---
canonical: 'https://htmlcsstoimage.com/features/html-to-jpeg'
title: 'Convert HTML and CSS to JPEG with the API'
description: 'Instructions for rendering HTML and CSS as JPEG, including the format parameter, request workflow, MCP usage, and related output formats.'
---

# Convert HTML and CSS to JPEG

Set the image API's `format` parameter to `jpeg` to render HTML and CSS as JPEG. The API runs the content in managed Chromium and returns a hosted image URL.

## When to use JPEG

JPEG is a practical choice for photographic and content-rich images where broad compatibility and smaller files matter.

- **Smaller photo-heavy images**: Lossy compression keeps files compact when the rendered design contains photography, gradients, or detailed backgrounds.
- **Broad compatibility**: JPEG works across browsers, email clients, social platforms, document tools, and long-running application workflows.
- **Easy to distribute**: Use a familiar image format for previews, downloads, attachments, and automated publishing.

## API request

Send an authenticated `POST` request to `https://hcti.io/v1/image`. Include `html`, optional `css`, `format`, and any viewport or browser options required by the render.

```json
{
  "html": "\u003Carticle class=\u0027card\u0027\u003E...\u003C/article\u003E",
  "css": ".card { display: grid; width: 1200px; }",
  "format": "jpeg",
  "viewport_width": 1200,
  "viewport_height": 630
}
```

## Request workflow

1. **Send HTML and CSS** — Submit the content with format set to jpeg and any viewport or browser settings.
2. **Chromium renders the design** — The API loads the markup, styles, fonts, and assets in a managed browser environment.
3. **Use the .jpeg URL** — Embed the hosted result, download the file, or save it in your own storage and application records.

## Authentication and output handling

- Authenticate from trusted server-side code. Do not expose an API key in browser JavaScript, generated HTML, logs, or agent-visible output.
- Treat the returned URL as the generated `jpeg` resource. Download it, embed it, or copy it to configured storage as required by the workflow.
- Use viewport, selector, timing, and browser options when the default capture does not match the required dimensions or page state.
- If credentials are unavailable, ask the user to configure them securely before attempting an API request.

## Use through MCP

An MCP-compatible agent can connect to `https://mcp.hcti.io` with OAuth and use the connected HTML/CSS to Image account instead of handling an API key directly.

Ask the MCP tool to render the supplied HTML and CSS as JPEG, or specify `format: jpeg` explicitly when constructing the request.

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

## Related conversions

- [URL to JPEG](https://htmlcsstoimage.com/features/url-to-jpeg.md): Capture a public webpage as JPEG instead of supplying HTML and CSS.
- [HTML to PNG](https://htmlcsstoimage.com/features/html-to-png.md): PNG preserves sharp edges, text, and transparency, making it ideal for interface captures and designed graphics.
- [HTML to WebP](https://htmlcsstoimage.com/features/html-to-webp.md): WebP combines modern compression with high visual quality, making it a strong default for images delivered on the web.
- [HTML to PDF](https://htmlcsstoimage.com/features/html-to-pdf.md): Generate paginated documents with page sizing, margins, backgrounds, and print styles.

## Reference links

- [API authentication and request documentation](https://docs.htmlcsstoimage.com/getting-started/using-the-api/)
- [MCP integration documentation](https://docs.htmlcsstoimage.com/integrations/mcp/)
- [Interactive HTML to JPEG page](https://htmlcsstoimage.com/features/html-to-jpeg)
- [Plans and current limits](https://htmlcsstoimage.com/pricing.md)