How to Save a Website Screenshot as a PDF with Browshot
Capture a Browshot screenshot, download the PNG, and save it as a PDF. Learn the full-page steps, API options, and what to do if capture fails.
Short answer: Browshot’s documented screenshot output is PNG; the documentation reviewed here does not establish a direct PDF export option. Capture and download the PNG, then open it in an image viewer or print dialog and choose Save as PDF or Print to PDF. The resulting PDF contains the screenshot as an image, so its text is not automatically selectable or searchable.
This guide covers a viewport capture and a full-page capture, including the Browshot API route. If you need a paginated document with selectable text, print the webpage itself from a browser instead; that produces a different kind of document and may not preserve the page’s on-screen appearance.
1. Capture the page in Browshot
You can create a capture from Browshot’s dashboard or API. For the dashboard route, enter the page URL and choose the available capture size appropriate to your goal. The official materials reviewed for this guide do not verify a dashboard-specific PDF export control, so plan to download the screenshot image and convert it with your computer’s PDF printer.
- Viewport capture: Browshot’s API uses
size=screenby default. It captures the screen-sized view. - Full-page capture: Set
size=pageto capture the scrolling page. Browshot documents a maximum full-page height of 15,000 pixels.
The API requires an API key. The following cURL example requests a viewport screenshot and saves the response body as a PNG file. Replace the placeholder values with your key and target URL, and use the request format and API details in the Browshot API documentation.
curl -G "https://api.browshot.com/api/v1/screenshot/create" \
--data-urlencode "key=YOUR_BROWSHOT_API_KEY" \
--data-urlencode "url=https://example.com" \
--data-urlencode "size=screen" \
-o screenshot.pngFor a full-page capture, change size=screen to size=page. The exact API workflow may involve creating a screenshot and then retrieving its image; follow the response and download instructions for your account in Browshot’s documentation. Browshot’s command-line guide also lists cURL, wget, fetch, and a Windows command-line utility for requesting and downloading captures.
2. Convert the downloaded screenshot to PDF
- Locate the downloaded PNG file.
- Open it in your operating system’s image viewer, or open the print dialog for the file.
- Choose Save as PDF, Print to PDF, or the equivalent PDF destination.
- Review orientation and page scaling, then save the PDF.
Menu names and locations differ across operating systems and applications. If the PNG is taller than a page, the print dialog may scale the entire image down or split it across pages. Check the preview: choose a fit-to-page layout for one-page preservation, or a tiled/multi-page layout if the full image needs to remain legible at print size.
A PDF made this way preserves the pixels in the screenshot. It does not create document text from the page. If text search or selection matters, use a browser’s webpage-to-PDF print flow, or apply OCR to the image-based PDF as a separate step.
3. Choose viewport or full-page capture
| Method | What the PDF contains | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
Browshot size=screen, then print PNG to PDF |
An image of the viewport | You need to preserve what was visible on screen. |
Browshot size=page, then print PNG to PDF |
An image of the captured scrolling page | You need a visual record of the whole page. Browshot documents full-page height up to 15,000 pixels. |
| Print the webpage directly from a browser | A paginated, potentially print-styled webpage document | Readable text, selectable content, or conventional paper layout matters more than matching screenshot appearance. |
These outputs are not interchangeable. A full-page screenshot preserves the rendered page as pixels, while browser printing can reflow or omit content according to the site’s print styles and browser settings.
4. Handle pages that load content late
Some pages load images and other content after the initial navigation. If the screenshot misses content, Browshot’s API supports a delay before capture and JavaScript execution before capture. The Browshot help documentation says a script must finish within the delay configured for the request, and gives scrolling to the bottom as an example for full-page capture. Consult the Browshot JavaScript help for the supported request syntax.
Use these options only when the page needs time or interaction to render:
- Add a reasonable capture delay when content appears after initial load.
- For lazy-loaded content, use a pre-capture script that scrolls through the page, then returns to the desired position if needed.
- Keep in mind that the configured delay must be sufficient for the script to finish.
- Retry with a viewport capture to determine whether the issue is specific to full-page rendering.
5. Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| The downloaded file is not a PNG | The request failed or returned a status/error response instead of an image. | Check the HTTP response and Browshot API result before treating the body as an image. The API documentation describes HTTP 200 as success with a PNG screenshot or thumbnail in the response body. |
| The image is blank or missing late-loading sections | The page had not finished rendering, or lazy content had not loaded before capture. | Use an appropriate delay; if needed, run a pre-capture script that scrolls through the page. Confirm the configured delay allows the script to finish. |
| The capture stops before the bottom | The page is taller than the captured area or its content did not load during capture. | Request size=page, check the page’s lazy-loading behavior, and remember the documented 15,000-pixel full-page height limit. |
| The PDF is hard to read | A tall screenshot was reduced to fit one PDF page. | Use a multi-page/tiled print layout, or capture only the relevant viewport. For readable text and pagination, print the webpage directly from the browser. |
| The PDF text cannot be selected or searched | The PDF contains a raster screenshot. | Use browser print-to-PDF for text-preserving output, or run OCR on the image-based PDF. |
| The PDF has unexpected margins or orientation | The print dialog applied default scaling, margins, or paper orientation. | Inspect print preview and adjust scaling, orientation, and page layout before saving. |
6. Reliability, performance, and cost considerations
Capture time depends on the target page, its loading behavior, and any delay or JavaScript work configured for the request. A longer wait can help with late content but adds time to the workflow. Full-page captures also produce taller images, which can increase download size and make a one-page PDF less readable.
For reliable records, verify the capture result before printing: check that the API indicates success, open the PNG, and inspect the bottom of full-page captures. Keep the original PNG if you may need to regenerate the PDF with different paper or scaling settings. Browshot’s feature page lists a free tier of 100 screenshots per month and premium desktop/mobile credit rates; check its current pricing page for the applicable plan and usage terms.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. One GET request can return a PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF. Its PDF support lets you request a PDF directly when you want a PDF output rather than converting a screenshot image yourself. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" \
-d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY \
--data-urlencode url=https://example.com \
-o shot.webpWith ScreenshotNeo, cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets are removed before the shot; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed. An MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card, and paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan.
FAQ
Does Browshot create a PDF directly?
The Browshot documentation reviewed for this guide documents PNG screenshot output, but does not establish a direct PDF export control. Download the PNG and use your computer’s PDF print option.
Will the screenshot PDF be searchable?
No. Printing a PNG to PDF produces an image-based document. Use browser print-to-PDF or OCR if you need searchable text.
Can a full-page Browshot capture include the entire page?
Browshot documents full-page capture with a height limit of up to 15,000 pixels. Very long pages may exceed that limit or become difficult to read when scaled to a single sheet.
Should I use a screenshot PDF or browser print-to-PDF?
Use screenshot-to-PDF when visual fidelity is the priority. Use browser print-to-PDF when text selection and print-style pagination matter more.
