HTMLCSStoImage does not sign in to websites or automate an interactive login. If you are authorized to access the page, you can request a render with a short-lived session cookie or authorization token in the request’s headers parameter. First check whether the site offers an embed; HTMLCSStoImage recommends that route when it exposes the content you need.
Choose an embed or an authenticated render
An embed is the simpler option when the site intentionally makes the relevant content available that way: it can be rendered without sending your login credentials. Otherwise, HTMLCSStoImage’s documented approach is to pass an authorized cookie or token to its URL-to-image endpoint. The endpoint renders a page; it does not perform the login steps that a person would complete in a browser. HTMLCSStoImage’s URL-to-Image documentation describes both points.
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- Use an embed if it is offered and contains the material you need. It avoids sending account credentials with the capture request.
- Use an authenticated URL render only when you have permission to access the page and can provide a credential valid for that page.
Neither approach is a way around an interactive login challenge, MFA, CAPTCHA, site authorization rules, or other access restrictions. The documented header method supplies credentials for a render; it does not defeat those controls.
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The URL screenshot endpoint is POST https://hcti.io/v1/image. Authenticate to the API itself with HTTP Basic authentication, using your API ID as the username and API key as the password. Separately, provide the target site’s authorized cookie or token in the request’s headers parameter. See the HTMLCSStoImage headers documentation for the request-body mechanism and origin rules.
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- Confirm you are authorized to access the account and page. Use a short-lived, narrowly scoped session cookie or token where possible.
- Make a
POSTrequest to the endpoint with your HTMLCSStoImage API credentials and the target URL. - Put the target site’s authentication header in the request body’s
headersparameter. Do not put secrets in a create-and-render URL: URLs may be retained in browser history, access logs, analytics, and referrer data. - Save the returned image or PDF response as the output format you requested.
For example, the request-body data should conceptually include the target URL and a headers object carrying the credential that the target site expects. The exact cookie or authorization header depends on that site’s authentication scheme; obtain it through an authorized session rather than guessing or reusing a long-lived password.
Respect origin boundaries for authenticated assets
By default, custom headers are sent only to the origin of the requested URL. This helps prevent a credential intended for one site from being forwarded to unrelated third parties.
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- If page assets that need authentication are served from another origin, list only the exact trusted origin in
additional_header_origins. - Headers are not sent to subrequests by default. Enable
include_headers_on_subrequestsonly when those subrequests need the credential and only for the requested and explicitly allowed origins. - Do not broadly allow header forwarding. A page can load scripts, images, or other resources from third parties; send credentials only where you have verified they are required and appropriate.
Set the capture scope and output
Once the page can be rendered with authorized access, choose the smallest capture scope that meets your need. HTMLCSStoImage documents full_screen for full-page rendering and selector for cropping to a particular element. You can also set viewport dimensions and choose an output format. Supported formats listed in its documentation include PNG, JPG, WebP, and PDF. Consult the URL-to-Image parameter reference for the current parameter details.
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full_screenwhen the entire page is needed. - Use
selectorwhen only a specific page element should appear in the capture. - Set viewport dimensions to match the intended layout; a different viewport can change responsive page rendering.
- Choose an image format for image output or PDF when a document-style result is required.
Troubleshoot failed or incomplete captures
The result is a login screen
The supplied credential may be missing, expired, or unsuitable for the page, or the site may require an interactive sign-in step. Confirm that the credential works for the target page and is provided in the expected header format. If the site requires a login flow, MFA, or CAPTCHA, the documented URL render does not automate it; use an official embed if available or another authorized workflow.
Some images or page elements are missing
Check whether those resources load from another origin. If they require the same credential, add only that exact trusted origin to additional_header_origins and enable include_headers_on_subrequests only as needed. If the resources do not require authentication, avoid forwarding the credential to them.
The target site blocks the render service
For a site you control that allowlists source IPs, HTMLCSStoImage says its render servers scale dynamically on AWS and it does not provide a static IP list. Its documentation points to configuring an HTTP proxy for stable egress. A proxy can address that network requirement; it does not bypass authentication or access policy. See the URL-to-Image documentation.
The capture contains too much or too little
Adjust the capture scope: use full_screen for the full page or selector for a specific element. Check the viewport dimensions if the page’s responsive layout differs from what you expected.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo offers a one-request screenshot API with a URL and API key. For example, this cURL command saves a WebP capture of the authorized page. Put your API key in a protected environment or secret store; do not commit it to source control. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can HTMLCSStoImage complete an interactive login or MFA prompt?
No. Its documented URL-to-image workflow renders a URL with supplied headers; it does not automate interactive sign-in.
Should credentials go in the target URL?
No. Use the documented request-body headers mechanism; URLs can be retained in browser history, logs, analytics, or referrer data.
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