---
name: "vidcat"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "w3cam"
version: "0.7.2-6.3"
release: "Debian 12 (Bookworm)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/vidcat"
---

# vidcat(1)

capture a frame from a video4linux device

## NAME

vidcat - capture a frame from a video4linux device

## SYNOPSIS

**vidcat \[-h?blgV\] \[-d** *\<device\>***\] \[-f** *jpeg\|ppm\|png***\] \[-i** *tv\|comp1\|com1\|s-video***\] \[-n** *pal\|ntsc\|secam***\] \[-q** *\<1..100\>***\] \[-s** *WIDTHxHEIGHT***\] \[-o** *\<file\>***\]**

## DESCRIPTION

*vidcat* captures a frame from a video4linux device and writes the result to the standard output device. With the following options you can define output format, size etc..

## OPTIONS

- \-d device

  Use an alternate v4l device, '/dev/video' is the default device.

- \-b

  This applies only to PPM output. With this option the PPM ouput is written in binary mode.

- \-f ppm\|jpeg\|png\|yuv4mpeg

  Define the file format to use for the output stream. The default is "jpeg".

- \-g

  Use greyscale instead of RGB24 for the output data.

- \-i tv\|comp1\|comp2\|s-video

  Set the input channel to use. The default value is none, which means the preset of the device is used.

- \-l

  Loops until CTRL+C is pressed. This is the default for the YUV4MPEG output.

- \-n pal\|ntsc\|secam

  Select the input norm for the grabbing device. The default value is none.

- \-o file

  Use the named file for output instead of standard out.

- \-p c\|g\|y\|Y

  Set the palette to use: c = RGB24, g=GREY, y=YUV420P, Y=YUV422P.

- \-q 1..100

  Set the quality for JPEG output. The value could be a number between 1 and 100. The default value is 80.

- \-s WIDTHxHEIGHT

  Define the size of the output frame in pixels. The default setting is 320x240.

- \-V

  Show version number and exit.

## AUTHOR

Rasca\
 http://home.pages.de/~rasca/\
 VIDCAT is published under the GNU General Public License