Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsShort answer: Screenshotlayer’s accessible documentation describes an API for webpage screenshots, not a verified webpage-to-PDF conversion endpoint. Its FAQ lists PNG, JPEG, and GIF output. That means you should not treat a Screenshotlayer image response as a PDF or assume the API can return one. The current detailed documentation destination could not be verified, so newer PDF support remains unconfirmed. Screenshotlayer’s FAQ and its archived API specification support the screenshot workflow below, but check current vendor documentation before relying on it for PDF output.
What Screenshotlayer’s API can—and cannot—be verified to do
The available vendor FAQ says the API can return a screenshot as PNG (the default), JPEG, or GIF. The archived specification likewise documents image capture and does not list PDF output. Selecting an image format does not convert that image into a PDF. The reviewed material therefore does not establish a direct Screenshotlayer PDF workflow.
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This is a limit of what the accessible documentation establishes, not proof that the vendor has never added PDF support: its detailed documentation link redirects to an APILayer documentation page that could not be checked. Confirm the current endpoint and supported output formats with Screenshotlayer before building a PDF-dependent integration.
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How to request a webpage screenshot with Screenshotlayer
If an image capture is suitable, the archived specification documents a GET request to http://api.screenshotlayer.com/api/capture. Pass an access_key and the complete target url, including https:// or http://. The API key is obtained from the vendor account dashboard, according to the specification and FAQ.
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cURL example
curl -G "http://api.screenshotlayer.com/api/capture"
--data-urlencode "access_key=YOUR_ACCESS_KEY"
--data-urlencode "url=https://example.com"
--data-urlencode "format=PNG"
-o screenshot.pngThis saves an image response, not a PDF. The archived specification says paid customers may connect over HTTPS; check the current plan and endpoint documentation before sending requests or credentials over a particular transport.
Python example
import requests
endpoint = "http://api.screenshotlayer.com/api/capture"
params = {
"access_key": "YOUR_ACCESS_KEY",
"url": "https://example.com",
"format": "PNG",
}
response = requests.get(endpoint, params=params, timeout=90)
response.raise_for_status()
with open("screenshot.png", "wb") as image_file:
image_file.write(response.content)For production use, check the response content type and the vendor’s current error-response format before saving the body. A non-image error response should not be written under a .png extension and mistaken for a successful capture.
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Node.js example
const endpoint = new URL("http://api.screenshotlayer.com/api/capture");
endpoint.search = new URLSearchParams({
access_key: "YOUR_ACCESS_KEY",
url: "https://example.com",
format: "PNG",
}).toString();
const response = await fetch(endpoint);
if (!response.ok) {
throw new Error(`Screenshotlayer request failed: ${response.status}`);
}
const image = Buffer.from(await response.arrayBuffer());
await import("node:fs/promises").then(({ writeFile }) =>
writeFile("screenshot.png", image)
);As with the other examples, a successful image capture is not a PDF conversion.
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The archived API specification lists the following controls. Availability and exact behavior may have changed; verify them against current vendor documentation before depending on an option.
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| Parameter | Documented purpose |
|---|---|
fullpage=1 |
Capture the full page height. |
width |
Set a thumbnail width. |
viewport |
Set target viewport dimensions; the archived specification lists 1440×900 as the default. |
format |
Choose an image format. The FAQ lists PNG (default), JPEG, or GIF. |
secret_key |
Listed as an optional parameter; the archived specification does not establish a PDF-related use for it. |
css_url |
Supply a CSS URL. |
delay |
Wait before capture; the FAQ says this can allow animations or effects to load. |
ttl |
Set cache lifetime. The documented default is 2,592,000 seconds (30 days); the FAQ describes setting a custom period below that default. |
force=1 |
Request a fresh capture. |
placeholder |
Listed as an optional parameter; the archived specification does not detail its behavior in the material reviewed here. |
user_agent |
Set a custom User-Agent. |
accept_lang |
Set the Accept-Language value. |
export |
Export to FTP or AWS S3. |
These controls affect screenshot capture, caching, or export; none in the accessible specification establishes PDF generation, page size, margins, print CSS, or page ranges.
If the output must be a PDF
Do not rename a PNG or JPEG response to .pdf: changing the extension does not change the file format. Use a tool or service whose current documentation explicitly promises PDF output, and confirm whether it supports the controls your page needs, such as print layout, page size, margins, page ranges, delayed rendering, and authenticated requests. Those capabilities are not established for Screenshotlayer by the accessible sources cited above.
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Troubleshooting Screenshotlayer requests
- Missing or invalid access key: verify the key in the vendor dashboard and confirm the parameter is named
access_key. The archived specification documents key-related errors, but its example and error table conflict about the meaning of error 104; do not infer that code’s meaning without checking the current error reference. - Usage limit reached: the archived specification lists usage-limit exhaustion among common errors. Check current account usage and plan details in the vendor dashboard; the accessible FAQ’s quota and price terms may change.
- Invalid target URL: supply the full URL with its protocol, for example
https://example.com, rather than a bare hostname. - Unexpected output or a failed capture: inspect the HTTP status and response body before saving the result as an image. The archived specification lists invalid API functions and invalid target URLs among common errors; verify current error codes and remedies with the vendor.
- Page content appears unfinished: the FAQ documents
delayas a way to allow animations or effects more time to load. It does not establish that this setting guarantees all dynamic content will render. - Need a different image size or locale: the FAQ documents
width, custom User-Agent, and Accept-Language controls. These change image capture behavior; they do not supply a PDF output path.
Cost and caching details to verify
Screenshotlayer’s undated FAQ, accessed in 2026, describes a free tier of 100 monthly snapshots, paid subscriptions starting at USD 19.99 per month, and overage charges when a plan’s request allowance is exceeded. These are vendor-published terms, not independent pricing findings; confirm the current quota, price, and overage policy before estimating costs. The FAQ and archived specification give a default cache TTL of 2,592,000 seconds (30 days); the FAQ describes setting a custom period below that default and the archived specification lists force=1 for a fresh capture. Caching and force-capture behavior can affect requests, but do not establish PDF support.
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If your goal is a clean webpage screenshot or PDF through an API, ScreenshotNeo is an alternative to consider: it offers one-call screenshots and PDF capture, with controls for PDF page settings. Its documented differentiators include accepting cookie banners like a visitor and removing 60+ known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; those cleaning steps can each be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits cost nothing, and the response identifies the page verdict and billing status in headers. It also provides an MCP server for AI clients including Claude and Cursor.
Example cURL request for a PDF, using the documented ScreenshotNeo endpoint and parameter names:
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot"
-d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY
--data-urlencode url=https://example.com
-d format=pdf
-o page.pdfSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for the current request options. Its free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan.
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