# Set up HCTI in VS Code

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.

Using Copilot in your terminal? Follow the [GitHub Copilot guide](/integrations/mcp/github-copilot/).

## 1\. Connect Copilot

In VS Code, sign in to GitHub Copilot, then:

1.  Run **MCP: Add Server** from the Command Palette.
2.  Select **HTTP**, enter `https://mcp.hcti.io`, and name it `hcti`.
3.  Choose **Workspace** or **Global**, then start the server and accept its trust prompt.
4.  Sign in to HCTI in the browser when prompted.
5.  Open Copilot Chat in **Agent** mode and enable HCTI in the tool picker.

Set up with mcp.json instead

Merge this into `.vscode/mcp.json`, then start HCTI using the controls above the entry. Complete browser sign-in and enable its tools in Copilot Chat.

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "hcti": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.hcti.io"
    }
  }
}
```

For all projects, use **MCP: Open User Configuration**. [VS Code setup reference](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/agent-customization/mcp-servers).

## 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.

## Create an Open Graph card

Give Copilot the relevant stylesheet and page title, then ask:

```text
Read the brand colors and typography in this workspace. Create
self-contained HTML/CSS for a 1200×630 Open Graph card titled
"New release". Render it with HCTI at device_scale 1 and return the PNG URL.
```

Open the result to check the title, spacing, and brand colors. Ask Copilot to update the HTML/CSS and render again for changes. HCTI needs the rendered markup and accessible assets, so source component files may need to be converted first.

## 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 **MCP: List Servers** and inspect HCTI’s status and output. Check that the workspace configuration uses `servers`, that the URL includes `https://`, and that OAuth authorization completed.

In Copilot Chat, use Agent mode and enable HCTI in the tool picker. Check the selected workspace or user profile if the server appears elsewhere but not in this session. Organization policy can restrict MCP access.

### 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.