Use Playwright’s Python API: install Playwright and its browser binaries, launch a browser, navigate to a URL, then save the page with page.screenshot(). It supports viewport, full-page, and element captures, plus PNG, JPEG, and WebP output. Playwright runs headlessly by default, so the same approach works for local scripts and CI jobs.
Install Playwright and its browser
Playwright requires both its Python package and browser binaries. Install the package in your project’s virtual environment, then run the browser installation command. The official Playwright Python guide covers supported operating systems and the installation flow.
python -m pip install playwrightplaywright install
The second command installs the supported browser binaries, including Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit. If you only need one engine, the installation guide explains how to install a specific browser. Run the commands in the same Python environment that will execute your script.
Take a basic website screenshot
This synchronous example opens Chromium, fixes the viewport, waits for network activity to settle, and writes a PNG file:
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from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
with sync_playwright() as p:
browser = p.chromium.launch()
page = browser.new_page(viewport={"width": 1440, "height": 900})
page.goto("https://example.com", wait_until="networkidle")
page.screenshot(path="example.png")
browser.close()Save it as screenshot.py and run python screenshot.py. Playwright’s basic workflow is launch a browser, create a page, navigate, capture, and close the browser; see the official screenshot guide. By default, Playwright runs browsers headlessly. For interactive debugging, set headless=False in p.chromium.launch().
Capture a full page or one element
Full-page screenshot
Set full_page=True to capture the full scrollable page rather than only the visible viewport:
page.screenshot(path="full.png", full_page=True)Screenshot a specific element
Use a locator to capture a matching element, such as a header. Locator screenshots can disable animations to reduce motion-related differences:
page.locator("header").screenshot(
path="header.png",
animations="disabled",
)The locator must resolve to the element you intend to capture. If it does not appear promptly, wait for the selector before taking the screenshot, for example with page.locator("header").wait_for(). The locator screenshot options are described in the screenshot guide.
Choose image format and capture options
page.screenshot() accepts options for format, scale, background, masking, and timeout. The Page screenshot API reference documents the available parameters.
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| Option | What it controls | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
type |
Output format: "png", "jpeg", or "webp". |
Choose PNG for lossless output; choose JPEG or WebP when compressed output is more appropriate. |
quality |
Compression quality for JPEG or WebP. | Use only with JPEG or WebP. It does not apply to PNG. |
scale |
"css" outputs one image pixel per CSS pixel; "device" preserves device-pixel density. |
Use CSS scale when output dimensions should be consistent across machines with different display density. |
omit_background |
Omits the page background where transparency is supported. | Use for transparent output; JPEG does not support transparency. |
timeout |
Limits how long the screenshot operation may take. | Set a bound appropriate to your workflow and handle timeouts explicitly. |
mask |
Covers one or more locator-matched regions in the screenshot. | Mask changing items such as timestamps or avatars when they are not part of the comparison. |
style |
Injects CSS for the screenshot operation. | Hide or normalize content that would otherwise vary between captures. |
Example with WebP output and a masked dynamic region:
page.screenshot(
path="stable.webp",
type="webp",
quality=80,
mask=[page.locator(".timestamp")],
)Confirm that the page’s selector matches real content. A mask changes what appears in the output; it does not remove the corresponding content from the website itself.
Use asynchronous Python
For applications that already use asyncio, Playwright provides an asynchronous API as well as the synchronous one:
import asyncio
from playwright.async_api import async_playwright
async def main():
async with async_playwright() as p:
browser = await p.chromium.launch()
try:
page = await browser.new_page()
await page.goto("https://example.com")
await page.screenshot(path="example.png")
finally:
await browser.close()
asyncio.run(main())Use playwright.async_api consistently in asynchronous code; do not mix its awaited operations with the synchronous API. The Python documentation describes both API styles.
Make automated captures repeatable
For visual checks, scheduled jobs, or screenshot archives, consistency depends on controlling both browser settings and page state. A fixed viewport alone cannot make content deterministic if the site displays live data, rotating promotions, or animation.
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- Fix the browser context. Use a known viewport and keep browser engine and relevant context settings consistent across runs.
- Wait for the right state.
wait_until="networkidle"can be a practical starting point, but long-polling or continuously active pages may never become idle. In those cases, wait for a meaningful selector or another readiness condition specific to the page. - Control motion. Disable animations in locator captures or inject CSS with the screenshot
styleoption to normalize animated elements. - Mask changing regions. Use
maskfor timestamps, ads, avatars, or other content that is expected to vary and is irrelevant to the comparison. - Choose pixel scale deliberately.
scale="css"keeps output dimensions tied to CSS pixels rather than a host’s device-pixel density. - Close reliably. In production scripts, close the browser in a
finallyblock so exceptions do not leave browser processes running.
Run screenshots in CI or a scheduled job
Playwright’s headless default makes it suitable for environments without a visible desktop. A CI job still needs the Playwright package, the matching browser binaries, and any operating-system dependencies required by that browser. Follow the official Playwright CI guide for environment-specific setup rather than assuming a browser installed on a developer’s machine is available in the runner.
Keep capture scripts explicit about their inputs and outputs: fix the viewport, choose a readiness condition that fits the page, write predictable filenames, and return a failing process status when navigation or capture raises an error. When debugging a CI-only failure, first reproduce with the same browser engine and headless setting locally; use headless=False when a local display is available to inspect the page state.
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Both can automate browser screenshots. The practical choice depends on the browser coverage and automation setup you already need.
| Consideration | Playwright Python | Selenium Python |
|---|---|---|
| Browser engines | Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit are documented. | Depends on the configured WebDriver and browser. |
| API style | Synchronous and asynchronous APIs are documented. | Python WebDriver API. |
| Capture scope | Viewport, full page, element, and buffer options are documented. | File and full-page screenshot methods are documented. |
| Headless use | Headless by default in Playwright’s documented usage. | Supported when the browser is configured headlessly. |
| Natural fit | Modern cross-browser screenshot automation and repeatable capture workflows. | Projects already using Selenium and WebDriver. |
For new screenshot automation that needs the documented browser-engine choices and both sync and async APIs, Playwright is a strong starting point. Selenium can be the lower-friction choice in an existing WebDriver estate. Driver and browser setup can change over time, so consult the current Selenium documentation before implementing environment-specific details.
Troubleshoot common failures
Playwright cannot find the browser executable
Cause: The Python package is installed, but the browser binaries are missing or were installed for a different environment. Fix: Run playwright install from the same environment used to execute the script. In CI, install browsers as part of the job setup.
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The page looks unfinished or parts are missing
Cause: The screenshot was taken before the page’s relevant content appeared, or the chosen wait condition does not represent readiness for that site. Fix: Wait for the specific content with a locator, such as page.locator("main").wait_for(), and use network-idle waiting only when the page can actually become idle.
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Navigation hangs or times out
Cause: Some pages keep network connections active, so waiting for network idle may not complete as expected. Fix: Use a more suitable navigation wait condition and wait separately for a page-specific selector. Set navigation and screenshot timeouts to bounds that fit the task, and handle timeout exceptions so one URL does not stop an entire batch unexpectedly.
Image comparisons differ between runs
Cause: Viewport, device-pixel scale, animation, live content, or browser context differs. Fix: Fix the viewport and context, select scale="css" if consistent CSS-pixel dimensions matter, disable motion where possible, and mask intentionally variable regions.
Transparent background is absent
Cause: The selected format cannot represent transparency, or the page itself paints a background. Fix: Use a format that supports transparency rather than JPEG and set omit_background=True where supported.
A locator screenshot fails to capture the intended area
Cause: The locator does not identify the expected element, or it is not ready when capture begins. Fix: Verify the selector against the page, wait for the locator, and use the locator’s screenshot method rather than a page screenshot when the target is a single element.
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Or skip the browser setup
If you want an API call instead of installing and maintaining a browser, ScreenshotNeo takes website screenshots through one request. The same service offers an MCP server with take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. Cookie banners and consent overlays, newsletter popups, and chat widgets are removed before capture; those cleanup steps can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed, and responses report page verdict and billing status in headers.
For example, save a screenshot of a URL as WebP with cURL:
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-d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY
--data-urlencode url=https://example.com
-o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request parameters and response details. The API also supports PNG, JPEG, and PDF output, full-page and element captures, viewport and device settings, custom CSS and JavaScript, waits, and more. Every feature is on every plan. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month without a card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots. Sign up for the free plan to try it without a card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Playwright save a screenshot to memory instead of a file?
Yes. The screenshot API can return image bytes when you omit the path; consult the Page screenshot API reference for the buffer behavior.
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Can Playwright capture a PDF as well as an image?
Playwright’s screenshot method produces image output. For PDF capture, use the browser’s PDF capability where supported or a dedicated PDF capture workflow.
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