Flameshot Screenshot App Receives Major Update After Nearly 3 Years
Flameshot, the popular Qt-based screenshot tool, has rolled out its first major update in almost three years, introducing a host of enhancements alongside a complete port to Qt6. Known for its user-friendly interface and robust annotation tools, Flameshot is compatible with most Linux distributions and desktop environments.
The previous major release, Flameshot 12.x, was launched in July 2022. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new in Flameshot 13.0:
Privacy Improvements
One of the critical focuses in this update is enhancing privacy features. The Imgur uploader has been disabled due to concerns over accidentally uploading sensitive information. The developers mentioned the risks inherent in having this feature enabled by default.
Additionally, the redaction tool has been updated with a more secure pixelation method, ensuring better protection for sensitive data.
New Features and Usability Enhancements
Flameshot 13.0 introduces several new features and usability improvements:
- Screenshot dimensions are now displayed in the capture area.
- Pinned images now support rotation and transparency effects.
- Users can set different default sizes for text, circle counters, and other tools.
- Arrows can be drawn in a reverse manner (tip to tail).
- A new optional grid overlay assists with annotation snapping.
- Users can resize symmetrically while holding the Shift key and preserve aspect ratios with the Ctrl key.
- A new keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + Backspace) cancels selections.
- An "Open Save Path" action has been added to the tray menu.
Wayland users will benefit from correctly scaled screenshot previews when using fractional scaling. The utility has also been improved to work with various Wayland compositors, including COSMIC desktop and wlroots tiling managers like Hyprland.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Flameshot continues to support Windows and macOS. The latest update brings dark mode support and WebP saving for Windows users, as well as command-line interactivity. For macOS, native Apple Silicon builds are now available, eliminating the need for Rosetta, along with improvements like JPEG clipboard sharing.
Installation
Flameshot 13.0 is free, open-source software. Official installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux are available for download from the Flameshot Releases page on GitHub. Additionally, the Flameshot Flathub listing is now verified, which allows it to be accessed through the Software Manager app on Linux Mint.
Overall, Flameshot 13.0 marks a significant update, enhancing both functionality and user privacy.