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Javascript: html2canvas with videos

protium on September 21, 2018

If you ever used html2canvas to get a "screenshot" of your web app you probably know that html2canvas doesn't work with videos yet, it renders a bl...

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rexn8r • May 1 '19

hi brian

excellent code. it works like a charm on windows desktop browser. however, the same code doesn't work in android.. i have an app developed in cordova using html/javascript/css and it doesn't capture the video element current frame. have you come across this issue or have any solution or pointer?

thanks
Rex

protium • May 3 '19

Hi, thanks!
I wrote this code 'cause I had the same issue with a cordova app (android 6.4) and it's working. Maybe you have some error, have you checked the logcat or console in web inspector?

rexn8r • May 4 '19

Hi Brian,

Thanks for your response. I am also developing a digital signage system and using vidoe.js (videojs.com/) as the video player framework along with html2canvas javascript for capture. In the CMS preview (in desktop web browser) your code implementation works like a charm.

I am using the same set of code in cordova player app where the code fails. i.e. it gives black screen in place of video element. I checked the console in web inspector in visual studio cordova project and it doesn't produce any error. The code doesn't work in android emulator as well as on my tablet having android 4.4. could android 4.4 be the problem? does this code work only android 6.4 or higher only?

By the way I am also using Electron framework to build windows desktop player app with same code and in there, your code works absolutely fine.

so is the android version a problem???

thanks
rex

protium • May 4 '19

Hi! I meant the cordova android version 6.4.

I have this code working in Android 4.2 onward. But I've tested this on android devices that are not phones or tablets and they have full HD resolution. Maybe you can set a breakpoint and verify that the video background image is being generated before calling html2canvas. And also you should try the last release of html2canvas.

rexn8r • May 5 '19

hi brian,

thanks for your response.

I am running cordova 6.3.1 with android 5.2.1 in visual studio 2017.

the video background image is being generated but its black. below is the code before calling html2canvas;

+++++++++++++++++++++
//take screenshot
var canvas = document.getElementById("canvas"); // declare a canvas element in your html
var ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
var videos = document.querySelectorAll("video");
var w, h;
for (var i = 0, len = videos.length; i < len; i++) {
var v = videos[i];
if (!v.src) continue; // no video here
try {
w = v.videoWidth;
h = v.videoHeight;
canvas.width = w;
canvas.height = h;
ctx.fillRect(0, 0, w, h);
ctx.drawImage(v, 0, 0, w, h);
var a = canvas.toDataURL();
//document.getElementById("img1").src = a; -->> generates black image
v.style.backgroundImage = 'url(' + a + ')';
v.style.backgroundSize = "cover";

                ctx.clearRect(0, 0, w, h); // clean the canvas
            } catch (e) {
                console.log(e);
                continue;
            }
        }

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

i thought the video.js framework could be a problem so i tried following code to get the actual HTMLVideoElement from it but it even generates transparent image;

//$('.video-js').each(function () {
// videojs(this.id).ready(function () {
// var myPlayer = this.tech({ IWillNotUseThisInPlugins: true }).el();
// var w, h;
// try {
// w = myPlayer.videoWidth;
// h = myPlayer.videoHeight;
// canvas.width = w;
// canvas.height = h;
// ctx.fillRect(0, 0, w, h);
// ctx.drawImage(myPlayer, 0, 0, w, h);
// var a = canvas.toDataURL();
// document.getElementById("img1").src = a;
// myPlayer.style.backgroundImage = 'url(' + a + ')';
// myPlayer.style.backgroundSize = "cover";

        //            ctx.clearRect(0, 0, w, h); // clean the canvas
        //        } catch (e) {
        //            console.log(e);
        //            continue;
        //        }
        //    });
        //});

so yes you are right, the above code not generating image from video element using drawImage function...

any pointer???

thanks
rex