Shottr – screenshot app for pixel professionals

What it is

Shottr is a lightweight, native screenshot application for macOS, designed for professionals and enthusiasts who require precision and efficiency. Its primary user base includes designers, front-end engineers, mobile developers, and anyone who works with detailed on-screen elements and pixels. The app focuses on fast capture, comprehensive annotation, and utility tools.

Main Features

Capture & Editing

• Area, Window, and Fullscreen Capture: Standard screenshot modes for different needs.
• Scrolling Screenshots: Captures long web pages or chat conversations from any application window.
• Image Resizing: Resize screenshots directly within the app.
• Combine Screenshots: Merge multiple captures onto a single canvas.

Annotation & Markup

• Drawing Tools: Add freehand drawings, arrows, text labels, highlights, and spotlights.
• Object Manipulation: Pixelate, blur, or completely erase sensitive information from screenshots. A text-only mode targets text without affecting other elements.
• Image Overlay: Paste images on top of screenshots, with transparency controls for creating before/after comparisons or GIFs.
• Step Counter & Ruler: Annotate with a step counter tool or use the screen ruler to measure objects (horizontal/vertical).

Utility & Productivity

• Text Recognition (OCR): Instantly recognizes and copies text from any selected screen area. Also decodes QR codes.
• Color Picker: Copies the color value of any pixel on screen.
• Screen Magnifier: Functions as a digital magnifying glass to zoom in on pixels.
• Pin Screenshots: Pin images as floating, always-on-top windows for reference or temporary storage.
• Dedicated Save Folder: Organize screenshots by saving them to a designated folder to avoid desktop clutter.

How it works

Capturing and Annotating a Design

A user captures a specific area of their screen using a global hotkey. The screenshot instantly opens in Shottr's editor. They then use the annotation tools to add arrows, highlight UI elements, and blur sensitive data. Finally, they save the annotated image to a dedicated folder or copy it to their clipboard to paste into a design tool or communication app.

Extracting Text from an Image

A user encounters unselectable text on screen. They press a hotkey, select the area containing the text, and Shottr's OCR feature automatically parses the text and copies it to the clipboard, ready to be pasted elsewhere.

Creating a Scrolling Capture

A user needs to document an entire lengthy webpage. They activate the scrolling screenshot feature, and Shottr automatically scrolls and stitches the content into a single, long image for sharing or reference.

Key Points

• Performance Optimized: The application is exceptionally lightweight (2.0 MB download) and built for Apple Silicon, enabling extremely fast capture times (as low as 17ms).
• Freemium Model: The core application is free to use indefinitely, with occasional prompts to purchase. A license removes nags and unlocks certain advanced features like cloud upload.
• Privacy-Conscious: Telemetry collection for bug fixes and performance measurement is optional and does not include personal or identifiable information.
• Keyboard-Centric: Heavily relies on keyboard shortcuts for efficient workflow, with extensive customization available for power users.

Additional Details

• Pricing: Operates on a pay what you want model. Users can name their price, including $0, to obtain the application.
• System Requirements: Requires macOS Catalina (10.15) or later.
• License Activation: Requires an internet connection for one-time license validation.
• Integration: Supports URL schemes, a Raycast extension, and an Alfred workflow for deeper system integration.
• Updates: The app includes auto-update functionality and checks for new versions online.