# Preview > See it before you spend a credit. Preview renders a template (optionally with variants) into a WATERMARKED, self-contained HTML document without creating a snap and without charging a credit. The response is the rendered HTML — nothing is rasterized and nothing is persisted. Use it to iterate, then call POST /v1/snaps to produce the final, un-watermarked, billed snap image with the same variants. Available to trial users (no active subscription required). Rate-limited separately from the rest of the API. ## Preview a template ```http GET /v1/templates/{templateUuid}/preview ``` Renders a free, watermarked preview of a template using its default layer content, or with `variants` applied. Returns a self-contained HTML document (text/html). - **Auth:** Bearer token - **Token abilities:** `api_requests` - **Gates:** throttle:preview - **Credits:** Free — no credits consumed. ### Parameters | Name | In | Type | Required | Description | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `templateUuid` | path | string | Yes | UUID of the template to preview. | | `variants` | query | array | No | Per-layer overrides, e.g. variants[0][layer]=headline&variants[0][text]=Hello. Each item targets a layer key with one of text, image_url (public URL), background_color, qr_content, or hidden. | ### Responses **200** — Watermarked HTML preview (text/html). ```json "\u2026watermarked preview\u2026" ``` **404** — Template not found in your account. ```json { "message": "Not found." } ``` **422** — Validation failed (e.g. a non-public image_url). ```json { "message": "The variants.0.image_url must be a public http or https URL." } ``` **429** — Preview rate limit exceeded. ```json { "message": "Too Many Attempts." } ``` > The preview is watermarked HTML, not a usable final asset. > No credit is charged and no snap is stored. ### Examples *Curl* ```bash curl 'https://snapsbrew.com/api/v1/templates//preview' \ -H 'Authorization: Bearer ' \ --output preview.html ``` ## Preview a snap ```http GET /v1/snaps/preview ``` Renders a free, watermarked preview of the snap you intend to create — a template (`template_id`) plus `variants`. Returns a self-contained HTML document (text/html). Pass the same template_id and variants to POST /v1/snaps to create the final billed snap. - **Auth:** Bearer token - **Token abilities:** `api_requests` - **Gates:** throttle:preview - **Credits:** Free — no credits consumed. ### Parameters | Name | In | Type | Required | Description | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `template_id` | query | string | Yes | UUID of the template to render. | | `variants` | query | array | No | Per-layer overrides, e.g. variants[0][layer]=headline&variants[0][text]=Hello. Each item targets a layer key with one of text, image_url (public URL), background_color, qr_content, or hidden. | ### Responses **200** — Watermarked HTML preview (text/html). ```json "\u2026watermarked preview\u2026" ``` **404** — Template not found in your account. ```json { "message": "Not found." } ``` **422** — Validation failed. ```json { "message": "The template id field is required." } ``` **429** — Preview rate limit exceeded. ```json { "message": "Too Many Attempts." } ``` > The preview is watermarked HTML, not a usable final asset. > No credit is charged and no snap is stored. ### Examples *Curl* ```bash curl 'https://snapsbrew.com/api/v1/snaps/preview?template_id=&variants[0][layer]=headline&variants[0][text]=Hello' \ -H 'Authorization: Bearer ' \ --output preview.html ```