Set the browser’s viewport width and height in CSS pixels before navigating to the page, then take a regular viewport screenshot. In Playwright, this produces an image of the visible page area at your chosen responsive layout size—not the full page or browser window.
Viewport size, screenshot size, and page size are different
A viewport is the browser page area used to lay out and render a webpage. Playwright takes its width and height in CSS pixels. A screenshot of that viewport captures the currently visible page area; it does not include browser controls or the operating-system screen.
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- Viewport screenshot: the visible browser page area at the configured viewport dimensions.
- Full-page screenshot: the whole scrollable page, so the saved image can be taller than the viewport.
- Clipped screenshot: a specified rectangular region of the page, described by its x and y position, width, and height.
- Device scale: output pixel density. It can change the saved image’s raw pixel dimensions without changing the CSS layout viewport.
Decide whether your requirement specifies the browser’s CSS viewport or the image’s raw pixel dimensions before capturing. Playwright’s Page API documents viewport sizing and screenshot behavior; its screenshot guide explains viewport, element, and full-page captures.
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Capture a viewport screenshot with Playwright
Set the viewport before navigation when you need the page’s responsive layout to reflect those dimensions. Playwright’s documentation cautions that many websites do not expect phones to change size and recommends setting the viewport before navigating.
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JavaScript example
const { chromium } = require('playwright');
(async () => {
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.setViewportSize({ width: 1280, height: 800 });
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await page.screenshot({ path: 'screenshot.png' });
await browser.close();
})();Replace 1280 and 800 with the width and height you need. These are illustrative values, not a recommended standard. The default screenshot is viewport-only; use fullPage: true only when you want the entire scrollable page.
Set a screen size separately when needed
page.setViewportSize() also resets the screen size. If your test needs more precise control over both screen and viewport, configure them on the browser context instead. This matters when reproducing a particular device environment; changing the viewport alone is not the same as emulating every aspect of a device.
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Choose viewport, full-page, or clipped capture
Capture only what is visible
For a screenshot at the requested viewport size, leave fullPage unset or set it to false. The image represents the visible page area, even if the document continues below the fold.
Capture the entire scrollable page
Set fullPage: true in the screenshot options to capture beyond the viewport. The resulting image is not limited to the viewport’s height, so it is the wrong choice when the deliverable must have the viewport’s dimensions.
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Capture a rectangular region
If you need a particular part of a page rather than a different responsive layout, use screenshot clipping. A clip rectangle defines x, y, width, and height; it does not resize the page viewport. See Playwright’s screenshot options and the Chrome DevTools Protocol Page domain for the documented capture options.
Set the output pixel scale
CSS-pixel scaling produces one output pixel per CSS pixel. Device scaling follows the device pixel ratio and can produce an image with more raw pixels than the CSS viewport dimensions. Choose based on what the image is for: layout checks often need the specified CSS size, while a higher-density asset may call for device scaling. Device scale changes pixel density, not the responsive layout viewport.
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Wait for the page state you need
After navigation, capture only when the page has reached the state relevant to your task. There is no single wait condition or delay that suits every website: a static page, a client-rendered app, and a page with late-loading content can become screenshot-ready at different times. Choose a readiness condition for the target page rather than relying on an arbitrary universal delay. If you need a particular element to appear, wait for that element before taking the screenshot.
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Troubleshoot common viewport screenshot problems
- The layout looks like desktop when you expected mobile: set the viewport before calling
goto(), and check that you used the intended width and height in CSS pixels. - The image is much taller than requested: check whether
fullPage: trueis enabled. Turn it off for a viewport-only capture. - The saved image has more pixels than the viewport: inspect the device scale setting. Device-pixel output can be denser while retaining the same CSS viewport.
- The screenshot shows a blank or incomplete page: navigation finishing does not necessarily mean all page-specific content is ready. Wait for a relevant selector or other condition suited to the site.
- You changed the viewport but needed only a crop: keep the viewport as-is and define a clip rectangle for the desired region.
- The page still does not match a particular device: viewport dimensions control layout width and height, but they do not by themselves configure every screen or device characteristic. Configure the screen and viewport through the browser context when that distinction matters.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo is a screenshot API and MCP server for developers. A GET request supplies the target URL and returns a PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF; viewport and other capture options are documented in the ScreenshotNeo API docs. For example, this call captures a page using the API’s default settings:
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Cost and repeat-capture considerations
For a one-off capture or a workflow that needs direct browser control, Playwright lets you choose the viewport and page state in code. For repeat captures, weigh the effort of maintaining the browser environment against a hosted API’s request model. If you require exact raw image dimensions, verify output scale as well as viewport dimensions; if you need repeatable responsive behavior, set dimensions before navigation and use a suitable readiness condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does setting a viewport guarantee the screenshot’s raw pixel dimensions match it?
No. Viewport dimensions are in CSS pixels; device scaling can produce a denser image with more raw pixels.
Can I capture a page section without changing its responsive layout?
Yes. Use a clip rectangle for the region rather than resizing the viewport.
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