> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.inklyai.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Screenshot versus HTML demos

> Choose between screenshot/video capture and HTML capture for an Inkly demo.

Inkly can create demos in two capture formats: screenshot/video and HTML. Both produce demos you can preview, edit, publish, and keep in your hub.

Start with screenshot/video capture unless you already know you need HTML. It is the simplest path for most product demos.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Screenshot and video demos" icon="camera" href="#screenshot-and-video-demos">
    Use this when you want the fastest, most reliable way to show a product flow.
  </Card>

  <Card title="HTML demos" icon="code" href="#html-demos">
    Use this when crisp text, resizable layouts, or editable captured content matters.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Screenshot and video demos

A screenshot and video demo records each step as a still image. When the step includes motion, such as scrolling or animation, Inkly can capture that moment as a short video clip.

Use this format for most demos: onboarding tours, sales walkthroughs, feature launches, support guides, and product flows where the viewer needs to see what happened.

### Choose screenshot and video when

* You want the fastest way to create a polished first demo.
* You need motion, scrolling, or animation to appear in the demo.
* You want a stable capture of a logged-in product or complex web app.
* You plan to polish the story with annotations, labels, chapters, and copy.
* You do not need an agent to edit text inside the captured page itself.

## HTML demos

An HTML demo records each step as a self-contained HTML snapshot. The captured screen stays sharp at different sizes because the step is stored as page structure instead of only pixels.

Use this format when captured content needs to stay editable or inspectable. HTML capture is especially useful when an AI agent will personalize visible text, tailor a screen for a prospect, or preserve sharp text in dense product views.

### Choose HTML when

* You need crisp text at different zoom levels or viewport sizes.
* You want an agent to edit captured text for a specific customer or segment.
* You are capturing dense dashboards, tables, or document-like screens.
* You care more about static screen fidelity than motion.
* You are comfortable with a more advanced capture format.

<Note>
  HTML demos do not replace screenshot/video demos. They are a more specialized format. For a first demo, choose screenshot/video unless crisp or editable captured content is the main requirement.
</Note>

## Quick comparison

| Format           | Best first choice? | What each step stores                | Best for                                      | Tradeoff                                     |
| ---------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Screenshot/video | Yes                | Images, plus short videos for motion | Fast, reliable product walkthroughs           | Captured page text is not directly editable. |
| HTML             | Sometimes          | Self-contained HTML snapshots        | Crisp text and agent-assisted personalization | More advanced and less suited for motion.    |

## How to capture each format

Use `inkly capture` for screenshot/video demos:

```bash theme={null}
inkly capture start --url https://app.example.com --name "Product tour"
```

Use `inkly capture-html` for HTML demos:

```bash theme={null}
inkly capture-html start --url https://app.example.com --name "Product tour"
```

## Capture with the Chrome extension

The Chrome extension can also capture both formats. Use it when you want to record the flow yourself from the browser session you already have open.

Choose screenshot/video capture for the fastest path. Choose HTML capture when you need crisp text, resizable layouts, or editable captured content.

For a guided first demo, see [Quickstart](/get-a-quick-start). For command details, see [Agentic capture](/cli/capture).