    notify-send -t 1000 "Taking screenshot in ${countdown} seconds"
    countdown=$((countdown - 1))
    sleep 1
  done
}

# take shots
takescreenshot() {
  sleep 1
  grimblast --notify "$option_chosen" "$option_type_screenshot" $NAME
  if [ -f $HOME/$NAME ]; then
    if [ -d $screenshot_folder ]; then
      mv $HOME/$NAME $screenshot_folder/
    fi
  fi
}

takescreenshot_timer() {
  sleep 1
  timer
  sleep 1
  grimblast --notify "$option_chosen" "$option_type_screenshot" $NAME
  if [ -f $HOME/$NAME ]; then
    if [ -d $screenshot_folder ]; then
      mv $HOME/$NAME $screenshot_folder/
    fi
  fi
}

# Execute Command
run_cmd() {
  if [[ "$1" == '--opt1' ]]; then
    type_screenshot_run
    copy_save_editor_run "takescreenshot"
  elif [[ "$1" == '--opt2' ]]; then
    timer_run
    type_screenshot_run
    copy_save_editor_run "takescreenshot_timer"
  fi
}

# Actions
chosen="$(run_rofi)"
case ${chosen} in
$option_1)
  run_cmd --opt1
  ;;
$option_2)
  run_cmd --opt2
  ;;
esac

[mylinuxforwork]

Thanks. I will test it.