diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 04474bd9..df600e78 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -238,6 +238,16 @@ if test x$have_slang = xno; then
    AC_MSG_ERROR([*** SLANG development files not found!])
 fi
 
+dnl Check for GD
+GD_LIBS=""
+FREEJ_CHECK_LIB_HEADER([gd], [gdImageCreateTrueColor], [gd.h],
+                       [have_gd=yes], [have_gd=no])
+if test x$have_gd = xyes; then
+   GD_LIBS="-lgd"
+   AC_DEFINE(WITH_GD,1,[define if compiling with GD to support screenshot taking])
+   AC_SUBST([GD_LIBS])
+fi
+
 dnl ==============================================================
 dnl Check for SDL
 dnl ==============================================================
@@ -981,7 +991,8 @@ FREEJ_LIBS="-lpthread -lm -lrt $DL_LIBS \
     \$(UNICAP_LIBS)     \
     \$(X11_LIBS)        \
     \$(CAIRO_LIBS)      \
-    \$(XIPH_LIBS)"
+    \$(XIPH_LIBS)       \
+    \$(GD_LIBS)"
 AC_SUBST(FREEJ_LIBS)
 
 dnl ###########################################################################
@@ -1158,6 +1169,10 @@ fi
 VRB([  LIBS  : $SDLIMAGE_LIBS])
 VRB([  CFLAGS: $SDLIMAGE_CFLAGS])
 
+if test x$have_gd = xyes; then
+INFO([= libGD (dynamic)])
+VRB([  LIBS  : $GD_LIBS])
+fi
 
 dnl #### optional stuff
 INFO_N([= AAlib  : ])
diff --git a/scripts/javascript/examples/screenshot.js b/scripts/javascript/examples/screenshot.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0a6fe303
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/javascript/examples/screenshot.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+
+
+include("test_rand.js");
+
+rand_kbd.released_s = function() { scr.save_frame("rand_shot.png"); }
+
diff --git a/src/include/jsparser_data.h b/src/include/jsparser_data.h
index 6f2bb9d7..a831d0f2 100644
--- a/src/include/jsparser_data.h
+++ b/src/include/jsparser_data.h
@@ -313,6 +313,7 @@ JS(screen_initialized);
 JS(screen_add_layer);
 JS(screen_rem_layer);
 JS(screen_list_layers);
+JS(screen_save_frame);
 
 
 ////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/include/screen.h b/src/include/screen.h
index 91bb468f..d01788e7 100644
--- a/src/include/screen.h
+++ b/src/include/screen.h
@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ class ViewPort : public Entry {
 
   Linklist<VideoEncoder> encoders; ///< linked list of registered encoders
 
+  void save_frame(char *file); ///< save a screenshot of the current frame into file
+
   void handle_resize();
 
   virtual void set_magnification(int algo) { };
diff --git a/src/screen.cpp b/src/screen.cpp
index 25259c35..461cffac 100644
--- a/src/screen.cpp
+++ b/src/screen.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@
 
 #include <video_layer.h>
 
+#ifdef WITH_GD
+#include <gd.h>
+#endif
+
 ViewPort::ViewPort()
   : Entry() {
 
@@ -182,6 +186,28 @@ bool ViewPort::add_encoder(VideoEncoder *enc) {
   return true;
 }
 
+#ifdef WITH_GD
+void ViewPort::save_frame(char *file) {
+  FILE *fp;
+  gdImagePtr im;
+  int *src;
+  int x,y;
+
+  im = gdImageCreateTrueColor(geo.w, geo.h);
+  src = (int*)coords(0,0);
+  for(y=0; y < geo.h; y++) {
+    for (x=0; x < geo.w; x++) {
+      gdImageSetPixel(im, x, y, src[x] & 0x00FFFFFF);
+      //im->tpixels[y][x] = src[x] & 0x00FFFFFF;
+    }
+    src += geo.w;
+  }
+  fp = fopen(file, "wb");
+  gdImagePng(im,fp);
+  fclose(fp);
+}
+#endif
+
 
 void ViewPort::blit_layers() {
   Layer *lay;
diff --git a/src/screen_js.cpp b/src/screen_js.cpp
index 379d64e6..c05f67dc 100644
--- a/src/screen_js.cpp
+++ b/src/screen_js.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ JSFunctionSpec screen_methods[] = {
   {"rem_layer",         screen_rem_layer,       1},
   {"list_layers",       screen_list_layers,     0},
   {"is_initialized",    screen_initialized,     0}, 
+  {"save_frame",        screen_save_frame,      1},
   {0}
 };
 
@@ -104,6 +105,23 @@ JS(screen_initialized) {
   return JS_TRUE;
 }
 
+JS(screen_save_frame) {
+  func("%s",__PRETTY_FUNCTION__);
+  JS_CHECK_ARGC(1);
+
+  ViewPort *screen = (ViewPort*)JS_GetPrivate(cx,obj);
+  if(!screen) {
+    JS_ERROR("Screen core data is NULL");
+    return JS_FALSE;
+  }
+
+  char *file = js_get_string(argv[0]);
+
+  screen->save_frame(file);
+
+  return JS_TRUE;
+}
+
 JS(screen_list_layers) {
   func("%s",__PRETTY_FUNCTION__);
   JSObject *arr;