# Saving CircuitPython Bitmaps and Screenshots
## Overview
Working with graphics in CircuitPython is a joy. CircuitPython has support for a plethora of screen types and a rich set of functions to perform graphics operations.
When working on a device that has a screen, it can be useful to programmatically take a snapshot what's on the screen and save it into a file for examination or use later. This could be for various reasons including capturing graphics for use at another time and/or system, debugging the code that is putting pixels on the screen, or use in documentation. It can also be useful to be able to save the contents of a bitmap, for example in [PyPaint](https://learn.adafruit.com/pypaint).
This guide introduces a CircuitPython library which is compatible with CircuitPython 5.0 and later. The library allows the programmer to take the pixels in a bitmap or on a screen and save them into standard 24 bits per pixel BMP files. Files may be on the CircuitPython USB flash filesystem (if it's set to writable mode) or onto a SD card.
## Related Products
### Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display
[Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116)
**PyPortal** , our easy-to-use IoT device that allows you to create all the things for the “Internet of Things” in minutes. Make custom touch screen interface GUIs, all open-source, and Python-powered using tinyJSON / APIs to get news, stock, weather, cat photos,...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4116/guides)
### Adafruit PyGamer for MakeCode Arcade, CircuitPython or Arduino
[Adafruit PyGamer for MakeCode Arcade, CircuitPython or Arduino](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4242)
What fits in your pocket, is fully Open Source, and can run CircuitPython, MakeCode Arcade or Arduino games you write yourself? That's right, it's the **Adafruit PyGamer!** We wanted to make an entry-level gaming handheld for DIY gaming, and maybe a little...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4242)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4242/guides)
### Adafruit PyBadge for MakeCode Arcade, CircuitPython, or Arduino
[Adafruit PyBadge for MakeCode Arcade, CircuitPython, or Arduino](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4200)
What's the size of a credit card and can run CircuitPython, MakeCode Arcade or Arduino? That's right, its the **Adafruit PyBadge!** We wanted to see how much we could cram into a 3 3⁄8 × 2 1⁄8 inch rounded rectangle, to make an all-in-one dev board with...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4200)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4200/guides)
### Adafruit PyBadge LC - MakeCode Arcade, CircuitPython, or Arduino
[Adafruit PyBadge LC - MakeCode Arcade, CircuitPython, or Arduino](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3939)
What's the size of a credit card and can run CircuitPython, MakeCode Arcade or Arduino even when you're on a budget? That's right, it's the **Adafruit PyBadge LC!** We wanted to see how much we could cram into a 3 3⁄8 × 2 1⁄8 inch...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3939)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3939/guides)
### SD/MicroSD Memory Card (8 GB SDHC)
[SD/MicroSD Memory Card (8 GB SDHC)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1294)
Add mega-storage in a jiffy using this 8 GB class 4 micro-SD card. It comes with a SD adapter so you can use it with any of our shields or adapters. Preformatted to FAT so it works out of the box with our projects. Tested and works great with our
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1294)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1294/guides)
- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/saving-bitmap-screenshots-in-circuitpython/setup.md)
## Featured Products
### Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display
[Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116)
**PyPortal** , our easy-to-use IoT device that allows you to create all the things for the “Internet of Things” in minutes. Make custom touch screen interface GUIs, all open-source, and Python-powered using tinyJSON / APIs to get news, stock, weather, cat photos,...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4116/guides)
### PyPortal Starter Kit
[PyPortal Starter Kit](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4303)
# Copy change
Why not trick out your fresh new board with some accessories? The Pi 2 is a big deal - a big, big deal. It has an upgraded ARMv7 multicore procssor and a full Gigabyte of RAM - meaning you're going to see ~2x the performance on processor-upgrade...
No Longer Stocked
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4303)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4303/guides)
### Adafruit PyGamer for MakeCode Arcade, CircuitPython or Arduino
[Adafruit PyGamer for MakeCode Arcade, CircuitPython or Arduino](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4242)
What fits in your pocket, is fully Open Source, and can run CircuitPython, MakeCode Arcade or Arduino games you write yourself? That's right, it's the **Adafruit PyGamer!** We wanted to make an entry-level gaming handheld for DIY gaming, and maybe a little...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4242)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4242/guides)
### Adafruit PyGamer Starter Kit
[Adafruit PyGamer Starter Kit](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4277)
**Please note: you may get a royal blue _or_ purple case with your starter kit (they're both lovely colors)**
What fits in your pocket, is fully Open Source, and can run CircuitPython, MakeCode Arcade or Arduino games you write yourself? That's right,...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4277)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4277/guides)
### Adafruit PyBadge for MakeCode Arcade, CircuitPython, or Arduino
[Adafruit PyBadge for MakeCode Arcade, CircuitPython, or Arduino](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4200)
What's the size of a credit card and can run CircuitPython, MakeCode Arcade or Arduino? That's right, its the **Adafruit PyBadge!** We wanted to see how much we could cram into a 3 3⁄8 × 2 1⁄8 inch rounded rectangle, to make an all-in-one dev board with...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4200)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4200/guides)
### Adafruit PyBadge LC - MakeCode Arcade, CircuitPython, or Arduino
[Adafruit PyBadge LC - MakeCode Arcade, CircuitPython, or Arduino](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3939)
What's the size of a credit card and can run CircuitPython, MakeCode Arcade or Arduino even when you're on a budget? That's right, it's the **Adafruit PyBadge LC!** We wanted to see how much we could cram into a 3 3⁄8 × 2 1⁄8 inch...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3939)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3939/guides)
### SD/MicroSD Memory Card (8 GB SDHC)
[SD/MicroSD Memory Card (8 GB SDHC)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1294)
Add mega-storage in a jiffy using this 8 GB class 4 micro-SD card. It comes with a SD adapter so you can use it with any of our shields or adapters. Preformatted to FAT so it works out of the box with our projects. Tested and works great with our
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1294)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1294/guides)
### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B
[USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller
Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides)
## Related Guides
- [Adafruit PyPortal - IoT for CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pyportal.md)
- [Adafruit PyBadge and PyBadge LC](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pybadge.md)
- [Introducing Adafruit PyGamer](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pygamer.md)
- [PyPortal Quarantine Clock](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-quarantine-clock.md)
- [PyPortal Word of the Day Display](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-word-of-the-day-display.md)
- [PyBadger Event Badge](https://learn.adafruit.com/pybadger-event-badge.md)
- [Re-MakeCode the Classics: Arkanoid](https://learn.adafruit.com/re-makecode-the-classics-arkanoid.md)
- [PyPortal Oblique Strategies](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-oblique-strategies.md)
- [Trash Panda: The Game](https://learn.adafruit.com/trash-panda-the-game.md)
- [PyPortal IoT Weather Station](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-iot-weather-station.md)
- [PyPortal Astronauts in Space](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-astronauts-in-space.md)
- [PyPortal Twitter Follows Trophy](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-twitter-follows-trophy.md)
- [MQTT in CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/mqtt-in-circuitpython.md)
- [PyPaint Drawing Program In CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/pypaint.md)
- [Playing Gamebuino META Games on Arcada](https://learn.adafruit.com/playing-gamebuino-meta-games-on-arcada.md)
- [Next Level MakeCode Arcade Games](https://learn.adafruit.com/next-level-makecode-arcade-games.md)
- [JOY of Arcada — USB Game Pad for Adafruit PyGamer and PyBadge](https://learn.adafruit.com/joy-of-arcada-usb-game-pad-for-adafruit-pygamer-pybadge.md)
- [MagTag Lists From Google Spreadsheets](https://learn.adafruit.com/collaborative-spreadsheets-to-magtag.md)