# PHP - HTML to Image Example

Generate PNG, JPG, WebP, and PDF output with PHP, using HTML/CSS or reusable templates rendered in Google Chrome.

## Generating images with PHP

1.  Send your HTML/CSS to the API.
2.  The API renders it in Google Chrome.
3.  Read the generated image URL from the JSON response.

See [Creating an image](/getting-started/using-the-api/#creating-an-image) for request parameters. A response includes the image's `url` and `id`.

![Example image generated from HTML with PHP](/assets/images/dog-rates-example.png)

## Authentication with PHP

Use HTTP Basic authentication with your API ID as the username and API key as the password. Find both in the [dashboard](https://htmlcsstoimage.com/dashboard). Keep credentials in server-side configuration or environment variables.

## PHP example code

The example sends a POST request to `https://hcti.io/v1/image`. Image creation requires `images:create`. See [authentication and API keys](/getting-started/using-the-api/api-keys/) for scoped credentials and access errors.

## Official Composer client

For typed requests, responses, and signed URL helpers, use the official [`html-css-to-image/client`](https://packagist.org/packages/html-css-to-image/client) package.

```bash
composer require html-css-to-image/client
```

```php
<?php


use HtmlCssToImage\HtmlCssToImageClient;
use HtmlCssToImage\Request\CreateHtmlCssImageRequest;
use HtmlCssToImage\Response\CreateImageSuccessResponse;


require __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';


$client = new HtmlCssToImageClient(
    apiId: 'your-api-id',
    apiKey: 'your-api-key',
);


$result = $client->createImage(
    new CreateHtmlCssImageRequest(
        html: "<div class='box'>PHP ✅</div>",
        css: '.box { border: 4px solid #03B875; padding: 20px; }',
    ),
);


if ($result instanceof CreateImageSuccessResponse) {
    echo $result->url;
} else {
    echo $result->error;
}
```

The client also supports URL screenshots, templates, batches, image deletion, render options, and signed URLs. See the [PHP client repository](https://github.com/htmlcsstoimage/php-client) for complete usage and API documentation.

## Direct HTTP example

```php
<?php
$ch = curl_init('https://hcti.io/v1/image');
curl_setopt_array($ch, [
    CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
    CURLOPT_POST => true,
    CURLOPT_USERPWD => 'your-api-id:your-api-key',
    CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => http_build_query([
        'html' => "<div class='ping'>Pong ✅</div>",
        'css' => '.ping { padding: 20px; font-family: sans-serif; }',
    ]),
]);
$body = curl_exec($ch);
if ($body === false) {
    throw new RuntimeException(curl_error($ch));
}
$status = curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);
curl_close($ch);
if ($status < 200 || $status >= 300) {
    throw new RuntimeException("API request failed ($status): $body");
}
echo json_decode($body, true, 512, JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR)['url'];
```

## PHP example with Guzzle library

Using an HTTP library such as [Guzzle](https://github.com/guzzle/guzzle) can simplify your code even further. Here’s an example of how to use the HTML/CSS to Image API with Guzzle.

Installation instructions for Guzzle are [here](https://github.com/guzzle/guzzle#installing-guzzle).

```php
<?php
require 'vendor/autoload.php';


$html = "<div class='ping'>Pong ✅</div>";
$css = ".ping { padding: 20px; font-family: 'sans-serif'; }";


$client = new \GuzzleHttp\Client();
// Retrieve your user_id and api_key from https://htmlcsstoimage.com/dashboard
$res = $client->request('POST', 'https://hcti.io/v1/image', [
  'auth' => ['user_id', 'api_key'],
  'form_params' => ['html' => $html, 'css' => $css]
]);


echo $res->getBody();
// {"url":"https://hcti.io/v1/image/5803a3f0-abd3-4f56-9e6c-3823d7466ed6"}
?>
```

The code turns out to be a bit more readable and less complex when using Guzzle. A great option if you’re open to adding the library to your project.

## Debugging Error:SSL certificate problem: unable to get local issuer certificate

When running this script on a Windows machine, it’s possible you’ll get an SSL error. The fix for this [is here](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/28858351/php-ssl-certificate-error-unable-to-get-local-issuer-certificate/32095378#32095378).

## Need help?

Talk to a human. Email [support@htmlcsstoimage.com](mailto:support@htmlcsstoimage.com) and we’ll help you get started.