# Shots

> Shots is an open-source launch platform. It reads a software release, writes a cited launch brief, designs on-brand visuals, and drafts posts, and nothing ships until a person approves. It also includes a screenshot editor and browser-based image tools in every plan. Every plan is paid, and a signed-in workspace with an active subscription is required for everything; exports have no watermark.

## Overview

The launch platform turns a release (typed in, sent through the API, or delivered by a GitHub, GitLab, or custom webhook) into a launch brief where every claim cites a source, a campaign plan, visuals rendered with the workspace brand kit, and channel copy. Every post needs a human approval before it can be scheduled. Launch intelligence is in early access for design partners: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/design-partners.

The screenshot editor is included in every plan, with no watermark. Editing runs in the browser: imported images are not uploaded to edit them, saved designs are stored in the workspace, and export compression round-trips the finished image through the server without storing it. It is an open-source alternative to Pika Style, Shots.so (a separate product), and CleanShot X.

## Key Features

- 250+ gradient, mesh, and solid backgrounds
- Safari and Chrome browser mockups (light and dark)
- Device frames: Arc, Polaroid, glass, outline, border
- 3D perspective transforms and shadow effects
- 43 animation presets with keyframe timeline editor
- Video export in MP4, WebM, and GIF
- Text and image overlays with 32 Google Fonts
- Tweet-to-image and code-snippet-to-image capture
- On-device AI background remover with full-resolution transparent PNG output (https://shots.playbookmedia.io/remove-background)
- In-browser video compressor with quality levels or a target size in MB, MP4 output (https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compress-video)
- High-resolution export up to 5x scale (PNG, JPEG, WebP)
- One-click styling presets
- Aspect ratio presets for every social platform

## Standalone Image Tools

Single-purpose utilities that run entirely in the browser (Canvas plus Web Workers) and do not call any API. They need a signed-in Shots workspace and are included in every plan. Batch input is supported; several results download as one zip.

- Compress Image: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compress-image
- Convert Image: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/convert-image
- Resize Image: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/resize-image
- Crop Image: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/crop-image
- Rotate Image: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/rotate-image
- Converters: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/png-to-jpg, https://shots.playbookmedia.io/jpg-to-png, https://shots.playbookmedia.io/png-to-webp, https://shots.playbookmedia.io/webp-to-png, https://shots.playbookmedia.io/jpg-to-webp, https://shots.playbookmedia.io/webp-to-jpg, https://shots.playbookmedia.io/avif-to-jpg, https://shots.playbookmedia.io/avif-to-png, https://shots.playbookmedia.io/png-to-avif, https://shots.playbookmedia.io/jpg-to-avif, https://shots.playbookmedia.io/webp-to-avif, https://shots.playbookmedia.io/avif-to-webp

## Pages

- Screenshot Editor (sign-in required): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/
- Editor alias (redirects to /): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/editor
- Product overview: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/landing
- Pricing: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/pricing
- Design partners (launch intelligence early access): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/design-partners
- App Store Screenshot Maker: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/store-screenshots
- Code to Image: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/code
- Mockup Generator: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/mockup-generator
- Image Tools Hub: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/tools
- Remove Background: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/remove-background
- Compress Video: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compress-video
- Features: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/features
- Screenshot Beautifier: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/features/screenshot-beautifier
- Social Media Graphics: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/features/social-media-graphics
- Animation Maker: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/features/animation-maker
- 3D Effects: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/features/3d-effects
- Browser Mockups: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/features/browser-mockups
- Code Snippet Images: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/features/code-snippets
- Audience Hub: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/for
- For Developers: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/for/developers
- For Marketers: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/for/marketers
- For Designers: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/for/designers
- Comparison Hub: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compare
- Guides Hub: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides
- Changelog: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/changelog
- About: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/about
- Contact: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/contact
- Privacy Policy: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/privacy-policy
- Terms & Conditions: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/terms

## Developer Resources

- API Documentation: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/docs
- Developer Portal: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/developers
- Interactive API Reference: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/api-reference
- OpenAPI Specification (OpenAPI 3.1, JSON): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/openapi.json
- API Authentication and Rate Limits: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/docs/authentication
- AI Agents and MCP Setup: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/docs/agents
- MCP Server: https://shots-mcp.playbookmedia.io/mcp
- llms.txt: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/llms.txt
- llms-full.txt: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/llms-full.txt
- Sitemap: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/sitemap.xml
- robots.txt: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/robots.txt

The editor utility endpoints under paths such as `/api/screenshot` require a signed-in session or a workspace API key with the artifact:read scope in `X-API-Key`, and per-IP limits apply on top. Create a workspace API key in Settings → Developer API (/workspace/developers). Workspace-scoped `/api/v1` operations require an organization key in `X-API-Key` or an authorized signed-in session. Every error is JSON with a stable `code`, a `message`, and a `hint`. Any page also serves Markdown when the request sends `Accept: text/markdown`.

## Agent Quickstart

Shots runs an MCP server for AI agents at https://shots-mcp.playbookmedia.io/mcp, served by the same backend as the REST API, with the same workspace permissions, plan checks, and quotas.

1. In a signed-in workspace, open Settings → AI agents (/workspace/ai-agents) and create an agent key with only the scopes the agent needs.
2. Add the server to your agent with the key as a bearer token. For Claude Code: `claude mcp add --transport http shots https://shots-mcp.playbookmedia.io/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer $SHOTS_API_KEY"`.
3. Claude.ai, Claude Desktop, and ChatGPT connect through OAuth instead and ask a workspace owner or admin to approve.
4. Prefer HTTP? Every MCP tool mirrors an operation in https://shots.playbookmedia.io/openapi.json; send the same key in `X-API-Key`.

Setup for Claude Code, Claude.ai, ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Gemini CLI, Codex CLI, and OpenCode: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/docs/agents. Agents can read releases, campaigns, the review queue, and the schedule, create drafts, upload assets, capture screenshots, and submit drafts for review. With the post:schedule scope they schedule posts a person approved; only a person approves.

## Internationalization

Available in 8 languages: English (default), Spanish (/es), French (/fr), German (/de), Japanese (/ja), Portuguese (/pt), Korean (/ko), Chinese (/zh).

## Comparison Pages

- vs Pika Style: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compare/pika-style
- vs Shots.so: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compare/shots-so
- vs Snagit: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compare/snagit
- vs CleanShot X: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compare/cleanshot-x
- vs Screely: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compare/screely
- vs Carbon: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compare/carbon
- vs Ray.so: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compare/ray-so
- vs Xnapper: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compare/xnapper
- vs remove.bg: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/compare/remove-bg

## Guides

- How to Edit a Screenshot Online (2026): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/how-to-edit-screenshot-online
- How to Add Text to a Screenshot Online: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/how-to-add-text-to-screenshot
- How to Blur Part of a Screenshot Online: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/how-to-blur-screenshot
- How to Annotate a Screenshot Online (Arrows, Shapes, Text): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/how-to-annotate-screenshot
- How to Make Screenshots Look Professional: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/how-to-beautify-screenshots
- How to Animate a Screenshot and Export a Video: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/how-to-animate-screenshots
- How to Make a 3D Screenshot Mockup Online: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/how-to-make-3d-screenshot
- How to Put a Screenshot in an iPhone or MacBook Mockup: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/how-to-put-screenshot-in-iphone-mockup
- How to Add a Browser Window Frame to a Screenshot: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/how-to-add-browser-frame-to-screenshot
- How to Post Screenshots on Instagram Without Cropping: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/instagram-screenshot-size
- App Store Screenshot Sizes and How to Make Them (2026): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/app-store-screenshot-sizes
- How to Take a Screenshot and Edit It (Mac, Windows, Chromebook): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/how-to-take-and-edit-screenshot
- How to Screenshot a Tweet (X Post) Cleanly: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/how-to-screenshot-a-tweet
- Best Screenshot Mockup Generators, Free and Paid (2026): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/best-free-screenshot-mockup-generators
- Best Screenshot Editors With No Watermark, Free and Paid (2026): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/best-free-screenshot-editors-no-watermark
- Best Code to Image Tools for READMEs and Social Posts (2026): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/best-code-to-image-tools
- Best Shots.so Alternatives, Free and Paid (2026): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/best-free-shots-so-alternatives
- Best Screely Alternatives, Free and Paid (2026): https://shots.playbookmedia.io/guides/best-free-screely-alternatives

## Pricing

Plans: Pro ($199/mo, or $169/mo billed annually), Business ($699/mo, or $594/mo billed annually), and Enterprise (from $3,000/mo, billed annually). There is no free plan. A signed-in workspace is required on every plan. The screenshot editor and image tools are included in every plan, and exports have no watermark. Launch intelligence is in early access for design partners. Details: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/pricing

## Technology

Next.js 16, React 19, TypeScript, HTML Canvas, Tailwind CSS, Zustand, FFmpeg WASM for video encoding, Cloudflare R2 for assets.

## Use Cases

- Launch briefs, visuals, and approved posts for each software release
- Social media graphics (Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Product Hunt)
- SaaS product screenshots for landing pages and documentation
- Developer portfolio and project showcase images
- Marketing presentations and pitch decks
- Animated slideshows and video content

## Target Audience

Software teams that ship releases, plus developers, designers, and marketers who need product visuals.

## Contact

- Website: https://shots.playbookmedia.io
- Email: team@playbookmedia.io

## Full Documentation

For the complete, detailed version of this document, see: https://shots.playbookmedia.io/llms-full.txt