osx-screenshot-with-shadowMac OS X provides three different ways to take screenshot: the entire screen, selected area and selected window. If you notice, the screenshot of a window usually have something extra. The shadow around a window is also captured in the result file. Sometimes this is cool and we get nicer image to show people. Some other times, the shadow is completely unnecessary and we would prefer to get a screenshot image without it. How do we remove the shadow?

First, of course we can use image editing software to crop out the shadow.

osx-screenshot-without-shadowOr, we can use a simple trick to save us from the process of image editing using Terminal command.
1. To start, open Terminal from Utilities folder inside Application.
2. Next, type this in Terminal:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true
3. To make sure the change we just did get reloaded by the OS, we need to type one more command:
killall SystemUIServer
4. Close Terminal app.

This method is tested in OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 and works without any problem. As usual, use any guide in this blog at your own risk.

If you ever need to have the shadow back:
1. Open Terminal app.
2. Type this in Terminal:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool false
3. Then type this command:
killall SystemUIServer
4. Close Terminal app.

That’s it. I hope it helps. If you need a guide on how to take screenshots in Mac OS X, read this post.