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How to Capture a Playwright Screenshot with a CSS Clip Rectangle

Use Playwright's page.screenshot clip option to capture a rectangular region, set output scale deliberately, and choose the right API for full-page, element, or visual-test captures.
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Use page.screenshot() with a clip rectangle to capture a specific part of a page. Set scale: 'css' when you want one output pixel per CSS pixel:

await page.screenshot({
  path: 'clip.png',
  clip: { x: 100, y: 80, width: 400, height: 250 },
  scale: 'css',
});

Set the clip rectangle

The clip option takes an object with four numeric fields:

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  • x: the rectangle’s left edge, measured from the page’s left side.
  • y: the rectangle’s top edge, measured from the page’s top.
  • width: the rectangle’s width.
  • height: the rectangle’s height.

For example, { x: 100, y: 80, width: 400, height: 250 } selects a 400-by-250 rectangle whose top-left corner is at (100, 80). The rectangle specifies a region; it does not itself set the screenshot’s pixel density. The separate scale option controls output scale. Playwright Page API

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Choose CSS or device-pixel output

The Page screenshot API defaults to scale: 'device'. Device scale can produce a larger image on a high-DPI display. Set scale: 'css' for one output pixel per CSS pixel, which is useful when the output dimensions should correspond directly to CSS dimensions.

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const clip = { x: 100, y: 80, width: 400, height: 250 };
await page.screenshot({ path: 'clip.png', clip, scale: 'css' });

Save a file or use the returned image

path is optional. When provided, Playwright saves the screenshot there and infers the format from the extension. Without path, the call returns an image buffer instead:

const image = await page.screenshot({
  clip: { x: 100, y: 80, width: 400, height: 250 },
  scale: 'css',
});
// image is the screenshot buffer

The direct screenshot API supports PNG, JPEG, and WebP; PNG is the default. JPEG’s documented default quality is 80. WebP quality 100 is lossless, while lower quality is lossy. Choose an extension such as .jpg or .webp when saving in those formats.

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Choose the right capture API

Need API or option What it captures
An arbitrary rectangular page region page.screenshot({ clip }) The rectangle described by x, y, width, and height.
The complete scrollable page page.screenshot({ fullPage: true }) The full page rather than only the visible viewport.
One particular element Locator-based screenshot The selected element, after Playwright scrolls it into view and waits for actionability.
Visual regression against a baseline expect(page).toHaveScreenshot({ clip }) A clipped screenshot assertion; it waits for two consecutive screenshots to match before comparing with the expectation.

clip and fullPage are separate Page screenshot options. The API reference does not specify how they interact when combined, so avoid relying on a particular combined behavior without checking the documentation for your installed Playwright version. For a single element, prefer a locator screenshot over the discouraged ElementHandle screenshot method. An element screenshot shows only content actually visible: covered content remains covered, and a scrollable element shows its currently scrolled content. ElementHandle API

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For screenshot assertions, the test-runner API also accepts clip. Its default animation behavior differs from a direct Page screenshot: assertions default to disabling animations, while direct screenshots default to allowing them. PageAssertions API

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Make repeated captures more consistent

A direct screenshot allows animations by default. If animation or transition frames make captures inconsistent, set animations: 'disabled'. Playwright handles finite and infinite animations differently when disabling them, so consult the Page API for the exact behavior relevant to your page. The screenshot API also supports applying a stylesheet and masking matched locators when those are needed to control variable content. The caret is hidden by default.

Common problems

  • The output is larger than the CSS rectangle. The Page API defaults to device-pixel scale. Set scale: 'css' if you need one output pixel per CSS pixel.
  • The image contains the wrong region. Check that x and y identify the intended top-left position and that width and height describe the desired rectangle.
  • The file format is unexpected. With a path, the extension determines the inferred format. Use .png, .jpg, or .webp as appropriate.
  • You need a whole page or one element, not a rectangle. Use fullPage: true for the scrollable page or a locator screenshot for a specific element. Do not assume how clip combines with fullPage without verifying your installed version.
  • Visual assertion output differs from direct screenshot output. Screenshot assertions disable animations by default, unlike direct screenshots, which allow them by default. Align the animation settings and capture method with the result you intend to compare.
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For API keys and options, see the ScreenshotNeo documentation.

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