ScreenshotMachine’s documented workflow is an HTTP GET request to its screenshot API; the official sources reviewed do not document a ScreenshotMachine CLI or vendor-maintained Docker image. You can still run a reliable Docker-based command-line workflow by putting curl in a container, sending your ScreenshotMachine API key and capture parameters, and saving the image into a bind-mounted host folder. The setup below is a user-built API wrapper, not an official ScreenshotMachine CLI recipe.
What you need to know before starting
ScreenshotMachine documents its capture mechanism as an HTTP GET API. Its API reference says requests begin with https://api.screenshotmachine.com/? followed by query parameters, including a required customer key and capture settings such as the target URL and dimensions. See the ScreenshotMachine Website Screenshot API reference and its API code samples for the current parameter names and account requirements.
The commands here use a generic curl container plus Docker’s host-to-container bind mount. Docker documents running commands in containers and bind mounts in its container run guide. This does not imply ScreenshotMachine maintains the image or wrapper shown below. Confirm the endpoint and parameter spelling against ScreenshotMachine’s current reference before putting the command into production.
Run a ScreenshotMachine capture with Docker and curl
1. Create a host folder for the result
From a shell in the directory where you want to work, create an output directory:
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mkdir -p output2. Pass your API key securely
Set your customer key in the shell rather than writing it into the Dockerfile or image. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with the key from your ScreenshotMachine account:
export SCREENSHOTMACHINE_KEY='YOUR_API_KEY'Environment variables avoid baking the key into an image, but they can still be visible to users with access to the process or Docker configuration. In shared or production environments, use your platform’s secret-injection mechanism and limit who can inspect container settings.
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3. Start the container and save the screenshot on the host
This example requests a capture of https://example.com and writes the API response to output/page.png on your host. Check the current API reference for any account-specific parameters or required output settings:
docker run --rm
--mount "type=bind,src=$PWD/output,dst=/output"
-e SCREENSHOTMACHINE_KEY
curlimages/curl:latest
--fail --show-error --silent
--get 'https://api.screenshotmachine.com/'
--data-urlencode "key=$SCREENSHOTMACHINE_KEY"
--data-urlencode 'url=https://example.com'
--data-urlencode 'dimension=1024x768'
--output /output/page.pngDocker passes the environment variable into the container, while --mount makes the host’s output directory available at /output. The --data-urlencode options safely encode query values such as URLs that contain special characters. The curl --fail option returns a failure status for HTTP error responses rather than treating the response as a successful image download.
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After the command exits, check output/page.png. If ScreenshotMachine requires a different parameter name for your plan or image dimensions, update the corresponding query option using its current API reference rather than guessing.
Alternative: run a language client in a container
If your workflow already uses Node.js, ScreenshotMachine publishes language examples for constructing API requests and downloading the result. A runtime container can execute a script you supply, with the key passed at run time and an output directory mounted just as above. This provides language-level URL handling and download logic, but it is still your own wrapper rather than a ScreenshotMachine-maintained CLI or Docker image. See the official API examples for the current sample and parameters.
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Use curl when the task is a direct one-request download and you want fewer dependencies. Use a language client when your application needs to build requests, handle responses, or integrate capture into existing code. The reviewed official sources do not establish a vendor-supported Docker image or official CLI for either approach.
Common problems and fixes
- The container runs, but the host output folder is empty: Confirm that the bind mount’s source is the intended host directory and that the curl output path is inside the mounted destination, such as
/output/page.png. - The response is an HTTP error: With
--fail, curl exits unsuccessfully on HTTP errors. Verify the API key, target URL, endpoint, and parameter names against ScreenshotMachine’s API reference, then rerun with--show-erroroutput visible. - The saved file is not a usable image: The request may have returned an error response or another API result rather than the expected image. Inspect the HTTP status and response behavior using the vendor’s current documentation; do not assume a file extension alone guarantees the response format.
- The key is missing inside the container: Ensure the host variable is exported and that
-e SCREENSHOTMACHINE_KEYis present. For a secret manager, use its supported Docker or orchestrator integration instead of exposing a long-lived key in shell history. - A Docker image named like a screenshot CLI appears in search results: Check which service it targets. The Docker Hub image screenshotone/cli is described as a CLI for ScreenshotOne, a different service; it is not a ScreenshotMachine tool.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo is an alternative screenshot API with one GET request per capture. It removes cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before the shot; only clean shots are billed, so bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, and cache hits cost nothing. Its MCP server lets AI agents use screenshot tools, and the free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options.
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webpScreenshotNeo offers this as an API and MCP server for developers. Sign up free for 1,000 screenshots a month with no card.
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is screenshotmachine/cli an official ScreenshotMachine Docker image?
The official ScreenshotMachine sources reviewed for this guide document an HTTP API and code examples, but do not establish an official CLI or maintained Docker image.
Can I use the ScreenshotOne CLI for ScreenshotMachine?
No. The Docker Hub image screenshotone/cli is described as a CLI for ScreenshotOne, which is a different service.
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