To add a URL2PNG screenshot card in Next.js, generate the signed URL on the server, then render that URL as the card’s image. URL2PNG’s v6 request uses an API key and a token derived from the complete query string and your account secret. Keep the secret out of browser code. URL2PNG documents Node.js examples, but its reviewed documentation does not provide a Next.js-specific recipe or claim a Next.js package.
How the integration fits together
Your Next.js app supplies a target page URL and capture options to URL2PNG. URL2PNG renders that page and returns a screenshot; your app displays the resulting image in a card. The signing step must happen in server-side code because it uses your account secret. The service describes its product as a way to capture snapshots inside an app and documents viewport, thumbnail, and full-page options (URL2PNG).
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The implementation below is a server-side pattern based on URL2PNG’s documented request anatomy, not a vendor-provided Next.js integration. The exact encoding of the query string is part of the signature, so verify it against the current URL2PNG Quickstart Guide and the version of any package you install before deploying.
Build a signed screenshot URL on the server
Set server-only credentials
Store the URL2PNG API key and account secret in server environment variables, for example URL2PNG_API_KEY and URL2PNG_SECRET. Do not prefix either with NEXT_PUBLIC_: Next.js exposes variables with that prefix to client-side code. Add them to your deployment provider’s server environment configuration as well as your local development environment.
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Server helper example
URL2PNG’s documented Node.js example uses the url2png package and its buildURL or readURL methods. The helper below instead illustrates the signing design directly. It assumes that URL2PNG expects an MD5 token calculated from the exact encoded query string concatenated with the account secret. Confirm the current endpoint path, parameter names, encoding, and token format against the vendor guide; do not treat this unverified adaptation as tested code.
import { createHash } from 'node:crypto';
const API_KEY = process.env.URL2PNG_API_KEY;
const SECRET = process.env.URL2PNG_SECRET;
if (!API_KEY || !SECRET) {
throw new Error('Missing URL2PNG_API_KEY or URL2PNG_SECRET');
}
function validateTarget(raw: string): string {
const target = new URL(raw);
if (target.protocol !== 'https:' && target.protocol !== 'http:') {
throw new Error('Target URL must use HTTP or HTTPS');
}
return target.toString();
}
export function buildUrl2PngUrl(rawTarget: string) {
const target = validateTarget(rawTarget);
const params = new URLSearchParams();
params.set('url', target);
params.set('viewport', '1280x800');
params.set('thumbnail_max_width', '640');
params.set('fullpage', 'false');
// Sign the exact serialized query string that will be sent.
const query = params.toString();
const token = createHash('md5').update(query + SECRET).digest('hex');
return `https://api.url2png.com/v6/${API_KEY}/${token}/png/?${query}`;
}The endpoint and path layout shown here reflect the v6 request description in URL2PNG’s Quickstart; confirm the current details there before use. Do not reorder, re-encode, or append parameters after signing. The value hashed and the query string sent must match exactly. If you use the official package instead, follow its current API and encoding behavior rather than combining its output with a separate signing scheme.
Return the URL from server-side code
For example, an App Router route handler can build the image URL without exposing credentials. Validate and authorize the target URL in your real application: accepting arbitrary URLs from untrusted users can create a server-side request risk and unwanted screenshot usage.
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// app/api/screenshot/route.ts
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';
import { buildUrl2PngUrl } from '@/lib/url2png';
export async function GET(request: Request) {
const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url);
const target = searchParams.get('url');
if (!target) {
return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Missing url parameter' }, { status: 400 });
}
try {
const imageUrl = buildUrl2PngUrl(target);
return NextResponse.json({ imageUrl });
} catch {
return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Invalid screenshot request' }, { status: 400 });
}
}This example returns the generated URL, rather than proxying screenshot bytes. A server component can also call the helper directly when it already has a trusted target URL. For a public API route, add authorization, input limits, and an allowlist or other policy appropriate to your app.
Render the screenshot as a card
The screenshot is an external image. The card’s layout, dimensions, loading state, and accessible text are your app’s responsibility. A plain image element avoids Next.js remote-image configuration; if using next/image, configure the relevant remote host according to your Next.js version and deployment setup.
type ScreenshotCardProps = {
imageUrl: string;
pageTitle: string;
pageUrl: string;
};
export function ScreenshotCard({ imageUrl, pageTitle, pageUrl }: ScreenshotCardProps) {
return (
<a className="screenshot-card" href={pageUrl} target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">
<img src={imageUrl} alt={`Screenshot preview of ${pageTitle}`} loading="lazy" />
<span>{pageTitle}</span>
</a>
);
}.screenshot-card {
display: block;
overflow: hidden;
border: 1px solid #d8dce2;
border-radius: 12px;
color: inherit;
text-decoration: none;
}
.screenshot-card img {
display: block;
width: 100%;
aspect-ratio: 16 / 10;
object-fit: cover;
}
.screenshot-card span {
display: block;
padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
}Use alt text that describes the image’s purpose rather than repeating an adjacent title without context. If the screenshot is decorative because the same linked destination and title are already clearly conveyed, an empty alt attribute may be more appropriate.
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Choose capture options for the card
URL2PNG’s Quickstart documents the options below. Defaults and accepted formats are service-specific; check the current guide before relying on them.
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| Option | What it changes | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
viewport |
Browser render dimensions; the guide gives a default of 1480×1037. | Set dimensions to match the kind of page preview you want. A viewport capture suits compact cards. |
thumbnail_max_width |
Scales output to a maximum width. | Limit image size to suit the card while preserving enough detail for the preview. |
fullpage |
Attempts to capture the full document instead of just the viewport; documented default is false. | Use when users need to inspect the whole target page. For a small card, a viewport image is usually easier to scan. |
delay |
Waits after document readiness and asset loading. | Allow more time for pages that render content after initial load. |
custom_css_url |
Provides custom CSS for the capture. | Adjust the rendered page’s appearance where a capture-specific stylesheet is useful. |
say_cheese |
Capture-related setting named in the Quickstart. | Consult the current guide for its accepted values and precise effect. |
accept_languages |
Controls language preferences sent for the page. | Use when the target site varies its content by requested language. |
user_agent |
Controls the browser user-agent value used for capture. | Use only when you need a particular user-agent presentation; some sites may respond differently. |
unique |
Changes the cache key to request a fresh capture. | Vary it when content changes and the card must reflect a newer render. |
ttl |
Sets cache lifetime in seconds; the Quickstart documents a default of 2,592,000 seconds (30 days). | Choose a cache duration that fits how quickly the target page changes. |
These choices involve a trade-off: full-page coverage can produce a taller image than a compact preview needs, while forcing a fresh capture favors recency over reuse of a cached result. Those are integration choices based on the documented controls, not URL2PNG performance guarantees.
Understand caching, freshness, and render usage
URL2PNG’s plans page says cached screenshots are retained for 30 days, and retrieving a cached image does not count against plan usage; a newly generated screenshot counts as a render. The Quickstart’s documented default TTL is also 2,592,000 seconds. If a target page changes, vary unique to request a new capture; using a stable value allows matching requests to reuse the cache. Plan quotas and billing terms can change, so consult the live URL2PNG plans page for current details.
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URL2PNG’s plans page, checked on 2026-10-03, displayed monthly options of 5,000 fresh screenshots for $29, 20,000 for $99, and 50,000 for $199, plus Enterprise, and said it offered no free account. These are volatile listed terms, not a guarantee of future pricing. The same page gives plan-specific rates for additional screenshots; check it directly for the current terms before estimating cost.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Protect the integration and keep cards reliable
- Keep signing server-side. The account secret must never be sent to a client component, serialized into HTML, or placed in a public environment variable.
- Validate target URLs. Restrict schemes to HTTP or HTTPS, and consider an allowlist if users submit URLs. Prevent your app from becoming an unrestricted screenshot proxy.
- Cache deliberately. A stable request can reuse cached output; use a changing
uniquevalue only when freshness is worth a new render. - Choose dimensions for the presentation. Set viewport and thumbnail width to fit the card rather than downloading an unnecessarily large image.
- Expect third-party variation. A target site may change its layout, block capture, or render content late. Use an appropriate delay and provide a useful card fallback if the image fails to load.
- Check current API behavior. URL signing depends on the exact query representation; a small encoding change can invalidate the token. Confirm package and endpoint details against URL2PNG’s documentation.
Troubleshooting common failures
Request rejected or token is invalid
Check that the API key and secret belong to the intended account, and that the token was computed from precisely the same encoded query string sent to the endpoint. Do not alter parameter order, encoding, or values after signing. Compare the implementation with URL2PNG’s current Quickstart.
The screenshot does not reflect a recent page change
The response may be served from cache. Vary the unique value to request a new capture, or set an appropriate ttl according to the current API documentation. A fresh screenshot counts as a render under the plans-page usage description.
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The image is cropped or too large
Adjust viewport for the visible capture area and thumbnail_max_width for output sizing. Use fullpage only if the complete document is important to the card; otherwise the viewport capture is more suitable for a compact preview.
The page is missing late-loaded content
Try an appropriate delay for pages that need time after readiness and asset loading to finish rendering. The target site’s behavior determines how much delay is useful; the reviewed documentation does not establish a universal value.
The URL works locally but fails after deployment
Confirm that both server-side environment variables are configured in the deployed environment and available to the route or server component. Do not fix this by exposing the secret with a public variable prefix.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteNext.js image configuration blocks the remote image
If you render with next/image, configure its allowed remote source for the URL2PNG image host using the configuration appropriate to your Next.js release. Alternatively, use a standard <img> element as in the card example.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo is an alternative screenshot API with an MCP server for AI agents. Its one-call API can return a screenshot without building a browser capture flow yourself. For example, using cURL:
Quick Recap
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options. ScreenshotNeo removes cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before the shot; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed. Its MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up free for 1,000 screenshots a month with no card.
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