Screens, windows, and custom areas

Auto Capture records one fixed source per session: a display, an app window, or a custom area. This page covers each source, the custom area presets, and the Action Capture targets.

Capture the active window with Action Capture

Action Capture uses its own target list: Active Window, Full Screen, Specific Window and Capture Area. Active Window follows whichever window received each accepted click, so it suits tasks that move between apps. It needs no thumbnail selection. Keep unrelated or private windows out of the task while it runs.

See Action Capture for the full setup.

Auto Capture has no Active Window option. For a timed run, choose one fixed source: a display from Screens, a window from Windows, or Custom Area.

Which source to use

Source	Use it when
Screens	The result should show a whole display, including the menu bar and every visible app
Windows	Only one app window matters, even if other windows move in front of it
Custom Area	Only a fixed region matters, or the output needs a set size or aspect ratio

The source stays fixed for the whole session unless the display configuration changes.

Capture a screen

1. Open the picker

   On Auto Capture, select the source button below the capture options.

2. Choose the display

   Open the Screens tab and select the thumbnail of the display.

3. Start

   Select Start Capture.

Capture a window

1. Open the Windows tab

   Open the source picker and select Windows.

2. Choose the window

   Select the thumbnail of the app window.

3. Start

   Select Start Capture. Temposhot brings the window to the front before the first frame.

Bringing the window forward requires Accessibility permission. If macOS blocks it, Temposhot asks you to click the target window, then continues.

Capture a custom area

Select Custom Area on the Auto Capture setup screen. The picker opens with the saved area, or with a centered 16:9 rectangle if no area is saved.

1. Set the region

   Keep the current rectangle, or press Escape once to clear it and drag a new one.

2. Move and resize

   Drag inside the rectangle to move it. Drag an edge or corner handle to resize it.

3. Fix the size if needed

   Choose an aspect ratio or device preset. Turn on Lock aspect to keep the current proportions while resizing.

4. Start

   Select Start Auto Capture in the overlay.

The overlay shows the width, height and screen position of the rectangle. Escape resets the rectangle; a second Escape closes the picker.

Preset	Base size
16:9	1600 × 900
9:16	900 × 1600
4:3	1200 × 900
1:1	1000 × 1000
3:2	1500 × 1000
iPhone 17 Pro	402 × 874
iPhone 17 Pro Max	440 × 956
Galaxy S25	360 × 780
Pixel 9	360 × 808

If a preset does not fit on the display, Temposhot scales it down and keeps its aspect ratio.

Handle a display change

Connecting or disconnecting a display, or changing the arrangement, can make the selected source unavailable. For a whole-display capture, Temposhot switches to another available display when it can do so safely. For a custom area or a missing source, Display Configuration Changed opens. Pick a display and select Continue with Selected Display, or select Stop Capture and start a new session.

Next: Stop conditions, intervals, and keypresses.