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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →With Splash, you take a screenshot by loading a URL in a browser tab and returning image bytes from Lua: call splash:go(args.url), then splash:png() or splash:jpeg(). Those methods capture the current viewport. Full-page images, crops, and element shots require a different viewport or selector workflow.
This guide uses the stable Splash 3.5 scripting reference. Splash is a web-rendering service, not a desktop screenshot shortcut. The documentation and changelog provide historical context (release notes through Splash 3.4 on 2019-10-25), but they do not establish current maintenance status or compatibility with modern operating systems and browsers. Verify your deployment before putting it into production.
What you need before taking a screenshot
- A running Splash service that accepts Lua scripts through its HTTP API. The official documentation describes the scripting API, but this article does not assume a particular reverse proxy, port, authentication setup, or hosting provider.
- A target URL reachable from the Splash server. A URL that works in your laptop browser may be blocked, require a VPN, or resolve differently from the server.
- A Lua script containing a
main(splash, args)function. Pass the target asargs.url.
The procedural reference is Splash Scripts Reference (Splash 3.5). It is the authority for method behavior and options used below.
Minimal viewport screenshot
Use this script when you need exactly what is visible in the browser viewport after navigation:
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function main(splash, args)
assert(splash:go(args.url))
return splash:png()
endsplash:go() navigates and returns a success value or error; assert stops the script if navigation fails. splash:png() returns PNG image data. Replace it with splash:jpeg() for JPEG output. If the method cannot produce an image, it returns nil.
The script captures the current viewport, not the entire document. Viewport dimensions are controlled by your Splash request or instance configuration; they are not inferred from the page’s full height.
Wait for content before capturing
Navigation can finish before images, client-rendered components, or fonts appear. Add an explicit wait when you know the page needs settling time:
function main(splash, args)
assert(splash:go(args.url))
assert(splash:wait(0.5))
return {png=splash:png()}
endThe 0.5-second value is illustrative documentation code, not a universal settling time. Dynamic pages may need a page-specific condition or additional handling. A fixed delay that works for one route can be too short after a slow API response and unnecessarily long for a static page.
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Because Splash renders JavaScript in a browser tab, make your wait decision from the page’s behavior: wait for a known state in your own script or use a delay long enough for the resources you require. The reviewed reference does not provide one universally reliable wait recipe.
Capture a full page
Resize the effective viewport
After navigation and a settling wait, call splash:set_viewport_full(), then capture:
function main(splash, args)
assert(splash:go(args.url))
assert(splash:wait(0.5))
splash:set_viewport_full()
return {png=splash:png()}
endThe reference says to use set_viewport_full after the page has loaded and some time has passed. This matters for pages whose JavaScript reacts to viewport changes. If resizing triggers layout or lazy-loading code, wait again before the final image.
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Use the render-all option
The rendering API also documents render_all=true for rendering the whole page. Use the form supported by your Splash HTTP endpoint and keep the option with the request that runs your script. The two approaches express the same goal—capture beyond the initial viewport—but a page may behave differently when its viewport is resized, so test long, responsive, or lazy-loaded layouts.
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| Need | What to use | Important behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless UI, text, or transparency | splash:png() |
PNG output; PNG extensions are transparent. |
| Smaller or faster photographic output | splash:jpeg({quality=...}) (with the quality option supported by your request) |
JPEG has configurable quality and a white background. Splash documentation says JPEG is often 1.5–2× faster than PNG; that is a documentation qualification, not a benchmark for your page. |
| Fixed output width | Pass width |
Scales the image to that width. |
| Control vertical extent | Pass height |
Trims or extends vertically; it does not scale page content. |
| Resize with vector scaling | Use the documented scaling option | Vector scaling can be sharper and more performant, but the reference warns it may create rendering artifacts; use it cautiously. |
Option syntax depends on whether you call the Lua method directly or expose options through your HTTP request. Keep the option names from the Splash 3.5 reference and verify your endpoint’s request schema.
Crop a region of the viewport
Pass region={left, top, right, bottom} to crop. Coordinates are relative to the current scroll position:
function main(splash, args)
assert(splash:go(args.url))
assert(splash:wait(0.5))
return splash:png({region={left=0, top=0, right=800, bottom=600}})
endRegion capture is viewport-constrained. Splash currently cannot use region to capture content outside a viewport. If you need a lower section, scroll or set the full viewport first, then capture the visible area. For a known DOM node, an element screenshot is usually simpler and less fragile than hand-calculated coordinates.
Capture one DOM element
Select the node and call its image method:
function main(splash, args)
assert(splash:go(args.url))
assert(splash:wait(0.5))
local element = splash:select('#my-element')
assert(element)
return element:png()
endUse element:jpeg() for JPEG. Add the element API’s padding option when you need space around the node. Check that the selector matches an existing, visible element; a missing or invisible element can produce an empty result (nil). Selectors that depend on generated class names are more likely to break than stable IDs or data attributes.
Calling Splash from an HTTP client
Splash exposes these scripts through its HTTP API. The exact URL, authentication, and parameter names depend on how you deployed it, so use the endpoint and request shape documented for your instance. A typical request must provide the Lua script (or a reference to it), the target URL as an argument, and the response format expected by your client. Save the response as binary data; do not decode PNG or JPEG as text.
For repeatable automation, keep the script in source control, set a timeout in your HTTP client, check the HTTP status, and verify that the response body is non-empty before writing the file. Return a table such as {png=splash:png()} when your endpoint expects named output, or return the image directly when it expects raw bytes.
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Reliable workflows for real pages
Lazy-loaded images
Full-page resizing does not guarantee every lazy image has loaded. Navigate, wait for the page’s own ready state, and, where your page requires it, trigger the scrolling or DOM actions that load deferred content before calling set_viewport_full. Confirm the result visually on representative pages.
Responsive breakpoints
A full viewport can cross a CSS breakpoint and change navigation, columns, or typography. Set the intended viewport before navigation when the layout matters, then use full-page capture only after checking how the page responds to the resize.
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Sticky headers and fixed widgets
Viewport screenshots may include a fixed header or chat control that is absent from a document-style printout. If you need a clean section image, use a stable element selector or a region after scrolling to the required position.
Authenticated and private pages
Authentication, cookies, and network access are properties of your Splash deployment and script. Do not place credentials in URLs or log output. Confirm that the server can reach the page and that the session is established before debugging image methods.
Troubleshooting
Navigation assertion fails
Cause: DNS failure, TLS problem, blocked egress, redirect policy, or an invalid URL. Fix: test the URL from the Splash host, inspect the navigation error, and try the final HTTPS URL. A browser opening the site on your workstation does not prove server reachability.
The image is blank or nil
Cause: capture occurred before rendering, the selected element is absent or hidden, or the page returned an interstitial. Fix: add a page-appropriate wait, verify the selector, and capture a basic viewport to distinguish page loading from element selection.
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Full-page output is clipped
Cause: capture happened before set_viewport_full, or a region was requested outside the viewport. Fix: navigate, wait, call splash:set_viewport_full(), then capture; do not use region for off-viewport content.
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Layout changes unexpectedly
Cause: viewport resizing crossed a responsive breakpoint or triggered JavaScript. Fix: set dimensions deliberately, wait after resizing, and compare a viewport shot with the full-page version.
Output cannot be opened
Cause: the client saved an error page or text response as an image. Fix: check HTTP status and response headers, ensure the body is non-empty, and write bytes without text conversion.
Performance, quality, and operational trade-offs
- Choose JPEG when its white background and lossy compression are acceptable; Splash documents that it is often 1.5–2× faster than PNG.
- Use PNG for transparency, crisp text, and pixel-sensitive comparisons.
- Full-page rendering and element waits cost more time than a simple viewport capture, especially on pages with heavy JavaScript.
- Vector scaling may improve sharpness and performance but can introduce artifacts. Compare output at the size your users will consume.
- Cache or deduplicate requests in your own pipeline when the target content is unchanged; Splash’s reference does not establish a hosted caching or billing policy.
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With the API key and target URL changed as needed, the cURL request is:
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open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
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FAQ
Does Splash take a screenshot of my local computer?
No. It renders the URL in Splash’s browser service and returns image data through its API.
Can I use a region to capture an entire long page?
No. A region is limited to the current viewport and uses coordinates relative to the current scroll position.
Which format should I automate first?
Start with PNG when fidelity or transparency matters; choose JPEG when a white background and the documented potential speed advantage fit your workload.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFrequently Asked Questions
Does Splash take a screenshot of my local computer?
No. It renders the URL in Splash’s browser service and returns image data through its API.
Can I use a region to capture an entire long page?
No. A region is limited to the current viewport and uses coordinates relative to the current scroll position.
Which format should I automate first?
Start with PNG when fidelity or transparency matters; choose JPEG when a white background and the documented potential speed advantage fit your workload.
Quick Recap
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