How to use ScreenshotEngine in n8n automations
Learn how to automate screenshot creation within your n8n workflows using the HTTP Request node to connect with the ScreenshotEngine API.
n8n is a fair-code workflow automation tool that lets you connect anything to everything. By using the standard HTTP Request node in n8n, you can easily tap into the power of ScreenshotEngine to generate website screenshots programmatically.
What you can do
- Archive Content: Automatically capture and save screenshots of web pages for compliance or archival.
- Monitor UI Changes: Take periodic screenshots of your own applications to track visual changes.
- Enrich Notifications: Add visual previews to your Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Discord alerts.
Prerequisite: You will need your ScreenshotEngine API Key. You can find this in your dashboard.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Create a Workflow
Open your n8n editor and create a new workflow. Add a Trigger node to start your flow.
Common triggers include:
- On a Schedule: Run daily hourly reports.
- Webhook: Trigger from another application.
- App Events: When a new record is created in Airtable, Notion, etc.
2. Add the HTTP Request Node
Click the + button to add a node and search for HTTP Request. This powerful node allows you to make API calls to any service.
3. Configure the Request
Set up the HTTP Request node with the following settings:
- Method:
GET - URL:
https://api.screenshotengine.com/v1/screenshot - Authentication: Generic Credential Type -> Header Auth (or simply add headers below)
It's easiest to add your authentication and parameters directly:
Query Parameters
- Name:
url - Value: The website URL you want to capture (e.g.
https://example.comor an expression from a previous node) - Name:
fullPage(optional) - Value:
trueorfalse
Headers
- Name:
Authorization - Value:
Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
Alternatively, you can skip the Authorization header and pass api_key as a query parameter.
4. Test the Node
Click Execute Node. You should receive a JSON response containing the URL of the generated screenshot.
5. Use the Image
Connect the output of the HTTP Request node to your next step.
Examples:
- Slack/Discord: Use the returned
urlto post an image attachment. - Google Drive/Dropbox: Use another HTTP Request node to download the image binary from the URL, or use the native Upload File node if supported.
- Email: Embed the image URL in an HTML email template.
Need help?
Check out our API Documentation for a full list of available parameters like viewport, device emulation, and blocking ads.