# Source: rpicam_options_still.adoc

*Note: This file could not be automatically converted from AsciiDoc.*

=== Image options

The command line options specified in this section apply only to still image output.

To pass one of the following options to an application, prefix the option name with `--`. If the option requires a value, pass the value immediately after the option name, separated by a single space. If the value contains a space, surround the value in quotes.

Some options have shorthand aliases, for example `-h` instead of `--help`. Use these shorthand aliases instead of the full option name to save space and time at the expense of readability.

==== `quality`

Alias: `-q`

Default value: `93`

Sets the JPEG quality. Accepts a value between `1` and `100`.

==== `exif`

Saves extra EXIF tags in the JPEG output file. Only applies to JPEG output. Because of limitations in the `libexif` library, many tags are currently (incorrectly) formatted as ASCII and print a warning in the terminal.

This option is necessary to add certain EXIF tags related to camera settings. You can add tags unrelated to camera settings to the output JPEG after recording with https://exiftool.org/[ExifTool].

Example: `rpicam-still -o test.jpg --exif IDO0.Artist=Someone`

==== `timelapse`

Records images at the specified interval. Accepts an interval in milliseconds. Combine this setting with xref:camera_software.adoc#timeout[`timeout`] to capture repeated images over time.

You can specify separate filenames for each output file using string formatting, e.g. `--output test%d.jpg`.

Example: `rpicam-still -t 100000 -o test%d.jpg --timelapse 10000` captures an image every 10 seconds for 100 seconds.

==== `framestart`

Configures a starting value for the frame counter accessed in output file names as `%d`. Accepts an integer starting value.

==== `datetime`

Uses the current date and time in the output file name, in the form `MMDDhhmmss.jpg`:

* `MM` = 2-digit month number
* `DD` = 2-digit day number
* `hh` = 2-digit 24-hour hour number
* `mm` = 2-digit minute number
* `ss` = 2-digit second number

Does not accept a value.

==== `timestamp`

Uses the current system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_time[Unix time] as the output file name. Does not accept a value.

==== `restart`

Default value: `0`

Configures the restart marker interval for JPEG output. JPEG restart markers can help limit the impact of corruption on JPEG images, and additionally enable the use of multi-threaded JPEG encoding and decoding. Accepts an integer value.

==== `immediate`

Captures the image immediately when the application runs.

==== `keypress`

Alias: `-k`

Captures an image when the xref:camera_software.adoc#timeout[`timeout`] expires or on press of the *Enter* key, whichever comes first. Press the `x` key, then *Enter* to exit without capturing. Does not accept a value.

==== `signal`

Captures an image when the xref:camera_software.adoc#timeout[`timeout`] expires or when `SIGUSR1` is received. Use `SIGUSR2` to exit without capturing. Does not accept a value.

==== `thumb`

Default value: `320:240:70`

Configure the dimensions and quality of the thumbnail with the following format: `<w:h:q>` (or `none`, which omits the thumbnail).

==== `encoding`

Alias: `-e`

Default value: `jpg`

Sets the encoder to use for image output. Accepts the following values:

* `jpg` - JPEG
* `png` - PNG
* `bmp` - BMP
* `rgb` - binary dump of uncompressed RGB pixels
* `yuv420` - binary dump of uncompressed YUV420 pixels

This option always determines the encoding, overriding the extension passed to xref:camera_software.adoc#output[`output`].

When using the xref:camera_software.adoc#datetime[`datetime`] and xref:camera_software.adoc#timestamp[`timestamp`] options, this option determines the output file extension.

==== `raw`

Alias: `-r`

Saves a raw Bayer file in DNG format in addition to the output image. Replaces the output file name extension with `.dng`. You can process these standard DNG files with tools like _dcraw_ or _RawTherapee_. Does not accept a value.

The image data in the raw file is exactly what came out of the sensor, with no processing from the ISP or anything else. The EXIF data saved in the file, among other things, includes:

* exposure time
* analogue gain (the ISO tag is 100 times the analogue gain used)
* white balance gains (which are the reciprocals of the "as shot neutral" values)
* the colour matrix used by the ISP

==== `latest`

Creates a symbolic link to the most recently saved file. Accepts a symbolic link name as input.

==== `autofocus-on-capture`

If set, runs an autofocus cycle _just before_ capturing an image. Interacts with the following xref:camera_software.adoc#autofocus-mode[`autofocus_mode`] values:

* `default` or `manual`: only runs the capture-time autofocus cycle.

* `auto`: runs an additional autofocus cycle when the preview window loads.

* `continuous`: ignores this option, instead continually focusing throughout the preview.

Does not require a value, but you can pass `1` to enable and `0` to disable. Not passing a value is equivalent to passing `1`.

Only supported by some camera modules (such as the _Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3_).