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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Set format=pdf in your ScreenshotOne request. With the default response_type=by_format, the API returns the response as binary PDF data, so save or process it as a PDF rather than treating it as a PNG. For a one-page document with background graphics, add pdf_fit_one_page=true and pdf_print_background=true.
Change the output format to PDF
ScreenshotOne supports GET query parameters and POST JSON requests over HTTPS. Add format=pdf to the request. When using the default response_type=by_format, the response body contains the selected format as binary data, and the API sets the response content type according to that format.
For a GET request, the core change is:
format=pdfFor example, append it to your existing request URL as a query parameter, taking care to preserve your existing access key and other options. For POST, include "format": "pdf" in the JSON body.
ScreenshotOne’s options documentation describes PDF as a supported format and by_format as the default response type: ScreenshotOne options. Its getting-started guide covers request methods and response handling: ScreenshotOne getting started.
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Choose page layout and print options
Fit the page to one sheet
To create a one-page document that approximates a full-page screenshot without splitting the page across multiple sheets, use pdf_fit_one_page=true. ScreenshotOne describes this option as an attempt to fit the website onto one page; it is not a guarantee that every page will remain legible at its original scale.
Include background graphics
Set pdf_print_background=true to include background graphics. The documented default for this option is false.
For a one-page-style result that includes backgrounds, combine the options like this:
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format=pdf&media_type=screen&pdf_print_background=true&pdf_fit_one_page=trueScreenshotOne’s changelog entry dated February 2, 2024, records the addition of one-page PDF rendering and background graphics controls: ScreenshotOne changelog.
Set paper size, orientation, and margins
The PDF controls also include pdf_landscape for orientation, pdf_paper_format for paper size, and pdf_margin plus per-side margin overrides. The options page is inconsistent about the default paper size: its option description lists letter, while another statement says A4. If paper size matters, set pdf_paper_format explicitly rather than relying on the default.
Handle the response as a PDF file
With response_type=by_format, the response body is binary data in the selected format. Save those bytes to a file with a .pdf extension, or pass them to a PDF-processing library. Do not decode the body as text or treat it as PNG image data. Check the response’s Content-Type when validating the output; the API documents that it corresponds to the selected format.
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Other response types, including empty and json, are available. Use the default by_format when you want the direct file response.
Use GET or POST appropriately
- GET: Convenient for ordinary requests using URL parameters.
- POST with JSON: Prefer this for large HTML or Markdown input instead of placing a large payload in the URL.
- HTTPS: ScreenshotOne recommends making API requests over HTTPS.
Troubleshoot PDF responses
The response is still a PNG
Confirm that the request actually includes format=pdf and that the parameter is being sent as a query parameter for GET or as a JSON field for POST. Check that application code is not overriding the requested format later in the request-building process.
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Make sure the client saves the raw response bytes, not a string conversion, JSON serialization, or base64 transformation that was never requested. Confirm the response status and Content-Type before saving the body as a PDF.
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The PDF is split across pages or lacks backgrounds
Set pdf_fit_one_page=true if you want ScreenshotOne to attempt a single-page layout, and pdf_print_background=true if background graphics should appear. Set paper format, orientation, and margins explicitly when those details affect the result.
The API returns an error
ScreenshotOne’s getting-started documentation says errors may result from internal failures, invalid options, or limits, and describes HTTP status meanings and a JSON error object. Inspect the HTTP status and error response before retrying; correct invalid parameters or address the reported limit rather than repeatedly sending an unchanged request.
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For a direct PDF response with ScreenshotNeo, use its API instead:
Quick Recap
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -d format=pdf -o shot.pdfSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options. ScreenshotNeo removes cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before a shot; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed. Its MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card, and paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up free for ScreenshotNeo.
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