# Save to file

Export your screenshot to an image file, or save it as an editable project.

## Save vs. export

| Shortcut | Menu | What it does |
|----------|------|--------------|
| **Cmd/Ctrl+S** | File → Save | Saves the capture as an editable `.hypercapture` project (captures live in your save directory — Settings → General → Save directory) |
| **Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+S** | File → Save As… | Saves the project to a new `.hypercapture` file you name |
| **Cmd/Ctrl+E** | File → Export Image… | Exports a flat image file |

## Export an image

Press **Cmd/Ctrl+E** (or click **Export** in the export pane) to choose:
- File location
- File name
- Format

The export uses the scale selected in the export pane.

## hypershot capture format (.hypercapture)

When you save your work in hypershot, the native `.hypercapture` format preserves your full editing session — including all annotations, layers, and the original screenshot — so you can reopen and continue editing later.

`.hypercapture` files are single files (ZIP archives internally) that appear with a custom icon in Finder and Explorer. They also include an embedded thumbnail, so you get a visual preview without opening hypershot:

- **macOS** — Finder shows a Quick Look thumbnail preview of your capture, once the [Quick Look extension](/docs/hypershot/getting-started/quicklook) is enabled
- **Windows** — Explorer shows a thumbnail preview in icon, medium, and large icon views

Double-click any `.hypercapture` file to open it directly in hypershot.

> **Tip**
> Use `.hypercapture` when you want to save work-in-progress and come back to it later. Use image formats (PNG, JPEG, etc.) when you're ready to share the final result.

## Image formats

hypershot exports PNG and JPEG, plus WebP, HEIC, TIFF and BMP where your platform's image libraries support them. There's no GIF or video export.

| Format | Best For |
|--------|----------|
| **PNG** | Screenshots with text, UI, transparency |
| **JPEG** | Photos, complex images (smaller files) |
| **WebP** | Modern web usage (good quality, small files) |
| **HEIC** | Apple ecosystem, excellent compression (macOS) |
| **TIFF** | Print, archival, lossless |
| **BMP** | Older apps that need an uncompressed bitmap |

> **Note — OS-dependent formats**
> The export dialog lists only the formats your platform's imaging libraries can write. PNG and JPEG are always available; HEIC is a macOS format.

### Format details

**PNG**
- Lossless quality
- Supports transparency
- Larger file size
- Best for: UI screenshots, documentation

**JPEG**
- Smaller file size
- Quality setting (1–100)
- No transparency
- Best for: Photos, social media

**WebP**
- Good compression
- Supports transparency
- Best for: Web, when size matters

**HEIC**
- Excellent compression at high quality
- Supports transparency
- Available on macOS natively
- Best for: Apple workflows, storage-conscious exports

## Export scale

| Scale | Use Case |
|-------|----------|
| 25% | Thumbnails |
| 50% | Quick previews |
| 100% | Standard export |
| 200% | High-DPI / Retina displays |

## Quality setting (JPEG/WebP)

Set in **Settings → Captures → Export/copy compression quality** (default 90).

- **90-100** — High quality, larger files
- **70-89** — Good balance
- **Below 70** — Smaller files, visible compression

## Default save location

Change in Settings → General → Save directory

Default: `Pictures/hypershot/` (or `Pictures\hypershot\` on Windows)

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## Opening .hypercapture files

Open a `.hypercapture` from the tray's **Open…** menu, Finder, or Explorer.
If the file can't be loaded — it's corrupted or not a valid capture —
hypershot shows an error prompt explaining what happened instead of failing
silently. Where recovery is possible, it tries to load what it can.

You can open `.hypercapture` files in several ways:

- **Double-click** the file in Finder or Explorer
- **File → Open** from within hypershot

When opened, your full editing session is restored — all annotations, tool settings, and layers are exactly as you left them.

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*See also: [Copy to Clipboard](/docs/hypershot/exporting/copy-to-clipboard ) | [Share](/docs/hypershot/exporting/share )*

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From https://hypernuclear.com/docs/hypershot/exporting/save-to-file/