URL to PNG

URL to PNG is a self-hosted HTTP service that captures web pages and returns PNG images. It exposes a simple query-parameter API and uses Playwright for parallel, configurable headless rendering.

Key Features

• HTTP endpoint that accepts query parameters (url, width, height, viewport size, isMobile, isFullPage, isDarkMode, deviceScaleFactor, forceReload) to customize screenshots
• Playwright-based parallel rendering with configurable Playwright options for Chromium browsers
• Support for full-page captures, mobile user agent emulation, dark-mode preference, and device scale factor (DPR)
• Caching of generated images with option to force reload and configurable TTL
• Storage integration options: local filesystem plus adapters for Amazon S3 and CouchDB
• Allow-list support to restrict which domains may be captured
• Optional encrypted request payloads using a server CRYPTO_KEY for added request privacy
• Prometheus-compatible metrics endpoint for monitoring rendering activity and performance
• Distributed-friendly build: Docker image available and local development via pnpm and Playwright browser installation

Use Cases

• Embed dynamic website screenshots in HTML or newsletters by targeting the service endpoint
• Generate social preview or thumbnail images for URLs programmatically
• Automated visual checks, status dashboards, or scheduled snapshots for monitoring website appearance

Limitations and Considerations

• Rendering uses headless browsers and can be CPU/memory intensive under high concurrency; capacity planning is required
• Some sites may block headless browsers or use anti-bot measures that prevent accurate captures
• Requires Playwright browser binaries to be installed for local runs and proper configuration of storage backends (S3/CouchDB) when used

URL to PNG is focused on simple, configurable screenshot generation for self-hosted environments. It is suitable for embedding into workflows, CI, or internal tooling where control over rendering and storage is required.