Recast vs pasting a screenshot straight into v0, Lovable, or Bolt

Pasting a screenshot into your builder is the fastest way to start. Whether it’s the fastest way to finish depends on how close you need to land. A side-by-side look.

Screenshot straight in

Fast to start, nothing to learn.
The builder guesses the font, hex colors, spacing, states, and mobile layout, because an image doesn’t name them.
Close-but-wrong results, then rounds of fixes, each one more credits and time.
Fine for rough prototypes where exact looks don’t matter.

Recast first

One extra step: drop the screenshot, get a prompt that names every style (91% accurate in Precise mode on real designs).
Opens Lovable with the prompt filled in, or copy it into any builder.
Check the result from its link: a match score and a fix prompt for what’s off.
Export the spec (DESIGN.md, Tailwind, CSS variables, tokens.json) for your codebase.

Which to use

If you’re sketching, paste the screenshot. If you need the build to look like the reference (a client project, a launch page, a design you’ll keep building on), give the builder the spec first. The why-it-doesn’t-match guide explains what gets lost.

Visual style

Colors
- --ink #14233A: headline, nav text, icon fill.
- --ink-muted #5B6676: tagline.
- --line #14233A: active nav underline and arrow button border.
- --sky #E6EAEF: fallback background behind the photo.
- --mist #F2F4F7: brightest cloud tone.
- --rock #7C8799: mid-tone of the mountain shadows.
Typography
- Font: "Inter Tight", falling back to Inter, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif. Helvetica Now is the closest match to the reference.
- Nav links: 12px, weight 400, letter-spacing 0.12em, uppercase, line-height 1.
- Headline: clamp(34px, 5.8vw, 76px), weight 400, line-height 1.06, letter-spacing -0.01em, uppercase, color #14233A.

What “a written spec” means: a section of a real Recast prompt. See the full prompt.

Common questions

Is a screenshot enough for v0 or Lovable?

For a rough start, yes. For an accurate match, the builder needs the exact values a screenshot doesn’t name: fonts, hex colors, spacing, states, and responsive rules.

Does Recast replace my AI builder?

No. It writes the prompt and spec your builder follows, then checks the build. You keep using v0, Lovable, Bolt, Claude Code, or Cursor.

How much does it cost?

Free gives you credits every month with no card; paid plans add more credits and video. Spec export is always free.

More guides

Try it on your own design.

Drop in a screenshot, hero video, or screen recording, and Recast writes the exact prompt to rebuild it in v0, Lovable, Bolt, Claude Code, or Cursor.