Use PhantomJS’s webpage module, open the URL, and call page.render(). Save the following as screenshot.js, then run phantomjs screenshot.js from a terminal where the PhantomJS executable is on your PATH:
var page = require('webpage').create();
page.open('https://example.com/', function (status) {
if (status === 'success') {
page.render('screenshot.png');
} else {
console.log('Could not load the page');
}
phantom.exit();
});The callback receives success or fail. Testing that value before rendering prevents a failed navigation from producing a misleading image. PhantomJS’s command-line documentation is written for PhantomJS 2.1.1; that identifies the documentation target, not a current release. The project’s official homepage now warns: “Important: PhantomJS development is suspended until further notice (more details).”
Prerequisites and the smallest working script
Install and verify PhantomJS
Install PhantomJS using the package or binary appropriate for your operating system, then verify that the executable is discoverable:
phantomjs --versionIf the shell reports that the command cannot be found, add the PhantomJS directory to PATH or invoke the executable with its full path. The script itself uses PhantomJS’s built-in CommonJS-style require('webpage'); it is not a Node.js script and should not be run with node.
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Run the capture
phantomjs screenshot.jsA successful run writes screenshot.png in the process’s current directory. Use an absolute output path when an automated job runs from an unexpected working directory.
Set the browser viewport
viewportSize controls the virtual browser window used to lay out the page. Set it before page.open() so responsive breakpoints are selected during navigation:
var page = require('webpage').create();
page.viewportSize = { width: 1366, height: 768 };
page.open('https://example.com/', function (status) {
if (status === 'success') {
page.render('desktop.png');
} else {
console.log('Could not load the page');
}
phantom.exit();
});Changing the viewport is different from cropping. A 375-pixel viewport can cause a site to render its mobile layout; a 375-pixel crop of a 1366-pixel viewport merely cuts away pixels from the desktop layout.
Capture only part of a page
Use page.clipRect to define the rectangle PhantomJS renders. Coordinates are measured from the page’s top-left corner. This example captures a 1024 by 768 region:
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var page = require('webpage').create();
page.viewportSize = { width: 1366, height: 900 };
page.clipRect = { top: 0, left: 0, width: 1024, height: 768 };
page.open('https://example.com/', function (status) {
if (status === 'success') {
page.render('cropped.png');
} else {
console.log('Could not load the page');
}
phantom.exit();
});To capture a lower section, increase top; to capture a right-hand section, increase left. The rectangle must fit the rendered content you intend to include. For a component whose position changes between pages, calculate its bounds inside the page and assign them to clipRect before rendering:
page.open('https://example.com/', function (status) {
if (status !== 'success') {
console.log('Could not load the page');
phantom.exit();
return;
}
var box = page.evaluate(function () {
var element = document.querySelector('.pricing-card');
if (!element) return null;
var r = element.getBoundingClientRect();
return { top: r.top, left: r.left, width: r.width, height: r.height };
});
if (!box) {
console.log('Element not found');
phantom.exit();
return;
}
page.clipRect = box;
page.render('pricing-card.png');
phantom.exit();
});That approach is sensitive to scroll position and to pages that move after loading. If the element is below the initial viewport, scroll it into view in page.evaluate() first, then measure it.
Choose PNG, JPEG, PDF, or another output
page.render() selects the output format from the filename extension. The render API lists PDF, PNG, JPEG, BMP, PPM, and (where the Qt build supports it) GIF; the screen-capture guide specifically documents PNG, JPEG, GIF, and PDF.
PNG for lossless screenshots
page.render('page.png');PNG quality settings affect lossless compression, not visible image quality. PNG is usually the safest choice for text, diagrams, and UI screenshots.
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JPEG for smaller photographic files
page.render('page.jpg', { quality: 85 });JPEG quality ranges from 0 to 100, with a default of 75. Lower values reduce file size but introduce compression artifacts around text and sharp edges.
PDF output
page.render('page.pdf');PDF pagination and layout depend on the PhantomJS/Qt build and the page’s print styles. If you need a controlled paper size, margins, landscape mode, or page ranges, a maintained browser or a screenshot service is generally easier to configure.
Wait for content before rendering
page.open()‘s success status means navigation completed according to PhantomJS; it does not guarantee that every application-rendered image or data request has finished. For a known element, poll until it exists, then render:
var page = require('webpage').create();
page.viewportSize = { width: 1280, height: 800 };
page.open('https://example.com/dashboard', function (status) {
if (status !== 'success') {
console.log('Could not load the page');
phantom.exit();
return;
}
var waited = 0;
var timer = setInterval(function () {
var ready = page.evaluate(function () {
return !!document.querySelector('#dashboard-ready');
});
if (ready) {
clearInterval(timer);
page.render('dashboard.png');
phantom.exit();
} else if ((waited += 250) >= 10000) {
clearInterval(timer);
console.log('Timed out waiting for #dashboard-ready');
phantom.exit();
}
}, 250);
});A fixed delay can be useful for a simple page, but a selector-based condition is less wasteful and makes failures diagnosable. Avoid rendering before fonts, images, or client-side data have arrived when those assets determine the screenshot.
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Full-page captures and their limits
Increasing viewportSize.height captures more of the initial viewport, not automatically the entire document. PhantomJS’s official screen-capture material points to the rasterize.js example for more complete rasterization and PDF examples. Do not assume that a remote copy of that example exists in every installation; obtain the example from the version you actually installed and adapt it to your page.
Long pages can contain lazy-loaded images that appear only after scrolling. A script can scroll in increments and wait between movements, but this is site-specific and can still miss content that depends on intersection observers or user interaction. Test the resulting image rather than treating a successful process exit as proof of completeness.
Reliable error handling and diagnostics
Navigation failed
- Symptom: the callback status is
fail. - Cause: DNS, TLS, connection, redirect, or page-load problems.
- Fix: log the URL, verify it from the same machine, check proxy and certificate settings, and do not call
render()until status issuccess.
The image is blank or incomplete
- Symptom: a white page, missing charts, or unloaded images.
- Cause: asynchronous rendering, blocked resources, or a script error in the legacy browser engine.
- Fix: wait for a readiness selector, add page-level logging, and inspect the page in a compatible maintained browser. A modern site may require APIs or JavaScript features PhantomJS does not implement.
The crop is misplaced
- Symptom: the desired element is clipped or shifted.
- Cause: confusing viewport dimensions with clip coordinates, or measuring before layout settles.
- Fix: set
viewportSizefirst, wait for layout, measure withgetBoundingClientRect(), and then assignclipRect.
The command works locally but not in automation
- Symptom: a scheduled job cannot find PhantomJS or writes files elsewhere.
- Cause: a different
PATHand working directory. - Fix: use an absolute executable and output path, record
phantomjs --version, and preserve the process exit status in the job.
Security, compatibility, and maintenance considerations
PhantomJS is a legacy headless browser. Its official homepage says development is suspended, so modern TLS behavior, JavaScript syntax, CSS, web components, bot defenses, and authentication flows may not match current browsers. Treat it as a compatibility-dependent component of an existing system, not a new default for greenfield automation. Avoid placing secrets directly in scripts that may be committed, and be careful when loading untrusted URLs because a screenshot worker is still a networked browser process.
Puppeteer’s official Page API exposes page.screenshot() with a path-based example. It is a reasonable alternative to investigate when maintaining a new workflow, but available evidence does not establish a universal performance or visual-quality improvement over PhantomJS. Compare the browser versions, deployment footprint, authentication needs, and maintenance burden for your project.
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Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo provides a hosted screenshot API and MCP server. One GET request returns PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF, while the service handles browser setup:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo documentation for parameters and response details. Before capture, it accepts cookie or consent banners and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each cleanup step can be disabled. Bot checks and CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing result.
It also supports full-page captures with lazy images loaded, CSS-selector element captures, dark mode, device presets and custom viewports, retina scale, PDF paper settings and page ranges, HTML/CSS rendering, custom JavaScript, clicks, selector waits, delays, network-idle waits, request and resource blocking, headers, cookies, user agents, authorization, timezone, geolocation, transparent backgrounds, resizing, chosen cache TTLs, signed image links, asynchronous jobs with signed webhooks, bulk capture of up to 100 URLs per call, a usage API, and an OpenAPI specification. Parameter names used by other screenshot APIs are accepted to ease migration.
An MCP server exposes take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf to Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients, so an AI agent can request captures without you wiring a PhantomJS process. The Free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. All features are available on every plan. Create a free ScreenshotNeo account.
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PhantomJS versus a hosted capture service
| Concern | PhantomJS script | ScreenshotNeo |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Your machine or CI worker | Hosted API, plus MCP tools |
| Modern-site maintenance | You maintain a suspended legacy browser | Browser setup is managed by the service |
| Consent and overlays | You must script page-specific handling | Known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets are removed before capture |
| Failed pages | Your infrastructure absorbs the attempt | Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed |
| Starting allowance | Depends on your infrastructure | 1,000 free shots per month, no card |
Practical checklist
- Confirm PhantomJS is installed and on
PATH. - Set
viewportSizebefore opening the URL. - Check
status === 'success'before rendering. - Wait for application content that is not present at navigation completion.
- Use
clipRectonly when you need a crop; it does not change responsive layout. - Choose the filename extension and JPEG quality deliberately.
- Use absolute paths and record the PhantomJS version in CI.
- Test representative modern pages before committing to this suspended project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run the PhantomJS screenshot script with Node.js?
No. The script uses PhantomJS’s webpage module and must be launched with the phantomjs executable.
What does a PhantomJS screenshot cost?
The software workflow has no per-shot service charge; your costs are the machine, storage, and maintenance needed to run it. A hosted option such as ScreenshotNeo has a free allowance and paid plans beginning at $5 for 3,000 shots.
Why does a successful status still produce a missing chart?
Navigation completion and application readiness are different. Wait for a page-specific selector or other readiness signal before calling render().
Is PhantomJS 2.1.1 current?
2.1.1 is the version named by the command-line documentation. The project homepage says development is suspended, so do not interpret that documentation as evidence of a current release.
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