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Mermaid.ink is the most direct online Mermaid URL-to-image generator. Create or open a diagram in Mermaid Live Editor, copy the encoded value from the browser URL, and append it to https://mermaid.ink/img/. The resulting URL serves an image that you can place in Markdown, HTML, documentation, or a CI pipeline. Use /svg/ for SVG or /pdf/ for PDF output. If you need to submit plain Mermaid text with GET or POST, support other diagram languages, or run the renderer yourself, Kroki is the stronger alternative.
What “Mermaid URL to image” means
A Mermaid source file is text such as graph TD; A[Start] --> B[Finish]. A URL-to-image service turns that source (usually after encoding) into a URL whose response is a PNG, JPEG, WebP, SVG, or PDF. That makes the diagram usable anywhere an image URL is accepted, including Markdown, an HTML <img> element, a README, or a documentation build.
There are three different workflows that are often confused:
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- Kroki: an HTTP diagram gateway that accepts diagram text through GET or POST and can be self-managed.
- mermaid.tools: a shareable editor URL that stores compressed editor state in the URL fragment. It is useful for collaboration, but it is not an image-rendering endpoint.
Fastest method: generate an image URL with Mermaid.ink
1. Create the diagram
Open Mermaid Live Editor and enter your Mermaid definition. For example:
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graph TD
A[Collect requirements] --> B[Build diagram]
B --> C[Publish image URL]2. Copy the encoded payload
Use the editor’s share or URL state, then copy the encoded string in the browser address. Mermaid.ink’s documented pattern is:
https://mermaid.ink/img/<encoded-value>Replace <encoded-value> with the value copied from the editor. Do not paste raw Mermaid punctuation into the path; the payload must remain URL-safe.
3. Choose an output format
| Endpoint | Result | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
https://mermaid.ink/img/<encoded-value> |
Raster image (JPEG, PNG, or WebP) | Markdown, web pages, previews, tickets |
https://mermaid.ink/svg/<encoded-value> |
SVG | Sharp diagrams, accessible HTML, print scaling |
https://mermaid.ink/pdf/<encoded-value> |
Documents and print workflows |
For Markdown, use the image endpoint directly:
For HTML:
<img src="https://mermaid.ink/svg/<encoded-value>" alt="Release flow diagram">Control appearance with Mermaid.ink URL parameters
Mermaid.ink documents query parameters for the image and SVG endpoints. Add them after the encoded path with & between parameters.
typeselects the raster image type, such as PNG, JPEG, or WebP.backgroundsets the background color.themeselects the Mermaid theme.widthandheightrequest dimensions.scalechanges the rendering scale, useful when you need a sharper raster image.
A conceptual URL looks like this:
https://mermaid.ink/img/<encoded-value>?type=webp&background=white&theme=default&width=1600&scale=2Keep the encoded value as the path segment and URL-encode any special characters in query values. If a requested size crops content, try a larger width or height, or use SVG instead of a raster format.
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PDF-specific options
PDF requests support fit, paper, and landscape options. Use these when the diagram is going into a report rather than a web page:
https://mermaid.ink/pdf/<encoded-value>?fit= ಧ&paper=A4&landscape=trueRemove the accidental-looking spacing if you copy that example: the valid form is ?fit=true&paper=A4&landscape=true. Select a paper size appropriate to your document and use landscape for wide flowcharts.
Mermaid.ink, Kroki, or mermaid.tools?
| Option | Input model | Output | Deployment and scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mermaid.ink | Encoded Mermaid payload in a URL | JPEG, PNG, WebP, SVG, or PDF | Hosted service focused on Mermaid rendering |
| Kroki | Plain diagram text over GET or POST | Rendered diagram formats, including image outputs | Free public service; self-managed deployment is available; supports many diagram languages |
| mermaid.tools | Compressed editor state in a URL fragment | Editor/share link, not a server-rendered image URL | Hosted sharing workflow without an API key or account |
Choose Mermaid.ink when the output must be an image URL
Mermaid.ink has the shortest path from a Mermaid editor link to an embeddable image. It is a practical choice for README files, static sites, and systems that only need a URL.
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Choose Kroki when text submission or self-hosting matters
Kroki accepts Mermaid source as text through GET or POST, so your build can submit the definition directly instead of first extracting an encoded editor payload. Its gateway also handles many languages, including BlockDiag, BPMN, C4, GraphViz, PlantUML, Vega, WaveDrom, and others. Self-managed deployment is useful when diagrams contain internal information or when you need control over the rendering service.
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Choose mermaid.tools for collaboration links
A mermaid.tools URL preserves compressed editor state in its fragment. Share that link when another person should open and edit the diagram. Use Mermaid.ink or Kroki instead when a downstream system needs an actual image response.
Embedding and automation examples
Use the URL in Markdown
Some Markdown renderers sanitize remote images or require an allowlist. If the image does not appear, open the URL directly first, then check the renderer’s remote-image policy.
Use it in HTML and CSS
<img src="https://mermaid.ink/img/<encoded-value>?type=webp" alt="Service architecture" loading="lazy">For a background image, place the URL in CSS with normal URL escaping. Prefer SVG when the diagram must stay crisp at different zoom levels.
Use Kroki with text in a build
With Kroki, your build process sends the Mermaid definition using its documented GET or POST interface and stores the returned image. POST is preferable when the source is long or contains characters that make a URL unwieldy. The exact endpoint and deployment URL depend on whether you use the public service or a self-managed instance.
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Or skip the browser setup
If your goal is simply to capture a rendered Mermaid URL as a clean image, ScreenshotNeo can fetch the page or image with one request. It is a website screenshot API and MCP server; the API accepts a URL and returns PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF. Cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets are removed before the shot. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing result.
Here is a complete cURL example targeting a Mermaid.ink image URL. Replace the encoded value with your own payload:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://mermaid.ink/img/eyJjb2RlIjoiZ3JhcGggVEQ7QVtBXS0tPkJbQl0ifQ -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for all request options. The same request in Python is:
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r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://mermaid.ink/img/eyJjb2RlIjoiZ3JhcGggVEQ7QVtBXS0tPkJbQl0ifQ"}, timeout=90)
r.raise_for_status()
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js:
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://mermaid.ink/img/eyJjb2RlIjoiZ3JhcGggVEQ7QVtBXS0tPkJbQl0ifQ' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`);
const fs = await import('node:fs/promises');
await fs.writeFile('shot.webp', Buffer.from(await res.arrayBuffer()));ScreenshotNeo also supports full-page capture, element selection, custom CSS and JavaScript, waits, blocking rules, device and retina settings, resizing, caching with a chosen TTL, signed links, asynchronous jobs, webhooks, bulk capture of up to 100 URLs per call, and an MCP server with take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf for AI agents. Every feature is available on every plan. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. Create a free ScreenshotNeo account.
Troubleshooting Mermaid image URLs
The URL returns an error or a blank image
- Re-copy the encoded payload from Mermaid Live Editor; a truncated path cannot be decoded.
- Check that the diagram itself renders in the editor before generating the URL.
- Try
/svg/to distinguish a raster-size problem from a syntax problem.
Text or special characters break the request
Do not hand-edit encoded data. Generate the URL from the editor or use Kroki POST so the source is sent as a request body. URL-encode query parameters such as background colors.
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Labels are clipped
Increase width or height, use scale for a sharper raster result, or switch to SVG. For PDF, choose a suitable paper size and landscape orientation.
The image works in a browser but not in a documentation build
Confirm that the build allows remote images and follows redirects. If external fetching is prohibited, render during the build and commit the resulting file, or run a self-managed Kroki service.
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Private or sensitive diagrams
A hosted URL can expose its encoded content to systems that fetch or log the URL. Avoid placing secrets in Mermaid source. For stricter control, use self-managed Kroki or render inside your own build environment.
Operational guidance: reliability, performance, and cost
- Cache stable diagrams: the encoded URL is deterministic for the same payload and settings, so cache the returned asset in your site pipeline.
- Prefer SVG for repeated resizing: it avoids raster pixelation and usually removes the need for multiple image widths.
- Use WebP or PNG for web delivery: choose based on your browser and content-management requirements; JPEG is better suited to diagrams where slight compression is acceptable.
- Validate before publishing: open the final URL, inspect dimensions, and confirm labels and alternative text.
- Separate sharing from rendering: use mermaid.tools for an editable collaboration link and a renderer for production assets.
Practical decision checklist
- Need a direct image URL from Mermaid? Use Mermaid.ink.
- Need SVG, PDF, background, theme, dimensions, or scale controls? Use Mermaid.ink parameters.
- Need plain-text GET or POST, several diagram languages, or self-hosting? Use Kroki.
- Need an account-free editable share link? Use mermaid.tools.
- Need a clean screenshot of a rendered URL, automated waits, bulk capture, or an AI-agent workflow? Use ScreenshotNeo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Mermaid.ink URL directly in Markdown?
Yes. Put the complete https://mermaid.ink/img/<encoded-value> URL inside Markdown image syntax, provided your renderer permits remote images.
When should I use SVG instead of PNG?
Use SVG when readers will zoom, when the diagram must print sharply, or when you want one asset to work across several display sizes.
Is mermaid.tools an image API?
No. It shares compressed editor state in a URL fragment; use Mermaid.ink or Kroki when another system needs rendered image bytes.
The Bottom Line
For a Mermaid diagram that must become an embeddable URL, start with Mermaid.ink. Use Kroki for text-based HTTP submission or self-hosting, and mermaid.tools only for editable sharing. ScreenshotNeo is useful when you need to fetch and automate a clean capture of the rendered result.
Quick Recap
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