Screenshots and Desktop Recording in Cinnamon and GNOME3

[Marios Zindilis]

Greetings.

My desktop system runs Mint 12, with GNOME3, MATE and Cinnamon. My video card is ATI, with the open source drivers installed.

I have come across this issue: When running GNOME3 or Cinnamon, applications that capture the desktop (i.e. Screenshot and GTK-RecordMyDesktop) grab the desktop background image instead of whatever applications are actually open on top of it. This either results in pictures that only show the desktop background, or videos that only show the desktop background (and me talking and teaching and pointing on a terminal that isn't there - which is funny, but not my intent). When switching to MATE, those two tools work as expected.

There are some fairly related search results around, like this discussion for Fedora, or this bug for Ubuntu. I just wanted to ask if other users have the same issues capturing their screen.

Steps to reproduce are: open a terminal window (or Firefox, or other) and hit PrtScn, or take a screenshot from Menu -> Accessories -> Take Screenshot.

[Lumikki]

I have exactly opposite. I don't have that issue with OpenGL source drivers (Gallium 0.4 on AMD JUNIPER ), but I have the same issue with AMD's radeon closed drivers (amd-driver-installer-12-1-x86.x86_64.run).

[hatool]

I have the exact same problem! I was actually looking for help on this whan I cam acreoss your post.

I have sort of a temporary solution that works, but is very annoying.
I downloaded "Shutter" and I saw that it can take the screenshots I want it to, *BUT*, after taking the first screenshot, following screenshots will be actually a copy of the first one, no matter what I try to do. Very starnge...

However, if you exit and relaunch Shutter before taking your next screenshot, it will take the screenshot that you want it to. In other words, it's good for one screenshot at a time...
Hardly a solution, but it's something I can work on in the meantime.

I would love to know if there is something that I can do about this though

[artouk]

I'm struggling with this aswell on fglrx drivers, I can almost get the screenshot I want with shutter but I can't get a screenshot with the cinnamon menu open which is annoying, I've tried everything.

[thomaswbell88]

Does pressing:
Ctrl + Shift + Alt + R
work as the desktop recording bit?

doesn't solve your problems with GFX card but if it works, it might be useful for easy, native Gnome desktop recording!

It drops a webm video in your Home folder of your screen recording, but no sound by default.

[sherbert]

This issue persists. I run dual screen with Linux Mint 13 LTS updated with Cinnamon 2.0.14+Maya.

inxi -g returns:
Graphics: Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Cape Verde PRO [Radeon HD 7750]
X.Org: 1.11.3 driver: fglrx Resolution: 1920x1080@60.0hz, 1280x1024@60.0hz
GLX Renderer: AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series GLX Version: 4.2.11627 - CPC

I want to stick with Mint 13 for its Long Term Support status, although this issue does not appear supported.

[sherbert]

Work around, if not a SOLVED
I have just used Synaptic Package Manager to install AMD's fglrx-amdcccle-updates 2.12.104-0unbunitu0.0.1.
SPM describes this as Catylst Control Centre Linux Edition, which I guess is what the acronym means.
SPM said it would delete fglrx-amdcccle, the latest version of which appears to be 2.8.960-0unbuntu1.1.
I see there are other fglrx-amdcccle versions with 'experimental' in their names. I did not touch these.

RESULT: success. Screenshots of 'select area' are accurately rendered to desktop.

I now have to find the other topic to which I recall I have cross-posted and offer the same information.
Hope it works for you,
SH