n8n

n8n is a workflow automation tool. The CurlShot community node adds screenshots to any workflow: it takes a URL, HTML or Markdown and hands the next node a PNG, JPEG, WebP, PDF or video file.

To install it in a self-hosted n8n, open Settings → Community nodes → Install and enter the package name:

n8n-nodes-curlshot

Then add a CurlShot node, choose Screenshot → Take, and enter https://example.com. The image arrives in the binary field data, ready for a Slack, email, Google Drive or S3 node.

#Connect your key

1. Create an account at CurlShot. The free plan needs no card.
2. Open API keys in the dashboard and copy the access key.
3. In n8n, create a CurlShot API credential and paste it into Access Key.
4. Leave Base URL at https://curlshot.com.

n8n tests the credential with a call to https://curlshot.com/api/v1/usage. That call is free, so testing never uses a screenshot.

Paste the Secret Key too only if you use the trigger (see below). See Authentication and API keys for what the two keys are for.

#What the node can do

Options match the API parameters: full page, element selector, device, viewport, dark mode, delay, wait until, hide selectors, custom CSS, and blocking of ads, cookie banners, chats and trackers. See the options reference for what each one does.

Output. By default the file goes in a binary field, and the JSON next to it holds the reference id, the cache status and quota_remaining. Set Output to Link to get JSON with a temporary link to the file instead.

Errors. When the API refuses a request, the node shows the API's message and error code. With On Error → Continue, the error becomes the item's output and the workflow goes on.

#Start a workflow when a job finishes

The CurlShot Trigger node starts a workflow when a background job ends, with the event screenshot.completed or screenshot.failed.

1. Add the trigger and copy its Production URL.
2. In a CurlShot node, choose Job → Create or Job → Create Bulk and paste that URL into Webhook URL.
3. Activate the workflow.

The trigger checks the signature of each delivery with your secret key and refuses deliveries older than 5 minutes. A delivery can be retried, so deduplicate on job_id before a step that must run only once. Async and webhooks explains the events and the signature.

#Without the community node

n8n Cloud only runs community nodes that n8n has verified. Until the CurlShot node is verified there, or if you would rather not install a package, the built-in HTTP Request node calls the API directly:

{
  "url": "https://example.com",
  "format": "png",
  "full_page": true,
  "block_cookie_banners": true
}

The response is the image, in the binary field data. Every option on the options reference works in the body.

#Example workflows

• Watch a competitor's pricing page: Schedule Trigger (daily) → CurlShot Screenshot → Take with Full Page → Slack Upload a file.
• Save submitted pages as PDF: Form Trigger → CurlShot PDF → Generate → Google Drive Upload.
• Weekly archive of your site: Schedule Trigger → CurlShot Job → Create Bulk with your page URLs and the trigger's webhook URL → CurlShot Trigger → CurlShot Job → Get → S3 Upload.

Each screenshot counts toward your monthly quota like any other API call. Failed renders and cache hits are free. See Usage and limits.