diff --git a/dzgui/app_init.py b/dzgui/app_init.py
index 45df2a7..1a942ab 100644
--- a/dzgui/app_init.py
+++ b/dzgui/app_init.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def load_steam_icon() -> None:
         logger.critical(e)
 
 
-def load_gui(version: str, is_debug: bool) -> None:
+def build_gui(version: str, is_debug: bool) -> App | None:
     lock = lock_acquire()  # noqa
 
     set_locale()
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ def load_gui(version: str, is_debug: bool) -> None:
         wizard = SetupWizard(_is_steam_deck, XDG, xdg_paths)
 
         if not wizard.is_setup_complete():
-            return
+            return None
 
     setup_logger(XDG.debug)
     with open(XDG.debug, "w") as f:
@@ -186,4 +186,4 @@ def load_gui(version: str, is_debug: bool) -> None:
     print(boot.all_ok)
     load_steam_icon()
     app = App(prefs)
-    app.run(None)
+    return app
diff --git a/dzgui/main.py b/dzgui/main.py
index 68ed0b2..5e660cf 100644
--- a/dzgui/main.py
+++ b/dzgui/main.py
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ def main() -> None:
     test_libgi_missing()
 
     # NOTE: only import ligbirepository modules after the above check
-    from dzgui.app_init import load_gui
+    from dzgui.app_init import build_gui
 
-    load_gui(version, args.debug)
+    app = build_gui(version, args.debug)
+    if app is None:
+        sys.exit(0)
+    app.run(None)
diff --git a/dzgui/util/save_screenshot.py b/dzgui/util/save_screenshot.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c106bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dzgui/util/save_screenshot.py
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import cast, TYPE_CHECKING
+
+import gi
+
+gi.require_version("Gtk", "3.0")
+from gi.repository import Gtk, Gdk, GLib  # noqa E402
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from dzgui.controllers.mc import Controller
+    from dzgui.views.base import OuterWindow
+    from dzgui.views.mixins.context_mixin import ContextMixin
+    from gi.repository import GdkPixbuf
+
+# TODO: randomize/mock PII distance values
+
+
+class IdleScreenshot:
+    def __init__(
+        self, controller: "Controller", window: "OuterWindow", scrot_path: Path
+    ) -> None:
+        self.window = window
+        self.controller = controller
+        self.scrot_path = scrot_path
+
+        clock = window.get_frame_clock()
+        if clock is None:
+            raise TypeError("Widget not realized, FrameClock not initialized")
+        clock.connect("after-paint", self.callback)
+
+    def callback(self, clock: Gdk.FrameClock) -> None:
+        GLib.timeout_add(1000, self.check_idle)
+
+    def check_idle(self) -> bool:
+        tv = self.controller.get_active_treeview()
+        loaded = tv.is_loaded()
+        if loaded is True:
+            self.emit_key_press(tv)
+            GLib.timeout_add(1000, self.save_and_quit)
+            return True
+        return False
+
+    def emit_key_press(self, widget: "ContextMixin") -> None:
+        window = widget.get_parent_window()
+        if window is None:
+            raise TypeError(f"Failed to find a valid parent window for {widget}")
+        event = Gdk.EventKey.new(Gdk.EventType.KEY_PRESS)
+        # NOTE: GTK introspection returns Gdk.Event type
+        event_key = cast(Gdk.EventKey, event)
+        event_key.keyval = Gdk.KEY_l
+        event_key.state = Gdk.ModifierType.CONTROL_MASK
+        event_key.window = window
+        event_key.time = Gdk.CURRENT_TIME
+        event_key.send_event = True
+        # TODO: suppress errors from synthetic key events
+        widget.present_menu(widget, event)
+
+    def save_and_quit(self) -> None:
+        self.save_pixbuf()
+        self.controller.save_res_and_quit()
+
+    def save_pixbuf(self) -> None:
+        pixbuf = self.capture_application()
+        if pixbuf:
+            pixbuf.savev(str(self.scrot_path), "png", [], [])
+
+    def capture_application(self) -> "GdkPixbuf.Pixbuf":
+        # NOTE: composited context menu over X11 window
+        root = Gdk.get_default_root_window()
+
+        xwindow = self.window.get_window()
+        if xwindow is None:
+            raise ValueError("Failed to get a valid X11 window")
+        index, x, y = xwindow.get_origin()
+        width, height = self.window.get_size()
+
+        application = Gdk.pixbuf_get_from_window(root, x, y, width, height)
+        if application is None:
+            raise ValueError("Failed to get a valid GdkPixbuf")
+        return application
diff --git a/dzgui/views/base.py b/dzgui/views/base.py
index cbbb3b5..1c3a83b 100644
--- a/dzgui/views/base.py
+++ b/dzgui/views/base.py
@@ -78,6 +78,15 @@ class OuterWindow(Gtk.ApplicationWindow):
         MainController.loaded = True
         MainController.populate_model(MainController.get_active_treeview())
 
+        try:
+            from dzgui.util.save_screenshot import IdleScreenshot
+
+            scrot = app.get_automation_param("screenshot_path")
+            self.fullscreen()
+            IdleScreenshot(MainController, self, scrot)
+        except KeyError:
+            pass
+
     def _on_delete_event(self, window: "OuterWindow", event: Gdk.EventKey) -> None:
         self.halt_proc_and_quit()
 
@@ -291,6 +300,14 @@ class App(ColorAwareApp, Gtk.Application):  # type: ignore
         self._setup_signals()
         self.connect("activate", self._on_activate)
 
+        self.automation_params: dict[str, Any] = {}
+
+    def get_automation_param(self, key: str) -> Any:
+        return self.automation_params[key]
+
+    def set_automation_param(self, key: str, value: Any) -> None:
+        self.automation_params[key] = value
+
     def _on_activate(self, app: Self) -> None:
         self.win = OuterWindow(app)