ApiFlash can capture a webpage as an image, but it does not automatically design a branded social card from a title and theme. To create an Open Graph preview image, first render the card on a page, capture that page with ApiFlash, make the resulting image publicly reachable, and set its URL in the shared page’s og:image metadata.
Choose what ApiFlash should capture
ApiFlash’s /v1/urltoimage endpoint captures a rendered webpage in Chrome. It is not a card-template generator. If you capture an ordinary page, the screenshot reflects that page’s layout. For a consistent, designed preview, create a dedicated page that displays the card at the dimensions you want to publish, then capture that page.
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Capture an existing page
Use this when the page already looks suitable as a preview and you do not need a separate social-card design. Review the resulting image carefully: viewport size, page layout, and capture settings affect what appears.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteCapture a dedicated card page
Use this when you need precise control over branding, typography, colors, and composition. Build a page that renders only the intended card, and ensure it is reachable by ApiFlash. A dedicated route makes the output more predictable than capturing a full article page.
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Call the ApiFlash endpoint
Requests go to https://api.apiflash.com/v1/urltoimage. Supply a valid access key and a complete target URL beginning with http:// or https://. The API accepts GET requests with query parameters or POST requests with form data. Encode parameter values when needed.
Example GET request
Replace the key and URL with your own. This request saves the default image response to a file:
curl -G "https://api.apiflash.com/v1/urltoimage"
--data-urlencode "access_key=YOUR_API_KEY"
--data-urlencode "url=https://example.com/social-card"
--data-urlencode "width=1200"
--data-urlencode "height=630"
--data-urlencode "format=png"
-o preview.pngThe width and height here set the browser viewport; they are not a universal Open Graph requirement. Choose dimensions based on the design and the platforms where the preview will appear. The Open Graph protocol itself does not prescribe one image size for every social network.
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POST requests and response modes
ApiFlash also accepts POST requests with form data. By default, the response body is the screenshot image. If you set response_type=json, the response includes a link to the screenshot; JSON mode can also return extracted HTML or text when requested. Use the response mode that fits your publishing pipeline, and ensure any image URL you place in metadata is publicly fetchable by the services that generate previews.
Set capture dimensions and output
The documented defaults are a 1920 × 1080 viewport, JPEG output, image response, and a screenshot-cache time-to-live of 24 hours. Supported image formats are JPEG, PNG, and WebP. ApiFlash also documents quality controls for JPEG and WebP, viewport dimensions, full-page capture, and element capture.
- Viewport:
widthandheightdescribe the browser viewport used to render the page. The rendered image depends on the page’s layout and these settings. - Format: Choose JPEG, PNG, or WebP according to your compatibility and file-size needs. JPEG and WebP have documented quality controls.
- Full page: Set
full_page=trueto capture the full page; when enabled, theheightparameter is ignored. - Element: Use
elementwith a CSS selector to capture the first matching element. This can target a card on a larger page, though a dedicated card page can be easier to control. - Freshness: The
freshoption bypasses ApiFlash’s screenshot cache when you need a new capture.
ApiFlash documents a combined pixel-area limit for width and height. Check its current API reference for the precise bounds and current parameter restrictions before relying on a particular size: ApiFlash API documentation.
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- Capture Stunning Footage - Osmo Pocket 3 vlogging camera features a 1-inch CMOS sensor and records in 4K resolution at an impressive 120fps. Capture breathtaking night views and sunsets with enhanced clarity.
- Effortlessly Frame Your Shots - Get the ideal composition with Osmo Pocket 3's expansive 2-inch touch screen that rotates for both horizontal and vertical shooting.
- Ultra-Steady Footage - Say goodbye to shaky videos! Osmo Pocket 3's advanced 3-axis mechanical stabilization delivers superb stability. Enjoy smooth footage while dancing, chasing pets, or hiking.
- Create Captivating Vlogs With ActiveTrack 6.0 - Stay effortlessly in focus as you record on the go. Set Osmo Pocket 3 up on a tripod and jump, dance, or spin, but remain center-frame.
- Fast and Accurate Focusing - Osmo Pocket 3 digital camera locks onto your subject for sharp, clear footage. Whether filming action-packed scenes or still shots, it ensures every detail is captured.
Wait for the card to render
If the design is rendered asynchronously—for example, after JavaScript loads data—avoid assuming that a fixed delay will always be sufficient. ApiFlash recommends using wait_for or wait_until when suitable. Its documented fixed-delay range is 0–10 seconds. A wait_for selector wait aborts with an error if the selector does not appear within 15 seconds.
For a card page, wait for a selector that only exists once the finished card is visible, such as #social-card. For other readiness conditions, consult the API reference for supported wait_until values. A selector wait can fail if the selector is wrong, never becomes visible in the page, or appears after the documented timeout.
Publish the image URL in Open Graph metadata
Once the image is stored at a stable, publicly accessible URL, add Open Graph tags to the HTML of the page being shared. The protocol specifies four required properties: og:title, og:type, og:image, and og:url. Open Graph protocol describes og:image as the image representing the page.
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<meta property="og:title" content="Example article title">
<meta property="og:type" content="website">
<meta property="og:url" content="https://example.com/article">
<meta property="og:image" content="https://example.com/images/article-preview.png">
<meta property="og:image:alt" content="A description of the preview image">Use a type appropriate to the page rather than copying website automatically. The image URL should identify the actual image file and be retrievable by the preview consumers. Optional structured image properties include width, height, MIME type, secure URL, and alternative text.
Store the image and protect your API key
If you use the default image response, save the returned bytes to storage that serves the image at a public URL, then place that URL in og:image. If you use JSON mode, use the screenshot link as documented and confirm it remains suitable for your publishing setup. The shared page’s metadata and its image URL must both be available to the systems that fetch the preview.
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Check the generated preview
- Open the captured image and verify the card’s text, crop, dimensions, and visual appearance.
- Fetch the image URL without authentication to confirm it is accessible to intended preview consumers.
- Inspect the shared page’s served HTML and confirm its four required Open Graph properties point to the intended title, type, URL, and image.
- If the page or card changed, use ApiFlash’s
freshoption to bypass its screenshot cache when generating a replacement. - Check the preview again through the platform where it will be shared. ApiFlash’s capture cache and each social platform’s metadata or image cache are separate; a fresh screenshot does not guarantee a platform immediately refetches changed metadata.
Common problems and fixes
- Missing or invalid access key: Confirm the request includes a valid
access_key. Keep it on the server side rather than exposing it in public page code. - Target URL is rejected or unavailable: Supply a complete URL with
http://orhttps://and confirm the target page is reachable by the capture service. - Card content is absent: The page may render after the screenshot begins. Use a suitable
wait_forselector orwait_untilcondition; a fixed delay is limited to the documented 0–10-second range. - Selector wait fails: Check that the CSS selector matches an element on the rendered page and that it appears within the 15-second selector-wait limit.
- Only part of the page is captured: Use a viewport that fits the card, or use
full_page=trueif the intended output is the whole page. Full-page mode ignores the supplied height. - Image looks different from the design: Check the viewport dimensions, responsive breakpoints, page fonts and assets, and whether the capture targets the intended element. The API captures the rendered page rather than composing a card for you.
- Updated image does not appear in a share preview: Bypass ApiFlash’s screenshot cache with
freshwhen recapturing, then verify the new public URL and metadata. A platform can cache preview data independently, and the cited protocol does not specify a universal refresh procedure.
Or skip the browser setup
If your aim is a screenshot of a rendered page rather than specifically using ApiFlash, ScreenshotNeo offers a one-call screenshot API. It does not automatically design a branded card either: provide a page that renders the design, then use the resulting image URL in your metadata.
cURL example, adapted to your card page:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com/social-card -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options. ScreenshotNeo accepts and removes cookie/consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each of those steps can be turned off. Bot checks/CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers say which page verdict and billing status applied. Its MCP server provides screenshot tools for AI agents. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000.
Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Open Graph protocol require a particular preview-image size?
No universal image dimensions are specified by the protocol; choose dimensions for the design and intended platforms.
Does ApiFlash generate the social-card design from text?
No. It captures a rendered webpage, so create and style the card page or element first.
Does setting ApiFlash to fresh clear a social platform’s cached preview?
No. It bypasses ApiFlash’s screenshot cache, not separate caches maintained by platforms.
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