How to take macOS screenshots without drop-shadow

When you take a screenshot of a window on macOS, a drop-shadow is automatically included. This drop-shadow can enhance the visual appeal but may not always be desired. In some cases, a screenshot without the shadow is preferred for a cleaner look or to save space.

Disabling the drop-shadow in screenshots is possible through the Terminal. This feature provides a simple way to toggle the shadow effect on or off depending on your needs. Users can easily switch between these settings to suit different purposes.

This guide explains how to disable and re-enable the drop-shadow in macOS screenshots. The process is quick and can be done directly from the Terminal, giving you more control over your screenshots.

1. Open the Terminal application on your macOS.
2. Enter the command to disable the drop-shadow in screenshots.

   $ defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true

3. Restart the user interface server to apply the changes.

   $ killall SystemUIServer

   Once executed, any new screenshot taken using the window capture mode will not have the drop-shadow effect.

4. Take a screenshot using Command + Shift + 4, followed by the spacebar.
5. To re-enable the drop-shadow, enter the appropriate command in the Terminal.

   $ defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool false

6. Restart the user interface server again to apply the changes.

   $ killall SystemUIServer

   This will bring back the drop-shadow for all new screenshots taken in window capture mode.