Markdown is how release notes, docs, changelogs and LLM answers are written, but many places they need to go can't render it: SMS and WhatsApp, image-only social posts, email clients, slide decks and printed handouts. Send the Markdown as is and get back an image or a PDF that looks like a well-formatted document.
Markdown to PNG
Pass markdown instead of url. It's rendered with GitHub-flavored Markdown (tables, task lists, strikethrough) and a clean reading stylesheet. full_page makes the image as tall as the content:
curl -X POST "https://shotkit.net/api/take" \
-H "X-Access-Key: YOUR_ACCESS_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"markdown":"# Release 2.4\n\n**Faster renders** and two new formats.\n\n| Format | Status |\n| --- | --- |\n| AVIF | New |\n| Animated WebP | New |\n\n- [x] Cookie banner blocking\n- [x] Video output\n- [ ] Scheduled captures","format":"png","viewport_width":720,"viewport_height":300,"full_page":true,"device_scale_factor":2}' \
--fail-with-body -o shot.pngRestyle it
styles injects your CSS after the default stylesheet, so you can match your brand, switch to dark, or change the width:
curl -X POST "https://shotkit.net/api/take" \
-H "X-Access-Key: YOUR_ACCESS_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"markdown":"## Tip of the week\n\nUse `selector` to capture one element instead of the whole page.","styles":"body { background: #0b1020; color: #e5e7eb; font-family: Georgia, serif } code { background: #1f2937; color: #fbbf24 }","format":"png","viewport_width":640,"viewport_height":200,"full_page":true}' \
--fail-with-body -o shot.pngMarkdown to PDF
The same input becomes a paginated PDF for handouts, docs exports or reports written by an LLM:
curl -X POST "https://shotkit.net/api/take" \
-H "X-Access-Key: YOUR_ACCESS_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"markdown":"# Onboarding checklist\n\n1. Create your account\n2. Copy your access key\n3. Take your first screenshot","format":"pdf","pdf_paper_format":"a4","pdf_margin":"2cm"}' \
--fail-with-body -o shot.pdfGood uses
- LLM answers on channels without Markdown. Turn a chatbot reply with a table into an image for WhatsApp, SMS or a support ticket.
- Changelog and release cards for X, LinkedIn or your in-app "What's new".
- Docs exports. Give users a PDF of a docs page or a generated report.
- Readable previews of README files and notes in a file browser or CMS.
Frequently asked questions
Which Markdown features are supported?
GitHub-flavored Markdown: headings, emphasis, lists, task lists, tables, block quotes, links, images (with absolute URLs) and fenced code blocks.
Is code syntax-highlighted?
Code blocks are shown in a monospace block without colors. For highlighted code, render HTML instead; see code screenshots.
Can I include images?
Yes, with absolute https:// URLs or data: URLs. Relative paths can't resolve because the Markdown has no origin.
How long can the Markdown be?
Send it in a POST body and there's no practical limit for documents. Very long content is better as a PDF than as one extremely tall image.