---
canonical: 'https://htmlcsstoimage.com/features/api-templates-for-developers'
title: 'Dynamic HTML/CSS Image Templates for Developers | HTML/CSS to Image'
description: 'Build complex, versioned HTML/CSS image templates with reusable fonts, assets, browser settings, dimensions, and output options.'
---

# Keep complex image layouts out of application requests

Store HTML, CSS, fonts, assets, browser behavior, and image settings in a versioned template, then render it with a stable ID and named values.

## Key capabilities

- HTML and CSS layouts
- Reusable assets and settings
- Versioned template IDs

## Create templates with HTML and CSS

Create a template through the API and store its HTML, CSS, fonts, images, dimensions, browser settings, and output options. Image requests then send the template ID and named values instead of the full layout.

## Publish changes as new versions

Updating an API template publishes another version under the same ID. Render the latest version or choose a specific version without changing the template's named values.

Render a published template by sending its named values to `POST https://hcti.io/v1/image/{template_id}`. The response includes the generated image ID and hosted URL.

## MCP Integration

Connect an MCP-compatible client to `https://mcp.hcti.io` with OAuth. The tools use the connected organization's HTML/CSS to Image account, permissions, and plan limits.

- The `list_templates` tool returns the organization's available templates and their IDs.
- The `list_template_versions` tool returns the saved versions for a selected template.
- The `create_templated_image` tool renders a template with the named values supplied by the client.
- The `create_template` tool creates an HTML/CSS API template. The `update_template` tool publishes a new version under an existing template ID.

[Read the full MCP docs](https://docs.htmlcsstoimage.com/integrations/mcp/).

## Keep image generation code small

### Separate data from design

Keep application data in the request while HTML, CSS, and layout stay in the template.

### Versioned releases

Publish template changes deliberately and choose which version an integration renders.

### Smaller requests

Send a template ID and its values instead of repeating the full HTML and CSS document.

### Reusable render settings

Store image dimensions, fonts, browser behavior, and output settings with the template.

## Get started

REST API requests require an HTML/CSS to Image account and should be authenticated from trusted application code. Check the API docs and pricing for current setup instructions, limits, and feature availability.

- [View the full feature page](https://htmlcsstoimage.com/features/api-templates-for-developers)
- [Browse all features](https://htmlcsstoimage.com/features.md)
- [Start free](https://htmlcsstoimage.com/join)
- [View pricing](https://htmlcsstoimage.com/pricing.md)
- [Read the template API docs](https://docs.htmlcsstoimage.com/getting-started/templates/)
- [Read the MCP docs](https://docs.htmlcsstoimage.com/integrations/mcp/)