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Identify which assets are missing
Compare the source page with the generated PDF, then separate missing <img> elements from missing CSS rules and CSS background images. Check the conversion request and the resource URLs involved. Confirm that each URL resolves correctly and can be reached from the conversion service. This is a practical diagnostic step; PDFShift’s reviewed documentation does not provide a complete checklist for URL resolution, authentication, firewalls, or stylesheet errors.
If the source page relies on JavaScript to display content, determine whether the resource is absent from the PDF because it has not loaded by capture time. PDFShift specifically identifies lazy loading as a possible cause of missing images: conversion does not ordinarily scroll the page, while some sites load images only as the visitor scrolls to them. PDFShift Help Center: “All my images are not loaded when I convert to PDF?”
Fix images that load on scroll
Trigger a scroll before conversion
PDFShift’s quick remedy is to run JavaScript that scrolls to the bottom of the document before capture. Add this to the conversion request’s javascript option:
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{
"javascript": "window.scrollTo(0, document.body.scrollHeight);"
}This can trigger loading for images deferred until they become visible. If a page loads in stages, a single immediate scroll may not be enough; use a readiness condition suited to the page rather than assuming that scrolling guarantees every resource has finished loading.
Wait for a page-specific readiness condition
PDFShift’s help article shows a global isPDFShiftReady function paired with wait_for. The API option reference describes wait_for as waiting for a globally available function to return a truthy value. A simplified pattern is:
{
"javascript": "window.scrollTo(0, document.body.scrollHeight); window.isPDFShiftReady = function () { return Array.from(document.images).every(img => img.complete); }",
"wait_for": "isPDFShiftReady"
}Adapt the function to the page and the integration you use. The img.complete property alone does not establish that an image loaded successfully: PDFShift warns that a failed image can leave a readiness check false, blocking and ultimately failing conversion. Include a timeout or explicit failure path in your application so an unreachable image does not make a job wait indefinitely. Check PDFShift’s API documentation for the current request format and option behavior.
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Check the image-loading option against your integration
PDFShift’s Elixir client reference, version 0.2.4, lists lazy_load_images as an option for images otherwise loaded only when visible. That is a versioned client reference, not evidence that the same option or behavior applies to every API version and integration. Verify it in the documentation for the API or SDK you actually use before relying on it. PDFShift Elixir client documentation
Fix missing stylesheet rules
Verify the stylesheet URL and access
Confirm that the stylesheet URL responds successfully and that the conversion service can access it. Also verify that the request is converting the intended page and that its print behavior is appropriate for the document. A stylesheet that works in your own browser may still be unavailable to the converter; inspect the affected job’s resource responses rather than treating CSS injection as proof of the underlying cause.
Pass the required CSS directly
PDFShift’s css parameter accepts either a CSS string or a URL. Use it to add required rules to the document when that suits your workflow:
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{
"css": "body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; }"
}Alternatively, provide a stylesheet URL through css. PDFShift’s guide demonstrates that form and the client reference describes the parameter as appending styles to the document. Check the current API documentation for the exact request shape used by your integration. PDFShift documentation
Inlining required CSS in the HTML or passing it directly can reduce dependence on an external stylesheet. It is not a guaranteed fix if the problem is an invalid rule, the wrong source page, or a separate rendering issue.
Check page status and capture timing
The PDFShift client option reference lists raise_for_status, which stops conversion if the source status is not 2xx, and delay, which waits before capture (up to 10 seconds in that reference). These can help diagnose a source page that is still loading, but the reference does not establish that a longer delay fixes a missing stylesheet or image URL. When possible, wait for a specific page condition with wait_for instead of adding an arbitrary delay. Confirm option availability and limits for your API version and client.
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Reduce avoidable external dependencies
PDFShift recommends reducing network requests as a way to improve conversion speed. Its guidance includes sending raw HTML rather than a URL where feasible, inlining CSS and JavaScript where practical, removing unnecessary scripts, using base64 data for suitable images, and optimizing image dimensions. PDFShift’s conversion performance guidance
These are optimization measures, not a diagnosis for a particular failed asset. Embedded resources can reduce reliance on external requests, but you still need to investigate the resource that failed in the affected job. Avoid embedding very large assets without considering the effect on request size and processing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common failure patterns and fixes
| What you see | Likely issue to investigate | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Images below the initial viewport are absent | They may be loaded only after scrolling. | Trigger a scroll before capture, then wait for a page-specific readiness condition. |
| The PDF job waits or fails after adding an image check | A failed image may keep the readiness predicate false. | Add a timeout or explicit failure-handling path; inspect the image response. |
| Text and layout appear unstyled | The stylesheet may be missing, inaccessible, or not included in the converted document. | Check the stylesheet response and converter access; consider required inline CSS or the css parameter. |
| Only background images are absent | The problem may involve a CSS rule or the external resource it references, rather than an <img> element. |
Inspect the relevant stylesheet rule and image URL, then verify access from the conversion context. |
| A fixed delay does not change the result | The asset may be unreachable or the page may need a specific readiness condition. | Inspect resource responses and use a targeted wait_for check where appropriate. |
The patterns above are troubleshooting branches, not a diagnosis of any specific job. Identifying a particular cause requires the source URL or HTML, request parameters, stylesheet and image responses, and conversion result.
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