---
title: "render_strip"
description: "Raw app screenshots in, finished App Store panels out — the call that produces the pixels."
canonical: "https://shotops.dev/docs/mcp/reference/render_strip"
last_updated: "2026-09-07"
shotops_mcp_version: "0.9.6"
result_contract_version: "2.0.0"
---
# render_strip

Raw app screenshots in, finished App Store panels out — the call that produces the pixels.

## What it does

- Writes
- No account needed

The main event. Each screenshot is composited into a styled 3D device mockup, laid out as an App Store strip with the headlines you pass, and returned as one PNG per panel at the exact store panel size. Nothing is saved and no project is created; this call only renders, and the result says so — a render with no project carries an offer to save, not an instruction to. Start with a preview — it costs a quarter of a full-resolution render and is what you iterate against — and switch to full resolution once the composition is right.

You can ask: “Turn these imported Tidebook screenshots into a three-panel preview.”

The published schema deliberately accepts any shape inside `screenshots` so a malformed entry comes back as a sentence rather than a stacked union error. The real element shapes are below under what the server accepts.

## Input

- `screenshots`arrayrequiredat least 1 itemat most 10 items Screenshots in App Store display order (1–10). Preferred common form: a FLAT array, where each entry becomes its own App Store panel, e.g. [{ "ref": "first" }, { "ref": "second" }]. Advanced multi-phone form: a NESTED array of slots, where several entries inside one slot are composited into that single panel, e.g. [[{ "ref": "left" }, { "ref": "right" }], [{ "ref": "third" }]]. Each screenshot entry is EITHER an inline base64 PNG string (capped at 3MB of image data — a full-resolution screenshot is 3-4MB and will NOT fit; use a ref for anything real), OR { "ref": "..." } from request_screenshot_upload, OR { "url": "https://..." }, OR (local stdio mode only) { "path": "/abs/or/relative/path.png" } to read a file straight off disk, OR { "locales": { "<locale>": <any of those> } } to vary that screenshot per App Store locale (missing locales fall back to the en-US variant). Prefer ref/url for real screenshots so the bytes never transit this conversation. each item any The published schema does not constrain this element, on purpose — a malformed entry comes back as a sentence instead of a stacked union error. What the server re-validates against is below.
- `panelPresetId`stringoptional App Store screenshot size. Default r69 (6.9″ iPhone, 1290×2796). iPhone sizes only — iPad is not rendered yet. one of`r69``r65``r55`
- `clip`stringoptional An explicit top-level `clip: "strip"` or `clip: "panel"` wins over every shot; `"strip"` forces continuous overflow and `"panel"` clips every device to its own panel. Omit `clip` to honour each shot's `clipToFrame`; when it is missing or false, overflow is allowed. one of`strip``panel`
- `look`objectoptional A ShotOps "look" — per-DEVICE styling + background, exactly as read_look returns it. Its shots[] give every screenshot/phone its own styling (including multiple phones in one panel); style.shotLook is one shared style for all. COMPOSES with `style`: pass a look for the devices + `style.captions` for the words in ONE render. Validated — unknown keys are rejected (call describe_look for the full field catalog).
  - `schema`numberoptional Look schema version. The server stamps it on every save (save_look); read_look returns it. Any input value is ignored — never set it yourself.
  - `panelPresetId`stringoptional Canvas size preset, e.g. r69 = 1290×2796. Default r69.
  - `bgMode`stringoptional One gradient across the strip, or a flat colour per panel. Default gradient. one of`gradient``perPanel`
  - `gradientStops`arrayoptionalat least 1 item Canonical gradient stops — { color (hex), at (0–1 position) } — wins over gradientFrom/gradientTo/gradientDir when present. Read this back for the full stop list a Studio-authored look may carry; the trio below is only ever a two-stop summary. each item object - `color`stringrequired - `at`numberrequiredmin 0max 1
  - `gradientAngle`numberoptional Canonical gradient angle in degrees, clockwise from "to top" (CSS convention: 90 = right, 180 = down, the gradientDir:"vertical" equivalent). Paired with gradientStops.
  - `gradientFrom`stringoptional Gradient start (hex) — a DERIVED mirror of gradientStops[0], re-derived from the stops on every render and reload. Setting it ALONE changes nothing: set gradientStops to change the backdrop. Default #1b1b2e.
  - `gradientTo`stringoptional Gradient end (hex) — a DERIVED mirror of the last gradientStops entry, re-derived from the stops on every render and reload. Setting it ALONE changes nothing: set gradientStops to change the backdrop. Default #0a0a14.
  - `gradientDir`stringoptional A DERIVED mirror of gradientAngle (nearest axis), re-derived on every render and reload. Setting it ALONE changes nothing: set gradientAngle to turn the gradient. Default vertical. one of`horizontal``vertical`
  - `panelColors`objectoptional Per-panel flat colours (mode perPanel), keyed by panel id.
  - `shadow`booleanoptional Drop shadow under the phones. Default true.
  - `floorReflection`booleanoptional Flipped, faded floor reflection under each phone. Default false.
  - `panelBackgrounds`objectoptional Per-frame background overrides keyed by panel id (web-authored; agents rarely set these).
  - `captionStyles`objectoptional Per-panel caption STYLE arrays keyed by panel id (styling only, no words — for caption text pass style.captions).
  - `shots`arrayoptionalat most 60 items One entry per SCREENSHOT/DEVICE, flattened in panel order. Each entry has its OWN `look`. For screenshots:[[left,right]], pass two shots with the SAME panelId ("panel-1") to give the two devices different colours/materials/angles. This is how a look varies devices; style.shotLook cannot. each item object - `panelId`stringoptional Panel containing this screenshot/device. Panels are panel-1…panel-N in slot order; REPEAT the same panelId for multiple devices in one panel. A saved look’s own ids are remapped by ordinal. - `look`objectoptional This individual screenshot/device’s styling — the SAME fields as style.shotLook. - `angle`stringoptional Camera preset. Default front. one of`front``left``right` - `cameraPos`one of 2 shapesoptional Manual camera position override; null/omit = use the angle preset. 1`x` - `x`numberrequired - `y`numberrequired - `z`numberrequired 2`null` - `roll`string or numberoptional -45–45° clock-hand tilt. Default 0. - `phoneHeight`string or numberoptional -45–45° clock-hand tilt. Default 0. - `hOffset`string or numberoptional -45–45° clock-hand tilt. Default 0. - `vOffset`string or numberoptional -45–45° clock-hand tilt. Default 0. - `material`stringoptional Device body. Default real. one of`real``clay` - `colorway`stringoptional Body colour (material "real"). Default silver. These are finish SLOTS — each device binds its own real finish (silver = iPhone Silver / Pixel Moonstone). "green" is Pixel-only (Jade); other devices fall back to their first finish. one of`orange``blue``silver``green``custom` - `customColor`stringoptional Hex body colour when colorway is "custom". - `finish`string or numberoptional -45–45° clock-hand tilt. Default 0. - `clearcoat`string or numberoptional -45–45° clock-hand tilt. Default 0. - `clayTone`stringoptional Clay tone (material "clay"). Default grey. one of`grey``white``charcoal``custom` - `clayCustom`stringoptional Hex clay colour when clayTone is "custom". - `flatScreen`booleanoptional Render the screen flat (no curvature). Default false. - `glare`booleanoptional Screen glare. Default false. - `lighting`booleanoptional Scene lighting. Default true. - `reflections`booleanoptional Body reflections. Default false. - `clipToFrame`booleanoptional Clip this complete device composite to its owning frame. Default false (overflow allowed).
- `style`objectoptional Structured styling — the discoverable path (call describe_look for the full field catalog + defaults). `layout` is the fastest way in: one named composition that settles the headline region and the device placement together, with your explicit fields still winning over it. COMPOSES with `look`: pass BOTH to get per-device styling from the `look` AND captions from `style.captions` in ONE render (every real App Store strip). When a `look` is also given it supplies the devices + background, so `style.shotLook`/`style.background` are ignored (a note says so) — use `style` for `captions` then. Alone, `style` styles every phone identically + captions. Also composes with `useSavedLook`/`version`.
  - `layout`stringoptional Panel COMPOSITION template — sets the headline’s reserved region and the device’s placement, camera pose, and roll in one choice. "standard" — Headline on top, whole device below it, nothing cropped. The safe default. Reserves 2 headline lines (~36 characters). Character: [safe]. "bleed" — Room for a longer headline, device running off the bottom edge. What the market looks like. Reserves 4 headline lines (~72 characters). Character: [conventional]. "top-bleed" — Device running off the TOP edge, headline underneath it. Inverts the usual reading order. Reserves 4 headline lines (~72 characters). Character: [expressive]. PRECEDENCE: the template expands FIRST into shotLook.phoneHeight/shotLook.hOffset/shotLook.vOffset/shotLook.angle/shotLook.cameraPos/shotLook.roll and captions[].sizePt/captions[].maxWidth/captions[].reserveLines/captions[].band, and THEN any of those fields you pass EXPLICITLY overrides it — so { layout: "bleed", shotLook: { vOffset: "45" } } renders bleed seated at 45, not at the template’s 38. That is how you say "bleed, but a bit lower" without the template silently winning. The reserved region is held at FULL SIZE whether or not the headline fills it, which is what makes every panel in a swiped set land on the same line. Nothing stores the template id: it is discarded at expansion, so a saved project and read_look carry only the expanded values. one of`standard``bleed``top-bleed`
  - `shotLook`objectoptional This individual screenshot/device’s styling — the SAME fields as style.shotLook.
    - `angle`stringoptional Camera preset. Default front. one of`front``left``right`
    - `cameraPos`one of 2 shapesoptional Manual camera position override; null/omit = use the angle preset. 1`x` - `x`numberrequired - `y`numberrequired - `z`numberrequired 2`null`
    - `roll`string or numberoptional -45–45° clock-hand tilt. Default 0.
    - `phoneHeight`string or numberoptional -45–45° clock-hand tilt. Default 0.
    - `hOffset`string or numberoptional -45–45° clock-hand tilt. Default 0.
    - `vOffset`string or numberoptional -45–45° clock-hand tilt. Default 0.
    - `material`stringoptional Device body. Default real. one of`real``clay`
    - `colorway`stringoptional Body colour (material "real"). Default silver. These are finish SLOTS — each device binds its own real finish (silver = iPhone Silver / Pixel Moonstone). "green" is Pixel-only (Jade); other devices fall back to their first finish. one of`orange``blue``silver``green``custom`
    - `customColor`stringoptional Hex body colour when colorway is "custom".
    - `finish`string or numberoptional -45–45° clock-hand tilt. Default 0.
    - `clearcoat`string or numberoptional -45–45° clock-hand tilt. Default 0.
    - `clayTone`stringoptional Clay tone (material "clay"). Default grey. one of`grey``white``charcoal``custom`
    - `clayCustom`stringoptional Hex clay colour when clayTone is "custom".
    - `flatScreen`booleanoptional Render the screen flat (no curvature). Default false.
    - `glare`booleanoptional Screen glare. Default false.
    - `lighting`booleanoptional Scene lighting. Default true.
    - `reflections`booleanoptional Body reflections. Default false.
    - `clipToFrame`booleanoptional Clip this complete device composite to its owning frame. Default false (overflow allowed).
  - `background`objectoptional
    - `mode`stringoptional One gradient across the strip, or a flat colour per panel. one of`gradient``perPanel`
    - `stops`arrayoptionalat least 1 item Gradient colour stops, in order along the gradient line — { color (hex), at (0–1 position; 0 = line start, 1 = line end) }. Two stops is the classic top/bottom gradient, more make a multi-colour sweep, one stop is a solid fill. Default a two-stop navy gradient: [{color:"#1b1b2e",at:0},{color:"#0a0a14",at:1}]. each item object - `color`stringrequired - `at`numberrequiredmin 0max 1
    - `angle`numberoptional Gradient angle in degrees, clockwise from "to top" — CSS `linear-gradient()` convention: 90 = to right, 180 = to bottom (the old "vertical" default, and this field’s own default), 270 = to left. Any value folds into 0–360.
    - `panelColors`arrayoptionalat most 10 items Per-panel flat colours (mode "perPanel"), one entry per slot in order; null = default. each item string or null
    - `shadow`booleanoptional Drop shadow under the phones. Default true.
    - `floorReflection`booleanoptional Flipped, faded floor reflection under each phone. Default false.
  - `captions`arrayoptionalat most 10 items One entry PER PANEL in slot order; null = no caption on that panel. An entry is EITHER a single caption object OR an array of caption layers (stacked, in order) on that panel. Alongside a `look`, an entry is a DELTA: every style field you set wins, every field you leave out keeps the look’s styling for that panel and layer — which is what lets you re-render a `layout.correctedLook` without restating your captions. each item one of 2 shapes 1`one of 2 shapes` 1`object` - `fontId`stringoptional Bundled font. Default inter. one of`inter``manrope``poppins``fraunces``space-grotesk` - `sizePt`numberoptionalgreater than 0 Font size in iOS points (preset-independent), 20–120. Default 32. Outside that range it is clamped to it and the response says so. - `color`stringoptional Text colour (hex). Default FFFFFF. - `align`stringoptional Default center. one of`left``center``right` - `anchor`objectoptional Normalized 0–1 position of the caption on the panel. Default {x:0.5, y:0.06}. - `x`numberoptionalmin 0max 1 - `y`numberoptionalmin 0max 1 - `maxWidth`numberoptionalgreater than 0 Wrap width as a fraction of the panel, 0.1–1. Default 0.86. Outside that range it is clamped to it and the response says so. - `reserveLines`integeroptionalmin 1max 8 How many lines of headline room to HOLD, whether or not the text fills it. A shorter headline is centred in the reserved space rather than leaving all the slack beneath it, and the space is held so every panel in the strip lands on the same line. Omit to let the caption be exactly as tall as its text. Set for you by style.layout. - `band`stringoptional Put this caption in the BOTTOM band, growing upward from the lower margin, instead of the default top band. This is how a headline sits UNDER the device (see the top-bleed layout). The caption stays auto-placed — it still reflows and still stacks; use this rather than pinning an anchor, which would freeze it. one of`bottom` - `bandInset`numberoptionalmin 0max 0.5 Inset of the auto caption band from its own panel edge, as a 0–0.5 fraction of panel height. The top band measures down; the bottom band mirrors it upward. Default 0.06. - `lineHeight`numberoptionalmin 0.5max 3 Line spacing as a multiple of font size, 0.5–3. Default 1.2. - `bandCenter`numberoptionalmin 0max 1 Horizontal reference of the auto caption block as a 0–1 fraction of panel width. Text alignment decides which edge sits there. Default 0.5. - `text`stringoptionalat most 200 characters The headline — per-RENDER input, never stored in a look. - `subtitle`stringoptionalat most 300 characters Optional subtitle under the headline — also per-render input. 2`array` each item object - `fontId`stringoptional Bundled font. Default inter. one of`inter``manrope``poppins``fraunces``space-grotesk` - `sizePt`numberoptionalgreater than 0 Font size in iOS points (preset-independent), 20–120. Default 32. Outside that range it is clamped to it and the response says so. - `color`stringoptional Text colour (hex). Default FFFFFF. - `align`stringoptional Default center. one of`left``center``right` - `anchor`objectoptional Normalized 0–1 position of the caption on the panel. Default {x:0.5, y:0.06}. - `x`numberoptionalmin 0max 1 - `y`numberoptionalmin 0max 1 - `maxWidth`numberoptionalgreater than 0 Wrap width as a fraction of the panel, 0.1–1. Default 0.86. Outside that range it is clamped to it and the response says so. - `reserveLines`integeroptionalmin 1max 8 How many lines of headline room to HOLD, whether or not the text fills it. A shorter headline is centred in the reserved space rather than leaving all the slack beneath it, and the space is held so every panel in the strip lands on the same line. Omit to let the caption be exactly as tall as its text. Set for you by style.layout. - `band`stringoptional Put this caption in the BOTTOM band, growing upward from the lower margin, instead of the default top band. This is how a headline sits UNDER the device (see the top-bleed layout). The caption stays auto-placed — it still reflows and still stacks; use this rather than pinning an anchor, which would freeze it. one of`bottom` - `bandInset`numberoptionalmin 0max 0.5 Inset of the auto caption band from its own panel edge, as a 0–0.5 fraction of panel height. The top band measures down; the bottom band mirrors it upward. Default 0.06. - `lineHeight`numberoptionalmin 0.5max 3 Line spacing as a multiple of font size, 0.5–3. Default 1.2. - `bandCenter`numberoptionalmin 0max 1 Horizontal reference of the auto caption block as a 0–1 fraction of panel width. Text alignment decides which edge sits there. Default 0.5. - `text`stringoptionalat most 200 characters The headline — per-RENDER input, never stored in a look. - `subtitle`stringoptionalat most 300 characters Optional subtitle under the headline — also per-render input. 2`null`
- `useSavedLook`booleanoptional If true, style the strip with the project's saved look (ignored when `look`/`style` is given).
- `project`stringoptionalat least 1 character Which ShotOps project to target: its id (as returned by read_look/save_project), OR its NAME as the user says it — matched exactly, ignoring case and surrounding spaces. Omit = your most recently edited project. A name that matches none or several is refused with the account's projects listed, never resolved by guessing.
- `version`integeroptionalmin 1 Render a specific saved look version of the project (implies the saved look). Omit = the project's HELD version if one is held (hold_look), else the latest saved look.
- `locale`stringoptional App Store locale, e.g. "de-DE" (default en-US). Labels the render, selects which { "locales": … } screenshot variants render, and, for emit_bundle, selects the fastlane screenshots folder. Does not select caption text — pass the copy for this locale yourself via `style.captions[].text` (see the README's `captions.<locale>.json` convention).
- `preview`booleanoptional Render at ~25% resolution for a fast styling preview at a quarter the render cost — small enough to always come back inline. Not for final delivery: re-render without `preview` (or use emit_bundle directly) once the look is right.
- `output`stringoptional How to return rendered bytes: "inline" (base64), "urls" (uploaded, short-lived signed download URLs — use for real/full-resolution renders so bytes never transit this conversation), or omit for auto (inline under ~200KB total, urls above). one of`inline``urls`
- `waivers`arrayoptional Approvals for readiness findings this run would otherwise be blocked on. Pass back the exact `contract.readiness.findings[]` id and digest from a `preview: true` run, or from the refusal you just received. Each waiver clears ONE finding; fatal findings are never waivable. each item object - `findingId`stringrequired The `contract.readiness.findings[].id` this waiver authorizes. Exactly one. - `findingDigest`stringrequired That finding’s `digest`. A digest from an earlier run no longer matches and is rejected as stale. - `policyVersion`stringrequired `contract.readiness.policyVersion` as it stood when the finding was raised. - `waivedBy`stringrequired The account that approved it. Must be the account making this call. - `waivedAt`stringrequired ISO 8601. - `reason`stringoptional Free text, for the receipt. It authorizes nothing on its own.
- `idempotencyKey`stringoptionalat least 1 characterat most 200 characters Stable retry key for paid Hosted production. Reuse it only for the identical request; a new key deliberately requests a new render. Omit it for deterministic fingerprint retry safety.

## What the server actually accepts

The published schema above deliberately accepts a wider shape for `screenshots`, so a malformed entry comes back as a sentence rather than a stack of union errors. The server re-validates against these shapes and refuses anything else.

- `screenshots`one of 2 shapesrequired Screenshots in App Store display order (1–10). Preferred common form: a FLAT array, where each entry becomes its own App Store panel, e.g. [{ "ref": "first" }, { "ref": "second" }]. Advanced multi-phone form: a NESTED array of slots, where several entries inside one slot are composited into that single panel, e.g. [[{ "ref": "left" }, { "ref": "right" }], [{ "ref": "third" }]]. Each screenshot entry is EITHER an inline base64 PNG string (capped at 3MB of image data — a full-resolution screenshot is 3-4MB and will NOT fit; use a ref for anything real), OR { "ref": "..." } from request_screenshot_upload, OR { "url": "https://..." }, OR (local stdio mode only) { "path": "/abs/or/relative/path.png" } to read a file straight off disk, OR { "locales": { "<locale>": <any of those> } } to vary that screenshot per App Store locale (missing locales fall back to the en-US variant). Prefer ref/url for real screenshots so the bytes never transit this conversation. 1`array` Preferred: one screenshot entry per App Store panel, in display order. each item one of 5 shapes 1`string` Inline base64-encoded PNG (no "data:" prefix). Capped at 3MB of image data — a real full-resolution screenshot is 3-4MB and will NOT fit. Use request_screenshot_upload and pass { ref } instead; inline is for thumbnails and tests. 2`ref` A ref returned by request_screenshot_upload — resolved server-side, never re-sent inline. - `ref`stringrequiredat least 1 character - `name`stringoptionalat most 200 characters The screenshot's original filename (e.g. "03_statistics.png"). Pass it so that, if this render is saved as a project, the user's own screenshots folder re-loads exactly this file by name. Optional if the ref already carries a name (from request_screenshot_upload({ names })); omit entirely and the record falls back to a positional name (screen-N.png). 3`url` An https URL to a PNG or JPEG — fetched server-side, converted to PNG when needed (no redirects, ~20MB cap). - `url`stringrequiredat least 1 character - `name`stringoptionalat most 200 characters The screenshot's original filename (e.g. "03_statistics.png"). Pass it so that, if this render is saved as a project, the user's own screenshots folder re-loads exactly this file by name. Optional if the ref already carries a name (from request_screenshot_upload({ names })); omit entirely and the record falls back to a positional name (screen-N.png). 4`path` A local filesystem path to a PNG, read straight off disk — ONLY available over the local stdio server (npx shotops-mcp); the hosted server rejects this entry shape. - `path`stringrequiredat least 1 character - `name`stringoptionalat most 200 characters The screenshot's original filename (e.g. "03_statistics.png"). Pass it so that, if this render is saved as a project, the user's own screenshots folder re-loads exactly this file by name. Optional if the ref already carries a name (from request_screenshot_upload({ names })); omit entirely and the record falls back to a positional name (screen-N.png). 5`locales` Per-locale variants of ONE screenshot: { "locales": { "en-US": <entry>, "de-DE": <entry> } } (each variant is an inline base64 / ref / url / path entry). render_strip picks the top-level `locale`'s variant; emit_bundle with `locales` renders/packages every listed locale. A locale with no variant of its own falls back to the en-US variant (else the first declared), so you can localize only some screenshots. - `locales`objectrequired 2`array` Advanced: one nested slot per panel; put several screenshot entries in a slot for a multi-phone panel. each item array One App Store slot: 1–6 screenshots. Several entries = several phones composited into that one slot. each item one of 5 shapes 1`string` Inline base64-encoded PNG (no "data:" prefix). Capped at 3MB of image data — a real full-resolution screenshot is 3-4MB and will NOT fit. Use request_screenshot_upload and pass { ref } instead; inline is for thumbnails and tests. 2`ref` A ref returned by request_screenshot_upload — resolved server-side, never re-sent inline. - `ref`stringrequiredat least 1 character - `name`stringoptionalat most 200 characters The screenshot's original filename (e.g. "03_statistics.png"). Pass it so that, if this render is saved as a project, the user's own screenshots folder re-loads exactly this file by name. Optional if the ref already carries a name (from request_screenshot_upload({ names })); omit entirely and the record falls back to a positional name (screen-N.png). 3`url` An https URL to a PNG or JPEG — fetched server-side, converted to PNG when needed (no redirects, ~20MB cap). - `url`stringrequiredat least 1 character - `name`stringoptionalat most 200 characters The screenshot's original filename (e.g. "03_statistics.png"). Pass it so that, if this render is saved as a project, the user's own screenshots folder re-loads exactly this file by name. Optional if the ref already carries a name (from request_screenshot_upload({ names })); omit entirely and the record falls back to a positional name (screen-N.png). 4`path` A local filesystem path to a PNG, read straight off disk — ONLY available over the local stdio server (npx shotops-mcp); the hosted server rejects this entry shape. - `path`stringrequiredat least 1 character - `name`stringoptionalat most 200 characters The screenshot's original filename (e.g. "03_statistics.png"). Pass it so that, if this render is saved as a project, the user's own screenshots folder re-loads exactly this file by name. Optional if the ref already carries a name (from request_screenshot_upload({ names })); omit entirely and the record falls back to a positional name (screen-N.png). 5`locales` Per-locale variants of ONE screenshot: { "locales": { "en-US": <entry>, "de-DE": <entry> } } (each variant is an inline base64 / ref / url / path entry). render_strip picks the top-level `locale`'s variant; emit_bundle with `locales` renders/packages every listed locale. A locale with no variant of its own falls back to the en-US variant (else the first declared), so you can localize only some screenshots. - `locales`objectrequired

## Result

- `ok`booleanrequired
- `count`numberoptional
- `panelPresetId`stringoptional
- `panelWidth`numberoptional
- `panelHeight`numberoptional
- `renderMs`numberoptional
- `output`stringoptional one of`inline``urls`
- `locale`stringoptional
- `nextStep`objectoptional
  - `action`stringrequiredalways "offer_save_project" An offer to put to the user. Never a command, and never consent already given.
  - `tool`stringrequiredalways "save_project" The door that would persist this work, if they ask for it.
  - `projectCreated`booleanrequiredalways false No project was created or updated by this call — the same fact as `contract.effects.projectMutation`.
  - `consent`stringrequiredalways "required" Saving needs the user’s own preserve/reuse/keep-editing intent. A client that cannot ask returns this offer unresolved rather than saving.
  - `reason`stringrequired
- `credits`objectoptional Credits this call spent from the account wallet, the balance left afterwards, and when that wallet is next topped up (ISO 8601; absent when no further refill is scheduled). Renders cost per panel; reads, saves, uploads and deletes are free, as is bundling panels that were already rendered.
  - `debited`numberrequired
  - `remaining`numberrequired
  - `refillAt`stringoptional
- `note`stringoptional Free-text advisories about THIS call, joined into one string. Written when the server did something you did not literally ask for or could not have known: a look/version fallback, an output-mode downgrade, a device this server cannot render, a `style.shotLook` a `look` overrode, or placement set by hand where a `style.layout` template would have produced the same composition. Never an error — the call succeeded. Read it, and act on it next call.
- `layout`objectoptional What is wrong with this render’s COMPOSITION, measured on the panels it just returned. ABSENT means there is nothing to report — a clean strip, or one whose captions could not be measured. Advisory: the panels are already rendered and nothing here changed a pixel.
  - `findings`arrayrequired each item object - `kind`stringrequired What overlaps what. Captions must never overlap each other or a device; devices MAY overlap, and are only reported here when the pair does NOT read as composed (no real difference in scale, camera angle or roll). one of`caption-caption``caption-device``device-device` - `frames`arrayrequired 0-based indexes into the returned `panels`. For a caption finding the FIRST entry is the frame whose caption is the one to change; a second appears only when the other party sits in a different frame. each item number - `depthPct`numberrequired How deep the overlap runs, in whole percent of panel height — or, for `device-device`, the percentage of the smaller device the other one covers. - `anchored`booleanrequired true ⟹ a caption was placed by hand (an explicit `anchor`), so nothing may rewrite it. - `clearAtScale`numberoptional The verified factor that clears this frame’s auto-placed captions — 0.82 means 82% of their current size. Absent when no size above the legibility floor clears it, or when the offending caption is a hand placement.
  - `correctedLook`anyoptional The look this render used, with every caption shrunk to the largest size verified to clear the overlap. Pass it back as `look` to re-render. Absent when no repair is deterministic — a device-device overlap is a taste call (give the pair a real difference in scale, angle or roll) and a hand-anchored caption is a human placement. `note` says which.
- `contract`objectoptional The versioned ShotOps result contract (#662): what ran, where, what it changed, what it cost, what it produced and — on a refusal — a typed failure over a closed code catalog. Structured content is authoritative; the prose beside it is a rendering of this block.
  - `contractVersion`stringrequired The version of THIS envelope, REPORTED. Compare it against the version you were written for. There is no version negotiation: no tool accepts a requested version, so this is never a refusal — it moves only when a field changes meaning, and additive fields never move it.
  - `status`stringrequired one of`succeeded``partial``failed``refused``accepted``queued``running``cancel_requested``cancelled`
  - `terminal`booleanrequired false ⟹ this operation is still running and will be reported again (#666).
  - `operation`objectrequired
    - `id`stringrequired Identity for THIS call, unique per invocation. Quote it in a bug report.
    - `tool`stringrequired The registered tool name that produced this result.
    - `kind`stringrequired one of`render``bundle``read``mutate``upload``delete``status`
    - `durable`objectoptional #666 domain handle for addressable long-running work. Absent from synchronous calls.
      - `operationId`stringrequired
      - `pollWith`stringoptional
  - `execution`objectrequired
    - `location`stringrequired Where the work RAN. `local` is the caller’s own machine over stdio. one of`local``hosted`
    - `inputModes`arrayrequired Every way this door accepts screenshots and assets. each item string one of`inline_base64``stored_ref``remote_url``local_path``project_stored`
    - `deliveryModes`arrayrequired Every way this door can hand a result back. each item string one of`inline_base64``signed_url``local_path``share_link`
  - `effects`objectrequired What this call DID to the world, independent of what it returned. Every flag is stated on every result, false included: an absent flag would be indistinguishable from an effect nobody thought to declare.
    - `networkFetch`booleanrequired This call fetched bytes from a host neither ShotOps nor the caller controls.
    - `upload`booleanrequired Caller bytes were uploaded into ShotOps storage.
    - `retainedStorage`booleanrequired Something survives this call in ShotOps storage.
    - `projectMutation`booleanrequired A saved project or its look history changed.
    - `publication`booleanrequired Something became reachable outside the account — a share link.
    - `deletion`booleanrequired Something was permanently removed.
  - `cost`objectrequired
    - `unit`stringrequiredalways "credit" Public cloud credits — the same unit every ShotOps surface quotes.
    - `model`stringrequired How this connection pays. `unmetered` is local stdio, which renders on the caller’s own machine; `anonymous_allowance` is the unsigned hosted taste. one of`metered``anonymous_allowance``unmetered`
    - `estimated`numberoptional What the call was expected to cost, before it ran.
    - `reserved`numberoptional Held against the wallet for the duration of the call (#666).
    - `released`numberoptional Given back — an unused reservation or a refund after a post-charge failure (#666).
    - `settled`numberoptional Actually taken. Absent when nothing was charged.
    - `balanceAfter`numberoptional The wallet’s public cloud credit balance once this call settled.
    - `refillAt`stringoptional ISO 8601. When the wallet is next topped up; absent when none is scheduled.
  - `progress`objectoptional Persisted monotonic durable-operation progress. Never inferred from transient render metadata. Relay `panelsCompleted`/`panelsTotal` and the estimate to the waiting user; the item counters are internal bookkeeping and do not match what they asked for.
    - `completed`integerrequiredmin 0 Internal scheduling items done — panels PLUS the bundle and result items. Do not quote this to a person.
    - `total`integerrequiredmin 0 Internal scheduling items in total. Larger than the panel count.
    - `panelsCompleted`integeroptionalmin 0 Panels finished, in the unit the caller asked in. THIS is the number to report.
    - `panelsTotal`integeroptionalmin 0 Panels this operation will produce — the count the user asked for.
    - `attempt`integerrequiredmin 0
    - `heartbeatAt`string or nulloptional
    - `estimatedRemainingSeconds`numberoptionalmin 0 Rough seconds of rendering left, from this operation’s own measured pace once a panel has landed. An estimate, not a deadline — say “about”. Absent when nothing is left to render.
  - `resolvedInput`objectoptional #661 — what the server actually resolved the request to, before any pixel was produced.
    - `snapshotId`stringoptional `psi_` + the first 32 hex of the fingerprint. Quote it in a bug report.
    - `fingerprint`stringoptional sha256 over every resolved fact. Equal fingerprints ⟹ equal production input.
    - `sources`arrayoptional One entry per source cell, resolved or not. `slot` is the cell the bytes came FROM — a shot id and coordinate on a saved project, an ordered slot label on a direct render. Never a filename, a ref or a URL. `origin` is absent exactly when `status` is not `resolved`: there is nothing the cell came from. each item object - `slot`stringrequired - `status`stringrequired one of`resolved``missing``ambiguous` - `origin`stringoptional one of`inline_base64``stored_ref``remote_url``local_path``project_stored`
    - `defaultsApplied`arrayoptional What the server chose because the caller said nothing. each item string
    - `overrides`arrayoptional What the caller said that changed the outcome. each item string
  - `readiness`objectoptional #665 — the readiness verdict and any waiver receipt.
    - `state`stringoptional `blocked` ⟹ nothing was delivered. `ready_with_findings` ⟹ delivered, and here is what to know. one of`ready``ready_with_findings``waived``blocked`
    - `policyVersion`stringoptional The readiness policy this verdict was computed under. A waiver granted under another one is rejected.
    - `findings`arrayoptional Every finding, with `code`, `waivable` and `digest`. A waiver names one id AND its digest; there is no wildcard and no code-level waiver. each item object - `id`stringrequired `rf_` + 24 hex. Quote it in a waiver. - `severity`stringrequired one of`info``warn``block` - `message`stringrequired - `target`objectrequired The exact shot, panel, locale, output or frames this finding is about. - `shotId`stringoptional - `panelIndex`numberoptional - `locale`stringoptional - `output`stringoptional - `captionLayer`numberoptional - `frames`arrayoptional each item number - `evidence`objectrequired Bounded redacted facts used to derive the finding and its digest.
    - `waivers`arrayoptional The waivers this call ACCEPTED. Pass these objects back verbatim to reuse them; a rebuilt one is rejected. each item object - `findingId`stringrequired - `findingDigest`stringrequired - `policyVersion`stringrequired - `waivedBy`stringrequired - `waivedAt`stringrequired - `code`stringrequired one of`source_identity_ambiguous``output_unsupported``output_omitted``look_exact_unavailable``no_panels``panel_invalid_png``panel_dimensions_invalid``renderer_failed``input_changed_during_run``panel_source_empty``locale_source_fallback``device_source_fallback``caption_inherited``caption_locale_fallback``look_source_fallback``caption_device_collision``caption_caption_collision``device_device_collision``caption_legibility_unresolved``scope_filtered``locale_not_live_on_apple``look_hold_inactive``caption_text_empty` - `reason`stringoptional
  - `artifacts`arrayoptional each item object - `id`stringrequired The opaque asset id from the custody registry (#663) — or, for `kind: "share"`, the link’s own token. Never a storage path, and never a signed URL. - `kind`stringrequired one of`panel``bundle``screenshot``share``project` - `delivery`objectrequired - `mode`stringrequired one of`inline_base64``signed_url``local_path``share_link` - `url`stringoptional THE ONE FIELD a signed URL may appear in. Nothing else in this envelope carries one. - `expiresAt`stringoptional ISO 8601, when the grant above stops working. - `bytes`numberoptional - `retainedUntil`stringoptional ISO 8601, when ShotOps stops keeping the artifact itself.
  - `failure`objectoptional Present exactly when `status` is `failed` or `refused`.
    - `code`stringrequired The closed failure code. Branch on this, never on the sentence. one of`invalid_input``unsupported_input``project_not_found``project_ambiguous``no_projects``version_not_found``resolution_incomplete``readiness_required``readiness_unmet``asset_not_found``asset_in_use``authentication_required``plan_required``trial_choice_required``quota_exhausted``anonymous_limit_reached``capability_denied``billing_unavailable``render_failed``storage_failed``persistence_failed``upstream_unavailable``payload_too_large``rate_limited``operation_not_found``idempotency_conflict``operation_unavailable``operation_not_ready``contract_version_unsupported``internal_error`
    - `phase`stringrequired How far the call got. `input` and `authorization` guarantee nothing was rendered, stored, written or charged. one of`input``authorization``resolution``reservation``execution``delivery``persistence`
    - `retryable`booleanrequired true ⟹ the identical call may succeed later with nothing changed.
    - `nextAction`stringrequired The one move that resolves this, machine-readable. one of`none``fix_input``choose_project``upload_assets``reduce_scope``sign_in``choose_plan``upgrade_plan``retry``wait_and_retry``poll_operation``upgrade_client``contact_support`
    - `details`objectoptional Bounded, redacted, code-specific facts (the offending field name, the candidate project ids, the required plan). Never a credential, a signed URL or screenshot bytes.
- `panels`arrayoptional each item one of 3 shapes 1`string` 2`ref` - `ref`stringrequired - `url`stringrequiredformat uri 3`position` - `position`integerrequiredmin 1 - `contentIndex`integerrequiredmin 1 - `mimeType`stringrequiredalways "image/png" - `delivery`stringrequired one of`image``resource_link` - `ref`stringoptional
- `operationId`stringoptional
- `status`stringoptional one of`accepted``queued``running``cancel_requested``succeeded``failed``cancelled`
- `progress`objectoptional
  - `completed`numberrequired
  - `total`numberrequired
  - `panelsCompleted`numberoptional Panels finished — the number to report to the user.
  - `panelsTotal`numberoptional Panels this operation will produce.
  - `attempt`numberrequired
  - `heartbeatAt`string or nulloptional
  - `estimatedRemainingSeconds`numberoptional About how many seconds of rendering are left. An estimate — say “about”.
- `failure`anyoptional

## Example

That request maps to this call:

```
{
  "name": "render_strip",
  "arguments": {
    "screenshots": [
      {
        "ref": "uploads/you/tidebook/01-today.png"
      },
      {
        "ref": "uploads/you/tidebook/02-forecast.png"
      }
    ],
    "style": {
      "layout": "standard",
      "captions": [
        {
          "text": "Know the tide before you go"
        },
        {
          "text": "Seven days of swell"
        }
      ]
    },
    "preview": true
  }
}
```

One base64 PNG per panel, the panel size it rendered at, and — when the composition needs attention — a `layout` block naming every caption sitting on a device and, where the repair is deterministic, a corrected look you can pass straight back.

## Access and cost

- Preview renders are open to everyone, including a hosted caller with no account.
- A full-resolution render is production output: it needs an active Pro trial or Pro, and the server decides that before any pixel is rendered or any cloud credit is spent.
- On the hosted server a preview panel costs 1 cloud credit and a full-resolution panel 4. On the local stdio server rendering is free and spends nothing.
- Without an account the hosted server allows 3 preview attempts per network per 30 days, up to 5 panels each.

## When it refuses

- **The reply says production output is not available.**
  That is an entitlement answer, not a render failure — nothing was rendered and nothing was charged. Call account_status, do the step it names, then retry. Previews keep working.

- **A full-resolution screenshot is rejected as too large.**
  Inline base64 is capped for small payloads. Import the file first (import_screenshot for a URL or a ChatGPT attachment, request_screenshot_upload for a file on the user’s disk) and pass the returned ref instead.

- **The result carries a `layout` block full of findings.**
  The composition measured badly — captions are landing on devices. Pass `layout.correctedLook` back as `look` and re-render, or pick a different layout template from the longest headline in the set.

- **A `path` entry is refused.**
  Reading a file off disk only works on the local stdio server. On hosted, use a URL or a signed upload.

## Where this fits

- [The whole path from screenshots to a bundle](https://shotops.dev/docs/mcp/workflows/first-strip)
- [Rendering one locale at a time](https://shotops.dev/docs/mcp/workflows/localization)

## What the agent is told

The title and description the server publishes on `tools/list` — this is the copy a model chooses between, reproduced verbatim.

Render App Store screenshots

Make the store screenshots: raw app screen captures in, finished marketing panels out. Each screenshot is composited into a styled 3D device mockup, laid out as an App Store screenshot strip with the headlines you pass, and returned as per-panel PNGs at the App Store panel size `panelPresetId` names. This is the tool for a strip built from screenshots you have in hand; to reproduce one a designer already saved, use render_project. In ChatGPT, call import_screenshot first and pass the returned refs in the preferred flat form: { "screenshots": [{ "ref": "…" }] } — each flat entry is one panel, and nested slots only when ONE panel should hold several phones. Art-direct it with `style`/`look` or a project's saved look, iterate with a low-res `preview` at a quarter the render cost, and take results `inline` or as `urls` for large payloads. Screenshots can vary per store locale via { "locales": … } entries — `locale` picks which variant renders (missing variants fall back to en-US). For real, full-resolution screenshots call request_screenshot_upload first — inline base64 is for small payloads only. CALL describe_look FIRST when nobody has said how the strip should look — it returns the five palette presets, the three layout templates and every styling field with its default, and guessing a colour scheme out of 30 raw fields is how strips end up looking improvised. PICK `style.layout` FROM THE LONGEST HEADLINE IN THE SET, once, before anything else: "standard" reserves 2 lines (~36 characters) with the whole device under them, "bleed" reserves 4 (~72) with the device running off the bottom edge, "top-bleed" inverts that. The text region is RESERVED, NOT FITTED — held at full size whether or not the headline fills it, because a fixed reservation is the only thing that makes every device in a swiped SET land on the same line. Do not close a gap by shrinking vOffset on the short panels, and never assemble a composition out of raw phoneHeight/vOffset numbers: pick a layout, then override one field if you must (the template expands first, your field wins). Past the reservation the caption band grows down INTO the phone — the failure to avoid. THE RESPONSE ANSWERS BACK: an optional `layout` block names every caption sitting on a device, every caption collision and every device pair overlapping without reading as composed, by frame number and depth. When the repair is deterministic it also carries `layout.correctedLook` — pass that straight back as `look` to re-render clean. No `layout` key means the composition measured clean. Read it before you show the panels. This tool ONLY renders images: it never creates or updates a project, and the result says so — `contract.effects.projectMutation` is false on every render. A render with no `project` also carries a `nextStep` with action `offer_save_project`, which states that no project exists and names save_project as the door. That is an OFFER to put to the user, never consent already given: save only after they show they want this work preserved, shared, reused or kept editable, and if you cannot ask them, return the panels with the offer standing. No store credential is involved.