Why are screenshots in OSX always a bit blurry?

[thesheep]

I've noticed that using Apple's Grab, or any other screen capture application I've tried, I always end up with slightly blurred text.

It doesn't matter if the capture is saved as TIFF or PNG or other lossless format, or as 100% JPG. Here's an example from Grab. The text doesn't look the same as it does on the screen originally - I've put an example there using Photoshop to show how the text actually looks to me on screen. You can see that the text in the screenshot is blurred.

Is there any way to get around this? Any screen capture software that can get me sharp text?

 

[thegoldenmackid]

Which other ones have you used. If I recall correctly the Grab application only supports something like 72 DPI.

 

[Consultant]

It's called anti-alias.

Guess what, Windows gamers pay MORE for high end videos cards that can do MORE anti-alias.

 

[NC MacGuy]

I never really noticed?

 

[Infrared]

I've noticed that using Apple's Grab, or any other screen capture application I've tried, I always end up with slightly blurred text.

It doesn't matter if the capture is saved as TIFF or PNG or other lossless format, or as 100% JPG. Here's an example from Grab. The text doesn't look the same as it does on the screen originally - I've put an example there using Photoshop to show how the text actually looks to me on screen. You can see that the text in the screenshot is blurred.

Is there any way to get around this? Any screen capture software that can get me sharp text?

In my experience (up to 10.5) this shouldn't happen. What you should
get is exactly what you see on the screen. If you have more details to
share with us, that might help diagnose this. Btw: is it different if the
Window has focus?

 

[Infrared]

It's called anti-alias.

Guess what, Windows gamers pay MORE for high end videos cards that can do MORE anti-alias.

I'm presuming he's getting more anti-aliasing (or what looks like it)
in the screengrab than he sees in the original. If he wasn't, it'd be
a general font-rendering issue, not a screengrab issue.

 

[thesheep]

OK I found out the cause of it, and it's really odd.

Apparently the problem is caused by my using a Wacom graphics tablet.

This thread shows someone else encountering the problem: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1628905

If I don't use the Wacom pen on the tablet to drag the selection for the screenshot, then it's not blurry.

Strange, huh? Anyway, that's the solution.

 

[HBOC]

here is a screenshot of mine i just took.. command shift 4

 

[Ooz]

I am running Snow Leopard on 2009 24" iMac, and have the same issue. My default format is set to png.

I can post some screenshots later today if anyone wants to see!

There has got to be a way to fix this. Apple pandits - please help!!

 

[thesheep]

I am running Snow Leopard on 2009 24" iMac, and have the same issue. My default format is set to png.

I can post some screenshots later today if anyone wants to see!

There has got to be a way to fix this. Apple pandits - please help!!

Ooz - see my comment above! Are you using a Wacom tablet?

 

[Ryder Cragie]

Mine does the same on a 1440p monitor.

 

[arw]

According to Photoshop and Xee, your screenshot dimensions aren't 2560x1440px (72dpi) but 2000x1125px (96dpi).
Which OS are you using? Are you using the stock screen capture tool? Are you using a scaled resolution?
What does it say under "About this Mac > Hardware > Graphic/Displays"?

 

[Ryder Cragie]

I'm using the latest public release of macOS Monterey with the built-in Screenshot app. My monitor is an Acer ED270UP.

 

[arw]

Your new screenshots are sharp, 72dpi and have the ED270UP's color profile embedded.
In the first pictures, did you actually screenshot your external monitor or rather the internal, scaled/mirrored display?

 

[Ryder Cragie]

All the screenshots I've posted here are from the same external 1440p monitor.

 

[arw]

Well, all your latest screenshots are totally fine, so there doesn‘t seem to be anything fundamentally wrong.
Why the fullscreen one got somehow messed up, I have no clue. Maybe beta, maybe accustoming to the multi-monitor setup…

 

[Ryder Cragie]

All of them look blurry to me. Check them from your phone.

 

[arw]

Of course they do, because they are screenshots from a non-HiDPI environment and therefore too low-res for „Retina“ demands (blurred on my iPad as well).
At 100% size they only look good on non-HiDPI screens like your monitor, where you took them (or mine, where I checked them).
There is a reason, the iMac 5K‘s „UI looks like“ 2560x1440 px but it has actually 4 times the pixels for rendering (5120x2880).
A non-HiDPI screenshot/image viewed (at the same perceived size) on a HiDPI (Retina) screen, has to be upscaled which inevitably makes it look blurred.

 

[YanniDepp]

Why are the two of you replying to a thread that is thirteen years old?