Question

Well, I’m trying to take a screenshot for a window in OpenGL using LWJGL. Here’s the code:

ByteBuffer pixels = ByteBuffer.allocateDirect(800*600*4);
pixels.order(ByteOrder.nativeOrder());

while(!Display.isCloseRequested()) {
    glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT | GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BIT);  
    render();
    Display.update();

    // "Screenshot" block
    if(Keyboard.isKeyDown(Keyboard.KEY_Q)) {
        pixels.clear();
        glReadPixels(0, 0, 800, 600, GL_RGBA, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, pixels);
        pixels.flip();

        // pixels.position() and pixels.limit() tells us that there is nothing in the buffer
        // ...
    }
}

And…

• I’ve already tried various versions of the code, like placing the “Screenshot” block before Display.update(). And using combinations of glReadBuffer(GL_BACK/GL_FRONT) and glDrawBuffer(GL_BACK/GL_FRONT) to no avail.

• I’ve disabled all OpenGL states and rendering, so that only a blank screen appears and tried using glReadPixels. A blank screen supposes to be in the buffer, but nothing is in the buffer.

• glGetError() doesn’t produce any error.

• I have a similar C+ version that works fine.

• I’m running Windows 7, OpenGL 4.10 and LWJGL version 2.7.1 on NVIDIA Corporation GeForce GTS 450/PCI/SSE2.

So, what’s the problem? Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

pixels.position() and pixels.limit() tells us that there is nothing in the buffer

Do they? I think a more foolproof method would be to look at the contents of the buffer.

Also, Display.update swaps buffers. The contents of the back buffer are undefined after a swap. So you should either read from the front buffer (not a good idea) or read the back buffer before swapping.