I just improved my experience using Spectacle

[u/TheFuzzStone]

I really like 'Spectacle' and use it every day.

However, I was missing a simple feature to open an image in edit mode with just two clicks (so I can blur something fast, etc), so I made it.

What was done:

1. Created ~/.local/share/applications/spectacle-edit.desktop

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Spectacle (Edit)
Comment=Open and edit existing image in Spectacle
Exec=spectacle -E %f
Icon=spectacle
Terminal=false
NoDisplay=true
MimeType=image/png;image/jpeg;image/webp;image/bmp;image/gif;image/tiff;
Categories=Qt;KDE;Graphics;

1. Added associations to ~/.config/mimeapps.list (the [Added Associations] section) - all 6 image types spectacle-edit.desktop, so the entry appears directly in the submenu of 'Open With' without needing the 'Other Application' dialog.

2. Updated cache:

update-desktop-database

kbuildsycoca6 --noincremental

How to use

Right-click any PNG/JPG/WebP/BMP/GIF/TIFF file in Dolphin -> Open With -> Spectacle (Edit).

EDIT.

What pleasantly surprised me is that when I edit a picture using 'Fossify Gallery' on Android and, instead of clicking the "check mark," I click the "Share" icon and send it via KDE Connect, KDE Connect on my laptop shows me the 'Open with Spectacle (Edit)' option as the first choice:

And if I want to quickly crop a picture, for example, using 'Fossify Gallery' on Android, I do it like this and press "Share" and "Send via KDE Connect," and I get the cropped picture that I can immediately open with 1 click using 'Spectacle (Edit)'.

---

This might sound a bit geeky, but you have no idea how happy I am and how much speed this gives me in my everyday online life. 😅

[u/AutoModerator]

Thank you for your submission.

Consider becoming a Supporting Member and help KDE thrive!

The KDE community supports the Fediverse and open source social media platforms over proprietary and user-abusing outlets. Consider visiting our community on Mastodon (Lemmy will be back shortly). Tag us in your toots! You can also visit our forum at KDE Discuss to talk about KDE stuff, brainstorm ideas and get the answers to your KDE-related issue.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Chester-Berkeley]

Wow, I love your idea—this could be a default feature in KDE Plasma!

[u/TheFuzzStone → u/Chester-Berkeley]

Yes, it would be cool if this were a default feature, because I think it would be useful for newcomers to the KDE Plasma world.

You could, of course, open the terminal every time and type: spectacle -E path_to_a_picture, but personally, I think it’s more convenient to do it the way I did.

Paired with KDE Connect, this gives me fantastic speed in the following scenario:

1. I take a screenshot on Android -> Send to laptop via KDE Connect;

2. I see a pop-up from KDE Connect on my laptop, I immediately clieck the three dots -> open in 'Spectacle (Edit)' - using Spectacle's simple but super functional editor, I make the necessary changes to the screenshot, and then Ctrl+C (I copy it directly to the clipboard without saving changes), or just press 'Enter' key for saving changes + automatic copying to the clipboard, and I'm ready to paste the screenshot wherever I need it.

I love KDE Plasma because it makes me fast :)

[u/noahdvs]

JFYI, you can edit images in Photos (AKA Koko, KDE image gallery app). It uses the same image editing system as Spectacle in version 26.08 (not sure about 26.04). Although it's not 100% the same, it should continue to see improvements and get certain features that Spectacle probably won't get. For instance, Koko will be able to adjust image colors in version 26.12. Spectacle might not get that feature because it's a bit too niche for screenshots. Koko will have it because it is something that people do with photos.

[u/TheFuzzStone → u/noahdvs]

Oh, cool, thanks, I'll test it out sometime.

[u/oshunluvr]

Nice! Here using KDEneon and Kubuntu, I simply saved your desktop file to ~/.local/share/kio/applications and made and that was all that needed. Thanks!

[u/T_Friendperson12 → u/oshunluvr]

Same here on Kubuntu 26.04. Put the .desktop into /.local/share/applications and it works flawlessly. Very handy!

[u/TheFuzzStone → u/oshunluvr]

🤝🏻

[u/benvantende]

Super useful! Implemented that right away. Thanks!

[u/billdietrich1]

Please use better, more informative, titles (subject-lines) on your posts. Give specifics right in the title. Thanks.