Using the following code: [[[[screenCapture representations] objectAtIndex:0] representationUsingType:NSJPEGFileType properties:[NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjectsAndKeys:[NSNumber numberWithFloat:1.0], NSImageCompressionFactor, nil]] writeToFile:[@"~/screen.jpeg" stringByExpandingTildeInPath] atomically:NO]; I get this error: 2000-11-17 17:51:26.088 ScreenServerX[1053] JPEG writer requires compacted components (bits/component * components/pixel = bits/pixel) Any help would be highly appreciated.