How to configure VLC for screenshots

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To optimize VLC Media Player for capturing screenshots, download/install the software from here, and then configure it in the following manner.

Alternatively, there is a 6-minute video tutorial covering these steps. Although it was created for a project called Shot Logger, it can apply to any capturing of screenshots: view it here.

  1. Open VLC's preferences.
    • Select the Tools menu and then Preferences
  2. Select the Video preferences and then scroll down to its Video Snapshots section.
  3. Choose a Directory (aka, a "folder") in which to store your image files. Make sure it's one you can easily find later.
  4. Check the Sequential numbering box.
  5. Change the Prefix to the following in the blank:
    • The name of your Keaton film, followed by
    • The letters qq$Tqq
    • The result of this "prefix" is that your filenames will look something like this:
      • Keaton Film Title qq01_05_11qq00004.jpg
      • Note that the filename contains the timecode for the screenshot, in an HH_MM_SS format: one hour, five minutes and 11 seconds, in this case.
  6. Change the Format from PNG to JPG. (PNG files are MUCH bigger than JPEG ones.)
    • When you're finished setting preferences, the Video snapshots blanks should look like the image below.
  7. Scroll down in preferences and be sure to click the SAVE button.
  8. While watching a video, you can press shortcut keys to quickly capture a screenshot to the directory/folder you set in the preferences.
    • Windows: SHIFT + S
    • Mac: CMD + ALT + S
VLC Video Snapshot Configuration 2.jpg