feat: screenshot element/region clipping (v0.3.7) (#56)

* feat: screenshot element/region clipping (--clip, --viewport, CSS/@ref)

Add element crop (CSS selector or @ref), region clip (--clip x,y,w,h),
and viewport-only (--viewport) modes to the screenshot command. Uses
Playwright's native locator.screenshot() and page.screenshot({ clip }).
Full page remains the default. Includes 10 new tests covering all modes
and error paths.

* chore: bump version and changelog (v0.3.7)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

* docs: add screenshot modes to BROWSER.md command reference

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

---------

Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

BROWSER.md

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ This document covers the command reference and internals of gstack's headless br
 | Snapshot | `snapshot [-i] [-c] [-d N] [-s sel] [-D] [-a] [-o] [-C]` | Get refs, diff, annotate |
 | Interact | `click`, `fill`, `select`, `hover`, `type`, `press`, `scroll`, `wait`, `viewport`, `upload` | Use the page |
 | Inspect | `js`, `eval`, `css`, `attrs`, `is`, `console`, `network`, `dialog`, `cookies`, `storage`, `perf` | Debug and verify |
-| Visual | `screenshot`, `pdf`, `responsive` | See what Claude sees |
+| Visual | `screenshot [--viewport] [--clip x,y,w,h] [sel\|@ref] [path]`, `pdf`, `responsive` | See what Claude sees |
 | Compare | `diff <url1> <url2>` | Spot differences between environments |
 | Dialogs | `dialog-accept [text]`, `dialog-dismiss` | Control alert/confirm/prompt handling |
 | Tabs | `tabs`, `tab`, `newtab`, `closetab` | Multi-page workflows |
@@ -92,6 +92,21 @@ No DOM mutation. No injected scripts. Just Playwright's native accessibility API
 - `--annotate` (`-a`): Injects temporary overlay divs at each ref's bounding box, takes a screenshot with ref labels visible, then removes the overlays. Use `-o <path>` to control the output path.
 - `--cursor-interactive` (`-C`): Scans for non-ARIA interactive elements (divs with `cursor:pointer`, `onclick`, `tabindex>=0`) using `page.evaluate`. Assigns `@c1`, `@c2`... refs with deterministic `nth-child` CSS selectors. These are elements the ARIA tree misses but users can still click.
 
+### Screenshot modes
+
+The `screenshot` command supports four modes:
+
+| Mode | Syntax | Playwright API |
+|------|--------|----------------|
+| Full page (default) | `screenshot [path]` | `page.screenshot({ fullPage: true })` |
+| Viewport only | `screenshot --viewport [path]` | `page.screenshot({ fullPage: false })` |
+| Element crop | `screenshot "#sel" [path]` or `screenshot @e3 [path]` | `locator.screenshot()` |
+| Region clip | `screenshot --clip x,y,w,h [path]` | `page.screenshot({ clip })` |
+
+Element crop accepts CSS selectors (`.class`, `#id`, `[attr]`) or `@e`/`@c` refs from `snapshot`. Auto-detection: `@e`/`@c` prefix = ref, `.`/`#`/`[` prefix = CSS selector, `--` prefix = flag, everything else = output path.
+
+Mutual exclusion: `--clip` + selector and `--viewport` + `--clip` both throw errors. Unknown flags (e.g. `--bogus`) also throw.
+
 ### Authentication
 
 Each server session generates a random UUID as a bearer token. The token is written to the state file (`.gstack/browse.json`) with chmod 600. Every HTTP request must include `Authorization: Bearer <token>`. This prevents other processes on the machine from controlling the browser.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.3.7 — 2026-03-14
+
+### Added
+- **Screenshot element/region clipping** — `screenshot` command now supports element crop via CSS selector or @ref (`screenshot "#hero" out.png`, `screenshot @e3 out.png`), region clip (`screenshot --clip x,y,w,h out.png`), and viewport-only mode (`screenshot --viewport out.png`). Uses Playwright's native `locator.screenshot()` and `page.screenshot({ clip })`. Full page remains the default.
+- 10 new tests covering all screenshot modes (viewport, CSS, @ref, clip) and error paths (unknown flag, mutual exclusion, invalid coords, path validation, nonexistent selector).
+
 ## 0.3.6 — 2026-03-14
 
 ### Added

SKILL.md

@@ -128,6 +128,17 @@ $B viewport 375x812     # iPhone
 $B screenshot /tmp/mobile.png
 $B viewport 1440x900    # Desktop
 $B screenshot /tmp/desktop.png
+
+# Element screenshot (crop to specific element)
+$B screenshot "#hero-banner" /tmp/hero.png
+$B snapshot -i
+$B screenshot @e3 /tmp/button.png
+
+# Region crop
+$B screenshot --clip 0,0,800,600 /tmp/above-fold.png
+
+# Viewport only (no scroll)
+$B screenshot --viewport /tmp/viewport.png
 ```
 
 ### Test file upload
@@ -337,7 +348,7 @@ Refs are invalidated on navigation — run `snapshot` again after `goto`.
 | `diff <url1> <url2>` | Text diff between pages |
 | `pdf [path]` | Save as PDF |
 | `responsive [prefix]` | Screenshots at mobile (375x812), tablet (768x1024), desktop (1280x720). Saves as {prefix}-mobile.png etc. |
-| `screenshot [path]` | Save screenshot |
+| `screenshot [--viewport] [--clip x,y,w,h] [selector|@ref] [path]` | Save screenshot (supports element crop via CSS/@ref, --clip region, --viewport) |
 
 ### Snapshot
 | Command | Description |

SKILL.md.tmpl

@@ -102,6 +102,17 @@ $B viewport 375x812     # iPhone
 $B screenshot /tmp/mobile.png
 $B viewport 1440x900    # Desktop
 $B screenshot /tmp/desktop.png
+
+# Element screenshot (crop to specific element)
+$B screenshot "#hero-banner" /tmp/hero.png
+$B snapshot -i
+$B screenshot @e3 /tmp/button.png
+
+# Region crop
+$B screenshot --clip 0,0,800,600 /tmp/above-fold.png
+
+# Viewport only (no scroll)
+$B screenshot --viewport /tmp/viewport.png
 ```
 
 ### Test file upload

VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.3.6
+0.3.7

browse/SKILL.md

@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ Refs are invalidated on navigation — run `snapshot` again after `goto`.
 | `diff <url1> <url2>` | Text diff between pages |
 | `pdf [path]` | Save as PDF |
 | `responsive [prefix]` | Screenshots at mobile (375x812), tablet (768x1024), desktop (1280x720). Saves as {prefix}-mobile.png etc. |
-| `screenshot [path]` | Save screenshot |
+| `screenshot [--viewport] [--clip x,y,w,h] [selector|@ref] [path]` | Save screenshot (supports element crop via CSS/@ref, --clip region, --viewport) |
 
 ### Snapshot
 | Command | Description |

browse/src/cli.ts

@@ -283,7 +283,8 @@ Inspection:     js <expr> | eval <file> | css <sel> <prop> | attrs <sel>
                 console [--clear|--errors] | network [--clear] | dialog [--clear]
                 cookies | storage [set <k> <v>] | perf
                 is <prop> <sel> (visible|hidden|enabled|disabled|checked|editable|focused)
-Visual:         screenshot [path] | pdf [path] | responsive [prefix]
+Visual:         screenshot [--viewport] [--clip x,y,w,h] [@ref|sel] [path]
+                pdf [path] | responsive [prefix]
 Snapshot:       snapshot [-i] [-c] [-d N] [-s sel] [-D] [-a] [-o path] [-C]
                 -D/--diff: diff against previous snapshot
                 -a/--annotate: annotated screenshot with ref labels

browse/src/commands.ts

@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export const COMMAND_DESCRIPTIONS: Record<string, { category: string; descriptio
   'dialog-accept': { category: 'Interaction', description: 'Auto-accept next alert/confirm/prompt. Optional text is sent as the prompt response', usage: 'dialog-accept [text]' },
   'dialog-dismiss': { category: 'Interaction', description: 'Auto-dismiss next dialog' },
   // Visual
-  'screenshot': { category: 'Visual', description: 'Save screenshot', usage: 'screenshot [path]' },
+  'screenshot': { category: 'Visual', description: 'Save screenshot (supports element crop via CSS/@ref, --clip region, --viewport)', usage: 'screenshot [--viewport] [--clip x,y,w,h] [selector|@ref] [path]' },
   'pdf':     { category: 'Visual', description: 'Save as PDF', usage: 'pdf [path]' },
   'responsive': { category: 'Visual', description: 'Screenshots at mobile (375x812), tablet (768x1024), desktop (1280x720). Saves as {prefix}-mobile.png etc.', usage: 'responsive [prefix]' },
   'diff':    { category: 'Visual', description: 'Text diff between pages', usage: 'diff <url1> <url2>' },

browse/src/meta-commands.ts

@@ -106,11 +106,63 @@ export async function handleMetaCommand(
 
     // ─── Visual ────────────────────────────────────────
     case 'screenshot': {
+      // Parse priority: flags (--viewport, --clip) → selector (@ref, CSS) → output path
       const page = bm.getPage();
-      const screenshotPath = args[0] || '/tmp/browse-screenshot.png';
+      let outputPath = '/tmp/browse-screenshot.png';
-      validateOutputPath(screenshotPath);
+      let clipRect: { x: number; y: number; width: number; height: number } | undefined;
-      await page.screenshot({ path: screenshotPath, fullPage: true });
+      let targetSelector: string | undefined;
-      return `Screenshot saved: ${screenshotPath}`;
+      let viewportOnly = false;
+
+      const remaining: string[] = [];
+      for (let i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
+        if (args[i] === '--viewport') {
+          viewportOnly = true;
+        } else if (args[i] === '--clip') {
+          const coords = args[++i];
+          if (!coords) throw new Error('Usage: screenshot --clip x,y,w,h [path]');
+          const parts = coords.split(',').map(Number);
+          if (parts.length !== 4 || parts.some(isNaN))
+            throw new Error('Usage: screenshot --clip x,y,width,height — all must be numbers');
+          clipRect = { x: parts[0], y: parts[1], width: parts[2], height: parts[3] };
+        } else if (args[i].startsWith('--')) {
+          throw new Error(`Unknown screenshot flag: ${args[i]}`);
+        } else {
+          remaining.push(args[i]);
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Separate target (selector/@ref) from output path
+      for (const arg of remaining) {
+        if (arg.startsWith('@e') || arg.startsWith('@c') || arg.startsWith('.') || arg.startsWith('#') || arg.includes('[')) {
+          targetSelector = arg;
+        } else {
+          outputPath = arg;
+        }
+      }
+
+      validateOutputPath(outputPath);
+
+      if (clipRect && targetSelector) {
+        throw new Error('Cannot use --clip with a selector/ref — choose one');
+      }
+      if (viewportOnly && clipRect) {
+        throw new Error('Cannot use --viewport with --clip — choose one');
+      }
+
+      if (targetSelector) {
+        const resolved = bm.resolveRef(targetSelector);
+        const locator = 'locator' in resolved ? resolved.locator : page.locator(resolved.selector);
+        await locator.screenshot({ path: outputPath, timeout: 5000 });
+        return `Screenshot saved (element): ${outputPath}`;
+      }
+
+      if (clipRect) {
+        await page.screenshot({ path: outputPath, clip: clipRect });
+        return `Screenshot saved (clip ${clipRect.x},${clipRect.y},${clipRect.width},${clipRect.height}): ${outputPath}`;
+      }
+
+      await page.screenshot({ path: outputPath, fullPage: !viewportOnly });
+      return `Screenshot saved${viewportOnly ? ' (viewport)' : ''}: ${outputPath}`;
     }
 
     case 'pdf': {

browse/test/commands.test.ts

@@ -315,6 +315,107 @@ describe('Visual', () => {
     fs.unlinkSync(screenshotPath);
   });
 
+  test('screenshot --viewport saves viewport-only', async () => {
+    await handleWriteCommand('goto', [baseUrl + '/basic.html'], bm);
+    const p = '/tmp/browse-test-viewport.png';
+    const result = await handleMetaCommand('screenshot', ['--viewport', p], bm, async () => {});
+    expect(result).toContain('Screenshot saved (viewport)');
+    expect(fs.existsSync(p)).toBe(true);
+    expect(fs.statSync(p).size).toBeGreaterThan(1000);
+    fs.unlinkSync(p);
+  });
+
+  test('screenshot with CSS selector crops to element', async () => {
+    await handleWriteCommand('goto', [baseUrl + '/basic.html'], bm);
+    const p = '/tmp/browse-test-element-css.png';
+    const result = await handleMetaCommand('screenshot', ['#title', p], bm, async () => {});
+    expect(result).toContain('Screenshot saved (element)');
+    expect(fs.existsSync(p)).toBe(true);
+    expect(fs.statSync(p).size).toBeGreaterThan(100);
+    fs.unlinkSync(p);
+  });
+
+  test('screenshot with @ref crops to element', async () => {
+    await handleWriteCommand('goto', [baseUrl + '/basic.html'], bm);
+    await handleMetaCommand('snapshot', [], bm, async () => {});
+    const p = '/tmp/browse-test-element-ref.png';
+    const result = await handleMetaCommand('screenshot', ['@e1', p], bm, async () => {});
+    expect(result).toContain('Screenshot saved (element)');
+    expect(fs.existsSync(p)).toBe(true);
+    expect(fs.statSync(p).size).toBeGreaterThan(100);
+    fs.unlinkSync(p);
+  });
+
+  test('screenshot --clip crops to region', async () => {
+    await handleWriteCommand('goto', [baseUrl + '/basic.html'], bm);
+    const p = '/tmp/browse-test-clip.png';
+    const result = await handleMetaCommand('screenshot', ['--clip', '0,0,100,100', p], bm, async () => {});
+    expect(result).toContain('Screenshot saved (clip 0,0,100,100)');
+    expect(fs.existsSync(p)).toBe(true);
+    expect(fs.statSync(p).size).toBeGreaterThan(100);
+    fs.unlinkSync(p);
+  });
+
+  test('screenshot --clip + selector throws', async () => {
+    await handleWriteCommand('goto', [baseUrl + '/basic.html'], bm);
+    try {
+      await handleMetaCommand('screenshot', ['--clip', '0,0,100,100', '#title'], bm, async () => {});
+      expect(true).toBe(false);
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      expect(err.message).toContain('Cannot use --clip with a selector/ref');
+    }
+  });
+
+  test('screenshot --viewport + --clip throws', async () => {
+    await handleWriteCommand('goto', [baseUrl + '/basic.html'], bm);
+    try {
+      await handleMetaCommand('screenshot', ['--viewport', '--clip', '0,0,100,100'], bm, async () => {});
+      expect(true).toBe(false);
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      expect(err.message).toContain('Cannot use --viewport with --clip');
+    }
+  });
+
+  test('screenshot --clip with invalid coords throws', async () => {
+    await handleWriteCommand('goto', [baseUrl + '/basic.html'], bm);
+    try {
+      await handleMetaCommand('screenshot', ['--clip', 'abc'], bm, async () => {});
+      expect(true).toBe(false);
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      expect(err.message).toContain('all must be numbers');
+    }
+  });
+
+  test('screenshot unknown flag throws', async () => {
+    await handleWriteCommand('goto', [baseUrl + '/basic.html'], bm);
+    try {
+      await handleMetaCommand('screenshot', ['--bogus', '/tmp/foo.png'], bm, async () => {});
+      expect(true).toBe(false);
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      expect(err.message).toContain('Unknown screenshot flag');
+    }
+  });
+
+  test('screenshot --viewport still validates path', async () => {
+    await handleWriteCommand('goto', [baseUrl + '/basic.html'], bm);
+    try {
+      await handleMetaCommand('screenshot', ['--viewport', '/etc/evil.png'], bm, async () => {});
+      expect(true).toBe(false);
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      expect(err.message).toContain('Path must be within');
+    }
+  });
+
+  test('screenshot with nonexistent selector throws timeout', async () => {
+    await handleWriteCommand('goto', [baseUrl + '/basic.html'], bm);
+    try {
+      await handleMetaCommand('screenshot', ['.nonexistent-element-xyz'], bm, async () => {});
+      expect(true).toBe(false);
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      expect(err.message).toBeDefined();
+    }
+  }, 10000);
+
   test('responsive saves 3 screenshots', async () => {
     await handleWriteCommand('goto', [baseUrl + '/responsive.html'], bm);
     const prefix = '/tmp/browse-test-resp';