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Use URL2PNG’s v6 screenshot endpoint from server-side Next.js code, then render the returned image URL inside a card. The key detail is signing the exact query string with your API secret; keep that secret on the server, not in a browser component. URL2PNG’s reviewed documentation provides Node.js examples, but no Next.js-specific recipe or Next.js package.
How the URL2PNG request works
URL2PNG’s documented v6 flow builds a PNG endpoint URL containing your API key and a request token. The query string carries the encoded target URL and capture options. The token is an MD5 hash of the entire query string concatenated with your account secret. Because changing parameter order or encoding can change the signed string, construct the query once and use that same exact string when generating the token and request URL.
URL2PNG’s Quickstart Guide shows Node.js usage with the url2png package, including building a screenshot URL or reading image data. The approach below is a server-side Next.js adaptation of the documented signing design, not a vendor-provided Next.js integration. Confirm the installed package API and URL-encoding behavior against the current guide before relying on it; the example is not represented as tested.
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Keep credentials and signing on the server
Create a server-only environment configuration, for example URL2PNG_API_KEY and URL2PNG_SECRET, and do not prefix either with NEXT_PUBLIC_. Never calculate the token in a client component or expose the secret in HTML, browser JavaScript, or a public API response. Validate target URLs before signing them, and allow only the destinations your product needs if users can submit URLs; this reduces the risk of your server being used to request unintended targets.
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Build a signed screenshot URL
This helper uses Node’s crypto module and URLSearchParams to form a deterministic encoded query string. Pass only validated, server-approved URLs and explicit options. Check URL2PNG’s current request format and encoding expectations before deployment, especially if using options not shown here.
import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
const endpoint = "https://api.url2png.com/v6/";
type ScreenshotOptions = {
viewport?: string;
thumbnailMaxWidth?: number;
fullpage?: boolean;
ttl?: number;
delay?: number;
unique?: string;
};
export function buildUrl2PngUrl(target: string, options: ScreenshotOptions = {}) {
const apiKey = process.env.URL2PNG_API_KEY;
const secret = process.env.URL2PNG_SECRET;
if (!apiKey || !secret) throw new Error("URL2PNG credentials are not configured");
const targetUrl = new URL(target);
if (!["http:", "https:"].includes(targetUrl.protocol)) {
throw new Error("Only http and https target URLs are allowed");
}
const params = new URLSearchParams();
params.set("url", targetUrl.toString());
if (options.viewport) params.set("viewport", options.viewport);
if (options.thumbnailMaxWidth !== undefined) {
params.set("thumbnail_max_width", String(options.thumbnailMaxWidth));
}
if (options.fullpage !== undefined) params.set("fullpage", String(options.fullpage));
if (options.ttl !== undefined) params.set("ttl", String(options.ttl));
if (options.delay !== undefined) params.set("delay", String(options.delay));
if (options.unique) params.set("unique", options.unique);
const query = params.toString();
const token = createHash("md5").update(query + secret).digest("hex");
return `${endpoint}${encodeURIComponent(apiKey)}/${token}/png/?${query}`;
}Do not independently rebuild or reorder the query after computing token. If you add parameters, include them before signing. Treat the exact endpoint path and token placement as subject to the vendor’s current documentation.
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Use the image in a Next.js screenshot card
Generate the signed URL in server-side code and pass it to the card as an image source. The external service renders the target page; your Next.js app controls the card’s layout, dimensions, loading behavior, and accessible description. A plain image element avoids requiring a remote-host allowlist in Next.js image configuration.
type ScreenshotCardProps = {
title: string;
targetUrl: string;
};
export function ScreenshotCard({ title, targetUrl }: ScreenshotCardProps) {
const imageUrl = buildUrl2PngUrl(targetUrl, {
viewport: "1480x1037",
thumbnailMaxWidth: 640,
fullpage: false,
});
return (
<a className="screenshot-card" href={targetUrl}>
<img
src={imageUrl}
alt={`Screenshot preview of ${title}`}
width="640"
loading="eager"
/>
<span>{title}</span>
</a>
);
}In an App Router project, call the helper from a Server Component or a server-only route. A Client Component should receive only the image URL, never the signing secret. If cards are created from user-controlled data, perform validation on the server before generating the URL. Choose an alt description that communicates the preview’s purpose; if the linked title already identifies the destination, avoid redundant wording in surrounding accessible text.
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Choose capture settings for the card
| Option | Effect | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
viewport |
Sets rendered browser dimensions; the Quickstart gives a default of 1480×1037. | Use a desktop-sized viewport for consistent compact previews, or choose dimensions matching the experience you want to show. |
thumbnail_max_width |
Scales the output to a specified maximum width. | Set it near the displayed card width to limit oversized image delivery. The app still controls its own CSS sizing. |
fullpage |
Attempts to capture the full document instead of only the viewport; default is false. | Keep it false for ordinary cards. Use full-page capture when the card is meant to preview a long page, recognizing that the resulting image may be unusually tall. |
unique |
Changes the cache key to request a fresh capture. | Vary it when you need a new render rather than a cached image. |
ttl |
Sets cache lifetime in seconds; documented default is 2,592,000 seconds (30 days). | Use a shorter lifetime when destinations change often, or retain the default for stable previews. |
delay |
Waits after document readiness and asset loading. | Try it for pages that need extra time to finish rendering before capture. |
custom_css_url |
Applies custom CSS during capture. | Use when the captured page needs presentation adjustments supported by your capture workflow. |
say_cheese |
Provides further control over capture timing. | Consult the Quickstart for its exact behavior and accepted values before using it. |
accept_languages |
Sets accepted language preferences for the capture. | Use when the target site varies content by language. |
user_agent |
Sets the capture browser’s user-agent header. | Use only where a specific user-agent is needed; do not assume it can bypass a site’s access controls. |
These are configuration trade-offs, not performance guarantees. A viewport-only capture generally fits a compact preview better, while full-page capture prioritizes page coverage over card proportions.
Understand freshness, cache behavior, and usage
The Quickstart documents a default TTL of 2,592,000 seconds (30 days). URL2PNG’s plans page says cached screenshot retrieval does not count against plan usage, while a newly generated screenshot counts as a render; the plans page also says cached screenshots are retained for 30 days. A stable cache key can therefore serve the same captured image during its cache period, while changing unique asks for a different capture.
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Use caching deliberately: long-lived previews reduce fresh renders but can lag behind changes to the target page; forcing new captures improves freshness but uses render allowance. URL2PNG’s live plans page, checked on 2026-10-03, displayed 5,000 fresh screenshots for $29/month, 20,000 for $99/month, and 50,000 for $199/month, plus Enterprise, and said it offered no free accounts. These prices and terms can change, so consult the live page before choosing a plan.
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Troubleshoot common integration problems
- The image request is rejected or does not return an image: verify the API key, secret, token, endpoint path, and PNG route against the current Quickstart. Ensure the token was computed from the exact encoded query string being sent.
- The token is invalid after adding an option: add the option before signing, then regenerate the token. Any parameter or encoding change after signing makes the token inconsistent.
- The screenshot URL exposes a credential: move URL construction into server-only code and inspect rendered HTML and network responses. Do not put the secret in client code or a
NEXT_PUBLIC_variable. - The screenshot looks cropped: check
viewportandfullpage. A viewport capture shows only the browser area; full-page mode attempts to include the document. - The screenshot is stale: review the TTL and cache key. Vary
uniquewhen a new capture is needed and account for its fresh-render usage. - Content is missing because it renders late: try a suitable
delay, and review the guide’s timing controls such assay_cheese. More waiting can increase response time, so use it only for targets that need it. - Images look soft or too large in the card: align
thumbnail_max_widthwith the display size and set explicit card dimensions or responsive CSS in the host app. - Local development works but deployment fails: confirm both credentials exist in the production server environment and that the request runs on the server rather than a browser-only component.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo can return a screenshot from one GET request, in PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF formats. Its clean-shot flow accepts cookie/consent banners like a visitor and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; those steps can be turned off. Bot checks/CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits cost nothing, with response headers indicating the page verdict and billing status. It also provides an MCP server with take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for AI agents.
Example cURL request, using a target URL you choose:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does URL2PNG provide a Next.js package?
The reviewed URL2PNG documentation gives Node.js examples, not a Next.js-specific package or recipe.
Can I use a URL2PNG capture as a social sharing image?
The capture endpoint is for screenshot output; whether it meets a specific social platform’s image and metadata requirements depends on that platform and your implementation.
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