# Set up HCTI in Grok Build

Capture a webpage or turn HTML/CSS into a PNG, WebP, or PDF with HTML/CSS to Image.

**You’ll need:** an [HCTI account](https://htmlcsstoimage.com) with image credits. Sign in through your browser when connecting—no API key to copy.

## 1\. Connect HCTI in Grok Build

This guide uses **Grok Build**, the coding agent with MCP and plugin support.

### Install through the plugin marketplace

Open `/plugins` in Grok Build and browse the **Marketplace** tab for **HTML/CSS to Image**. If the plugin is available in your configured marketplace, install it, then open `/mcps` to enable its HCTI server and authenticate. The [HCTI plugin](https://github.com/htmlcsstoimage/agent-plugins) includes rendering and template workflow guidance.

### Add the MCP server directly

If the plugin is not listed, connect the same hosted tools from your terminal:

```bash
grok mcp add --transport http hcti https://mcp.hcti.io
grok mcp list
```

Open `/mcps` in Grok Build, select `hcti`, and press `i` to authenticate. Complete OAuth in the browser, then ask **“Use HCTI to check my image usage and account limits”**. Tools are namespaced, so `create_url_image` may appear as `hcti__create_url_image`.

Use one connection method to avoid duplicate tools. See the [Grok Build MCP guide](https://docs.x.ai/build/features/mcp-servers) and [plugin guide](https://docs.x.ai/build/features/skills-plugins-marketplaces).

## 2\. Take a screenshot

Send this prompt after connecting:

```text
Use HTML/CSS to Image to screenshot https://example.com as a PNG.
Set viewport_width to 1440 and device_scale to 1. Return the image URL.
```

Open the returned image URL to view your screenshot. Replace `https://example.com` with your own public URL.

## 3\. Render HTML/CSS

Try a small card with explicit text, colors, and dimensions:

```text
Use HCTI to render this HTML and CSS as a PNG at device_scale 1.
HTML: <div class="card">Hello from HCTI</div>
CSS: .card { width: 1200px; height: 630px; display: flex;
align-items: center; justify-content: center; background: #172554;
color: white; font: 64px sans-serif; }
Return the hosted image URL.
```

The result is a dark blue card with centered white text. Edit the text or CSS and render again to refine it.

## How to capture a pricing table

Give Grok Build a public pricing URL and the selector for its table:

```text
Use HCTI to screenshot https://example.com/pricing with selector=".pricing-grid" and device_scale=2. Return the image URL.
```

Replace the example URL and selector with a real page and matching element. Grok can inspect your project markup to help identify the selector; the deployed page must be reachable by HCTI.

## Available tools

These core tools work across MCP clients. Access depends on the [permissions approved for your connection](/integrations/mcp/permissions/). Ask your assistant to use HCTI by name.

### Account usage

| Tool | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `check_usage` | Check images used, image allowance, next reset, and overage settings without rendering an image. |

### Screenshots and rendering

| Tool | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `create_image` | Render HTML/CSS as PNG, JPG, WebP, or PDF. Supports device\_scale, viewport\_width, viewport\_height, and ms\_delay. |
| `create_url_image` | Capture a public page or CSS selector, with viewport settings and cookie-banner blocking. |
| `create_templated_image` | Render a saved template with template\_id and template\_values. |
| `create_batch_images` | Render variations with shared default\_options and per-image variations. |
| `get_max_batch_size` | Check the account's batch limit before preparing a batch. |

### Template management

| Tool | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `create_template` | Save HTML/CSS as a reusable template with variables. |
| `update_template` | Update an existing template by ID. |
| `list_templates` | Find templates in the connected account. |
| `list_template_versions` | Inspect a template's version history. |

See [rendering parameters](/integrations/mcp/#image-parameters) and the [Template Editor](/template-editor/) for image options and reusable designs. The [complete tools reference](/integrations/mcp/tools/) also covers proxies, storage destinations, Open Graph configurations, and required permissions.

## Troubleshooting

For a permission-denied error, [reconnect and approve the required access](/integrations/mcp/permissions/#add-permissions-to-an-existing-connection) before retrying. Usage checks and maximum batch-size checks require `usage:read`.

### Missing tools or connection errors

Run `grok mcp doctor hcti` to diagnose the direct connection. In `/mcps`, refresh with `r`, enable the server, and authenticate with `i`. Use `grok inspect` to identify configurations inherited from another client if duplicate tools appear.

### Rendering errors

HCTI fetches webpages from its hosted service. Use a publicly accessible URL; it cannot reach your computer’s `localhost`. For HTML/CSS rendering, supply the file contents and accessible assets rather than local file paths. Check your [HCTI dashboard](https://htmlcsstoimage.com/dashboard) for available image credits.

See [shared MCP troubleshooting](/integrations/mcp/#troubleshooting) for authentication and rendering errors, or [choose another client](/integrations/mcp/#choose-your-client).

## Need help?

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