diff --git a/lib/awful/init.lua b/lib/awful/init.lua
index d7ebbf817..9a5cc3532 100644
--- a/lib/awful/init.lua
+++ b/lib/awful/init.lua
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ local ret = {
     rules = require("awful.rules");
     popup = require("awful.popup");
     spawn = require("awful.spawn");
+    screenshot = require("awful.screenshot");
 }
 
 -- Lazy load deprecated modules to reduce the numbers of loop dependencies.
diff --git a/lib/awful/screenshot.lua b/lib/awful/screenshot.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ef735cf00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/awful/screenshot.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,488 @@
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+--- Screenshots and related configuration settings
+--
+-- @author Brian Sobulefsky <brian.sobulefsky@protonmail.com>
+-- @copyright 2021 Brian Sobulefsky
+-- @inputmodule awful.screenshot
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+-- Grab environment we need
+local capi = { root = root,
+               screen = screen,
+               client = client,
+               mousegrabber = mousegrabber }
+local aw_screen = require("awful.screen")
+local gears = require("gears")
+local beautiful = require("beautiful")
+local wibox = require("wibox")
+local cairo = require("lgi").cairo
+
+local frame = nil 
+local frame_color = gears.color("#000000")
+
+local screenshot = { mt = {} }
+
+-- Configuration data
+local ss_dir = nil
+local ss_prfx = nil
+local initialized = nil
+
+-- Parameters for the mousegrabber for the snipper tool
+local mg_dir = nil
+local mg_prfx = nil
+local mg_first_pnt = {}
+local mg_onsuccess_cb = nil
+
+-- Routine to get the default screenshot directory
+-- 
+-- Can be expanded to read X environment variables or configuration files.
+local function get_default_dir()
+  -- This can be expanded
+  local d = os.getenv("HOME")
+  
+  if d then
+    d = string.gsub(d, '/$', '') .. '/Images'
+    if os.execute("bash -c \"if [ -d \\\"" .. d .. "\\\" -a -w \\\"" .. d ..
+                    "\\\" ] ; then exit 0 ; else exit 1 ; fi ;\"") then
+      return d .. '/'
+    end
+  end
+
+  return nil
+end
+
+-- Routine to get the default filename prefix
+local function get_default_prefix()
+  return "Screenshot-"
+end
+
+-- Routine to check a directory string for existence and writability
+local function check_directory(directory)
+  if directory and type(directory) == "string"  then
+
+    -- By putting everything in dquotes, we should only need to escape
+    -- dquotes and dollar signs. Exclamation must be escaped outside the quote.
+    directory = string.gsub(directory, '"', '\\\\\\"')
+    directory = string.gsub(directory, '%$', '\\$')
+    directory = string.gsub(directory, '!', '"\\!"')
+    -- Assure that we return exactly one trailing slash
+    directory = string.gsub(directory, '/+$', '')
+
+    if os.execute("bash -c \"if [ -d \\\"" .. directory .. "\\\" -a -w \\\"" ..
+               directory ..  "\\\" ] ; then exit 0 ; else exit 1 ; fi ;\"") then
+      return directory .. '/'
+    else
+      -- Currently returns nil if the requested directory string cannot be used.
+      -- This can be swapped to a silent fallback to the default directory if
+      -- desired. It is debatable which way is better.
+      return nil
+    end
+
+  else
+    -- No directory argument means use the default. Technically an outrageously
+    -- invalid argument (i.e. not even a string) currently falls back to the
+    -- default as well.
+    return get_default_dir()
+  end
+end
+
+-- Routine to sanitize a prefix string
+--
+-- Currently only strips all path separators ('/') and assures non empty,
+-- although we may consider dropping the nonempty requirement (allow for
+-- screenshots to  be named 'date_time.png')
+local function check_prefix(prefix)
+  -- Maybe add more sanitizing eventually
+  if prefix and type(prefix) == "string" then
+    prefix = string.gsub(prefix, '/', '')
+    if string.len(prefix) ~= 0 then
+      return prefix
+    end
+  end
+  return get_default_prefix()
+end
+
+-- Routine to initialize the screenshot object
+--
+-- Currently only sets the screenshot directory, the filename, prefix and the
+-- snipper tool outline color. More initialization can be added as the API
+-- expands.
+function screenshot.init(directory, prefix, color)
+  local tmp
+
+  tmp = check_directory(directory)
+
+  if tmp then
+    ss_dir = tmp
+  else
+    initialized = nil
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  tmp = check_prefix(prefix)
+
+  if tmp then
+    ss_prfx = tmp
+  else
+    -- Should be unreachable as the default will always be taken
+    initialized = nil
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  -- Don't throw out prior init data if only color is misformed
+  initialized = true
+
+  if color then
+    tmp = gears.color(color)
+    if tmp then
+      frame_color = tmp
+    end
+  end
+
+  return true
+end
+
+-- Routine to configure the directory/prefix pair for any call to the
+-- screenshot API.
+--
+-- This supports using a different directory or filename prefix for a particular
+-- use by passing the optional arguments. In the case of an initalized object
+-- with  no arguments passed, the stored configuration parameters are quickly
+-- returned. This also technically allows the user to take a screenshot in an
+-- unitialized state and without passing any arguments.
+local function configure_call(directory, prefix)
+
+  local d, p
+
+  if not initialized or directory then
+    d = check_directory(directory)
+    if not d then
+      return
+    end
+  else
+    d = ss_dir
+  end
+
+
+  if not initialized or prefix then
+    p = check_prefix(prefix)
+    if not p then 
+      return
+    end
+  else
+    p = ss_prfx
+  end
+
+  -- In the case of taking a screenshot in an unitialized state, store the
+  -- configuration parameters and toggle to initialized going forward.
+  if not initialized then
+    ss_dir = d
+    ss_prfx = p
+    initilialized = true
+  end
+  
+  return d, p
+
+end
+
+-- Internal routine to do the actual work of taking a cropped screenshot
+--
+-- This function does not do any data checking. Public functions should do
+-- all data checking. This function was made to combine the interactive sipper
+-- run by the mousegrabber and the programmatically defined snip function,
+-- though there may be other uses.
+local function crop_shot(x, y, width, height)
+  local source, target, cr
+
+  source = gears.surface(root.content())
+  target = source:create_similar(cairo.Content.COLOR,
+                         width, height)
+
+  cr = cairo.Context(target)
+  cr:set_source_surface(source, -x, -y)
+  cr:rectangle(0, 0, width, height)
+  cr:fill()
+
+  return target
+end
+
+-- Routine used by the snipper mousegrabber to update the frame outline of the
+-- current state of the cropped screenshot
+--
+-- This function is largely a copy of awful.mouse.snap.show_placeholder(geo),
+-- so it is probably a good idea to create a utility routine to handle both use
+-- cases. It did not seem appropriate to make that change as a part of the pull
+-- request that was creating the screenshot API, as it would clutter and
+-- confuse the change.
+local function show_frame(geo)
+
+  if not geo then
+      if frame then
+          frame.visible = false
+      end
+      return
+  end
+
+  frame = frame or wibox {
+      ontop = true,
+      bg    = frame_color
+  }
+
+  frame:geometry(geo)
+
+  -- Perhaps the preexisting image of frame can be reused? I tried but could
+  -- not get it to work. I am not sure if there is a performance penalty
+  -- incurred by making a new Cairo ImageSurface each execution.
+  local img = cairo.ImageSurface(cairo.Format.A1, geo.width, geo.height)
+  local cr = cairo.Context(img)
+
+  cr:set_operator(cairo.Operator.CLEAR)
+  cr:set_source_rgba(0,0,0,1)
+  cr:paint()
+  cr:set_operator(cairo.Operator.SOURCE)
+  cr:set_source_rgba(1,1,1,1)
+
+  local line_width = 1
+  cr:set_line_width(beautiful.xresources.apply_dpi(line_width))
+
+  cr:translate(line_width,line_width)
+  gears.shape.partially_rounded_rect(cr,geo.width-2*line_width,geo.height-2*line_width, false, false, false, false, nil)
+  
+  cr:stroke()
+
+  frame.shape_bounding = img._native
+  img:finish()
+
+  frame.visible = true
+
+end
+
+-- Internal routine functioning as the callback for implementing the snipper.
+--
+-- The snipper tool is basically a mousegrabber, which takes a single function
+-- of one argument, representing the mouse state data. This is a simple
+-- starting point that hard codes the snipper tool as being a two press design
+-- using button 1, with button 3 functioning as the cancel. These aspects of
+-- the interface can be made into parameters at some point (and also
+-- incorporated into the init() configuration routine).
+local function mg_callback(mouse_data)
+  if mouse_data["buttons"][3] then
+    if frame and frame.visible then
+      show_frame()
+    end
+    return false
+  end
+
+  if mg_first_pnt[1] then
+
+    local min_x, max_x, min_y, max_y
+    min_x = math.min(mg_first_pnt[1], mouse_data["x"])
+    max_x = math.max(mg_first_pnt[1], mouse_data["x"])
+    min_y = math.min(mg_first_pnt[2], mouse_data["y"])
+    max_y = math.max(mg_first_pnt[2], mouse_data["y"])
+
+    -- Force a minimum size to the box
+    if  max_x - min_x < 4 or max_y - min_y < 4 then
+      if frame and frame.visible then
+        show_frame()
+      end
+    elseif not mouse_data["buttons"][1] then
+      show_frame({x = min_x, y = min_y, width = max_x - min_x, height = max_y - min_y})
+    end
+
+    if mouse_data["buttons"][1] then
+
+      local dir, prfx
+      local date_time, fname
+      local snip_surf
+
+      if frame and frame.visible then
+        show_frame()
+      end
+
+      frame = nil
+      mg_first_pnt = {}
+
+      -- This may fail gracefully anyway but require a minimum 2x2 of pixels
+      if min_x >= max_x-1 or min_y >= max_y-1 then
+        return false
+      end
+
+      dir, prfx = configure_call(mg_dir, mg_prfx)
+      snip_surf = crop_shot(min_x, min_y, max_x - min_x, max_y - min_y)
+
+      if dir and prfx and snip_surf then
+        date_time = tostring(os.date("%Y%m%d%H%M%S"))
+        fname = dir .. prfx .. date_time .. ".png"
+
+        gears.surface(snip_surf):write_to_png(dir .. prfx .. date_time .. ".png")
+
+        if mg_onsuccess_cb then
+          mg_onsuccess_cb(fname)  -- This should probably be a separate thread
+        end
+      end
+
+      mg_onsuccess_cb = nil       -- Revert callback unconditionally
+      return false
+
+    end
+
+  else
+    if mouse_data["buttons"][1] then
+      mg_first_pnt[1] = mouse_data["x"]
+      mg_first_pnt[2] = mouse_data["y"]
+    end
+  end
+
+  return true
+end
+
+-- Take root window screenshots
+--
+-- @function screenshot.root
+-- @tparam[opt] string The directory path in which to save screenshots
+-- @tparam[opt] string The prefix prepended to the screenshot filenames
+-- @treturn string The full path to the successfully written screenshot file
+function screenshot.root(directory, prefix)
+  local dir, prfx
+  local date_time, fname
+
+  dir, prfx = configure_call(directory, prefix)
+
+  if dir and prfx then
+    date_time = tostring(os.date("%Y%m%d%H%M%S"))
+    fname = dir .. prfx .. date_time .. ".png"
+    gears.surface(capi.root.content()):write_to_png(fname)
+    return fname
+  end
+end
+
+-- Take physical screen screenshots
+--
+-- @function screenshot.screen
+-- @tparam[opt] string The directory path in which to save screenshots
+-- @tparam[opt] string The prefix prepended to the screenshot filenames
+-- @tparam[opt] number or screen The index of the screen, or the screen itself
+-- @treturn string The full path to the successfully written screenshot file
+function screenshot.screen(directory, prefix, target)
+  local s
+  local dir, prfx
+  local date_time, fname
+
+  if target then
+    if type(target) == "number" then
+      s = capi.screen[target] and aw_screen.focused()
+    elseif target.index and type(target.index) == "number" then
+      s = capi.screen[target.index] and aw_screen.focused()
+    end
+  else
+    s = aw_screen.focused()
+  end
+
+  dir, prfx = configure_call(directory, prefix)
+
+  if s and dir and prfx then
+    date_time = tostring(os.date("%Y%m%d%H%M%S"))
+    fname = dir .. prfx .. date_time .. ".png"
+    gears.surface(s.content):write_to_png(fname)
+    return fname
+  end
+end
+
+-- Take client window screenshots
+--
+-- @function screenshot.client
+-- @tparam[opt] string The directory path in which to save screenshots
+-- @tparam[opt] string The prefix prepended to the screenshot filenames
+-- @treturn string The full path to the successfully written screenshot file
+function screenshot.client(directory, prefix)
+  -- Looking at the properties and functions available, I'm not sure it is
+  -- wise to allow a "target" client argument, but if we want to add it as
+  -- arg 3 (which will match the screen ordering), we can.
+
+  local c
+  local dir, prfx
+  local date_time, fname
+
+  dir, prfx = configure_call(directory, prefix)
+  c = capi.client.focus
+
+  if c and dir and prfx then
+    date_time = tostring(os.date("%Y%m%d%H%M%S"))
+    fname = dir .. prfx .. date_time .. ".png"
+    gears.surface(c.content):write_to_png(fname)
+    return fname
+  end
+end
+
+-- Launch an interactive snipper tool to take cropped shots
+--
+-- @function screenshot.snipper
+-- @tparam[opt] string The directory path in which to save screenshots
+-- @tparam[opt] string The prefix prepended to the screenshot filenames
+-- @tparam[opt] function A callback to be run upon successful writing of the
+--                       screenshot file with a single argument of the path to
+--                       the screenshot file.
+function screenshot.snipper(directory, prefix, onsuccess_cb)
+  local dir, prfx
+  local date_time
+
+  dir, prfx = configure_call(directory, prefix)
+
+  if dir and prfx then
+
+    mg_dir = dir
+    mg_prfx = prfx
+
+    capi.mousegrabber.run(mg_callback, "crosshair")
+
+    if onsuccess_cb and type(onsuccess_cb) == "function" then
+      mg_onsuccess_cb = onsuccess_cb
+    end
+
+    return
+
+  end  
+end
+
+-- Take a cropped screenshot of a defined geometry
+--
+-- @function screenshot.snip
+-- @tparam geometry The geometry of the cropped screenshot
+-- @tparam[opt] string The directory path in which to save screenshots
+-- @tparam[opt] string The prefix prepended to the screenshot filenames
+-- @treturn string The full path to the successfully written screenshot file
+function screenshot.snip(geom, directory, prefix)
+  local dir, prfx
+  local root_w, root_h
+  local root_intrsct
+  local date_time, fname
+  local snip_surf
+
+  root_w, root_h = root.size()
+  dir, prfx = configure_call(directory, prefix)
+
+  if dir and prfx and geom and
+       geom.x and geom.y and geom.width and geom.height then
+
+    if type(geom.x) == "number" and type(geom.y) == "number" and
+         type(geom.width) == "number" and type(geom.height) == "number" then
+
+      root_intrsct = gears.geometry.rectangle.get_intersection(geom,
+                                               {x = 0, y = 0,
+                                               width = root_w, height = root_h})
+      snip_surf = crop_shot(root_intrsct.x, root_intrsct.y,
+                            root_intrsct.width, root_intrsct.height)
+
+      date_time = tostring(os.date("%Y%m%d%H%M%S"))
+      fname = dir .. prfx .. date_time .. ".png"
+      gears.surface(snip_surf):write_to_png(fname)
+
+      return fname
+
+    end
+
+  end 
+end
+
+return screenshot