PixelVault Host Image

Turn a local image file, or an image URL, into a public https link with one curl call. Use when you need a shareable URL for a screenshot, chart, generated image, or diagram, for example to send it in chat, embed it in a post, a PR, or an email. Works with no signup or API key (temporary link, 30 days); add PIXELVAULT_API_KEY for permanent links.

Host an image, get a public URL

Use this when an image only exists on this machine (a screenshot, a rendered chart, a generated picture) and something else needs a link to it: a chat message, a social post, a GitHub comment, an email, a web page.

Needs only curl. No install, no account.

Upload a file

bash

curl -sS -F "file=@/path/to/image.png" \
  ${PIXELVAULT_API_KEY:+-H "Authorization: Bearer $PIXELVAULT_API_KEY"} \
  https://api.pixelvault.dev/v1/images

The response is JSON. The link is data.url:

json

{"data":{"id":"anon_10jtiv12ah9s","url":"https://img.pixelvault.dev/anonymous/anon_10jtiv12ah9s.png","mime_type":"image/png","size":70,"expires_in":2592000,"temporary":true}}

To print only the link: pipe the command through jq -r .data.url.

Reply with that URL. Open it once (curl -sI <url>) if the next step depends on it being reachable.

Keyless vs keyed

	No key	With PIXELVAULT_API_KEY
Link lifetime	30 days ("temporary": true)	Permanent
Import from a URL	No	Yes
Private signed links	No	Yes

Keyless is the default. Do not ask the user to sign up before the first upload. If the user wants links that never expire, tell them to create a free account at https://pixelvault.dev/dashboard/ and put the key in PIXELVAULT_API_KEY (in OpenClaw: skills.entries["pixelvault-host-image"].apiKey).

Import an image that already has a URL (key required)

bash

curl -sS -X POST https://api.pixelvault.dev/v1/images \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PIXELVAULT_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"url":"https://example.com/generated.png"}'

Use this for short-lived URLs (generated images, expiring CDN links) before they disappear. https only. Without a key the API returns missing_api_key: download the file first, then upload it with the first command.

Resize or convert on the fly

Append query parameters to the returned URL. No re-upload:

• ?w=800 width, ?h=600 height
• ?fmt=webp convert (fmt=auto negotiates the best format)
• ?w=1200&h=630 for a social card size

Limits and errors

• Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, AVIF, SVG. Max 5 MB on the free plan.
• 413 file too large, 415 not a supported image, 429 slow down and retry later.
• 401 the key is wrong. Unset it to fall back to a keyless upload.

Rules

• Hosted images are public to anyone with the link. Do not upload screenshots containing secrets, tokens, or personal data. Check before uploading.
• Never print or log PIXELVAULT_API_KEY.
• Do not upload adult content; it is prohibited.