diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 458db3c69ea..0863d6c0003 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ jobs:
           install-firefox: false
           install-geckodriver: false
           install-chrome: true
-          chrome-version: "132.0.6834.110"
+          chrome-version: "142.0.7444.175"
       - attach_workspace:
           at: ~/
       - run:
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ jobs:
           install-firefox: false
           install-geckodriver: false
           install-chrome: true
-          chrome-version: "132.0.6834.110"
+          chrome-version: "142.0.7444.175"
       - attach_workspace:
           at: ~/
       - run:
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ jobs:
           install-firefox: false
           install-geckodriver: false
           install-chrome: true
-          chrome-version: "132.0.6834.110"
+          chrome-version: "142.0.7444.175"
       - attach_workspace:
           at: ~/
       - run:
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ jobs:
           install-firefox: false
           install-geckodriver: false
           install-chrome: true
-          chrome-version: "132.0.6834.110"
+          chrome-version: "142.0.7444.175"
       - attach_workspace:
           at: ~/
       - run:
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ jobs:
           install-firefox: false
           install-geckodriver: false
           install-chrome: true
-          chrome-version: "132.0.6834.110"
+          chrome-version: "142.0.7444.175"
       - attach_workspace:
           at: ~/
       - run:
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ jobs:
           install-firefox: false
           install-geckodriver: false
           install-chrome: true
-          chrome-version: "132.0.6834.110"
+          chrome-version: "142.0.7444.175"
       - attach_workspace:
           at: ~/
       - run:
@@ -217,9 +217,15 @@ jobs:
   make-baselines-virtual-webgl:
     parallelism: 8
     docker:
-      - image: cimg/python:3.12.11
+      - image: cimg/python:3.12.11-browsers
     working_directory: ~/plotly.js
     steps:
+      - run: sudo apt-get update
+      - browser-tools/install-browser-tools:
+          install-firefox: false
+          install-geckodriver: false
+          install-chrome: true
+          chrome-version: "142.0.7444.175"
       - attach_workspace:
           at: ~/
       - run: sudo apt-get update
@@ -236,9 +242,15 @@ jobs:
 
   make-baselines-mathjax3:
     docker:
-      - image: cimg/python:3.12.11
+      - image: cimg/python:3.12.11-browsers
     working_directory: ~/plotly.js
     steps:
+      - run: sudo apt-get update
+      - browser-tools/install-browser-tools:
+          install-firefox: false
+          install-geckodriver: false
+          install-chrome: true
+          chrome-version: "142.0.7444.175"
       - attach_workspace:
           at: ~/
       - run: sudo apt-get update
@@ -256,9 +268,15 @@ jobs:
   make-baselines:
     parallelism: 12
     docker:
-      - image: cimg/python:3.12.11
+      - image: cimg/python:3.12.11-browsers
     working_directory: ~/plotly.js
     steps:
+      - run: sudo apt-get update
+      - browser-tools/install-browser-tools:
+          install-firefox: false
+          install-geckodriver: false
+          install-chrome: true
+          chrome-version: "142.0.7444.175"
       - attach_workspace:
           at: ~/
       - run: sudo apt-get update
@@ -276,9 +294,15 @@ jobs:
   make-baselines-b64:
     parallelism: 12
     docker:
-      - image: cimg/python:3.12.11
+      - image: cimg/python:3.12.11-browsers
     working_directory: ~/plotly.js
     steps:
+      - run: sudo apt-get update
+      - browser-tools/install-browser-tools:
+          install-firefox: false
+          install-geckodriver: false
+          install-chrome: true
+          chrome-version: "142.0.7444.175"
       - attach_workspace:
           at: ~/
       - run: sudo apt-get update
@@ -355,9 +379,15 @@ jobs:
 
   make-exports:
     docker:
-      - image: cimg/python:3.12.11
+      - image: cimg/python:3.12.11-browsers
     working_directory: ~/plotly.js
     steps:
+      - run: sudo apt-get update
+      - browser-tools/install-browser-tools:
+          install-firefox: false
+          install-geckodriver: false
+          install-chrome: true
+          chrome-version: "142.0.7444.175"
       - attach_workspace:
           at: ~/
       - run: sudo apt-get update
@@ -371,7 +401,7 @@ jobs:
             sudo apt-get install poppler-utils
       - run:
           name: Create svg, jpg, jpeg, webp, pdf and eps files
-          command: sudo python3 test/image/make_exports.py
+          command: uv run test/image/make_exports.py
       - persist_to_workspace:
           root: ~/
           paths:
diff --git a/.circleci/env_image.sh b/.circleci/env_image.sh
index 17e2f5bfa26..a9766b83512 100755
--- a/.circleci/env_image.sh
+++ b/.circleci/env_image.sh
@@ -1,21 +1,26 @@
-#!/bin/sh
+#!/bin/bash
 set -e
 # install required fonts
 sudo apt-get install fonts-liberation2 fonts-open-sans fonts-noto-cjk fonts-noto-color-emoji
 
 # install pip
-sudo curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py -o get-pip.py
-sudo python3 get-pip.py
+curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
+uv venv
+source .venv/bin/activate
 
 # install additional fonts
-sudo python3 -m pip install requests
-sudo python3 .circleci/download_google_fonts.py
+uv pip install requests
+python .circleci/download_google_fonts.py
 sudo cp -r .circleci/fonts/ /usr/share/
 sudo apt install fontconfig
 sudo fc-cache -f
 
 # install kaleido & plotly
-sudo python3 -m pip install kaleido==0.2.1 plotly==6.2.0 --progress-bar off
+uv pip install "plotly==6.5" "kaleido==1.2" --no-progress
 
 # install numpy i.e. to convert arrays to typed arrays
-sudo python3 -m pip install numpy==1.24.2
+uv pip install "numpy==2.3" --no-progress
+
+# verify version of python and versions of installed python packages
+python --version
+uv pip freeze
diff --git a/.circleci/test.sh b/.circleci/test.sh
index 4fc876018b8..81c6398b239 100755
--- a/.circleci/test.sh
+++ b/.circleci/test.sh
@@ -97,24 +97,24 @@ case $1 in
                   find $ROOT/test/image/mocks/gl*     -type f -printf "%f\n"; \
                   find $ROOT/test/image/mocks/map* -type f -printf "%f\n"; \
                 } | sed 's/\.json$//1' | circleci tests split)
-        sudo python3 test/image/make_baseline.py virtual-webgl $SUITE || EXIT_STATE=$?
+        uv run test/image/make_baseline.py virtual-webgl $SUITE || EXIT_STATE=$?
         exit $EXIT_STATE
         ;;
 
     make-baselines-mathjax3)
-        sudo python3 test/image/make_baseline.py mathjax3    legend_mathjax_title_and_items mathjax parcats_grid_subplots table_latex_multitrace_scatter table_plain_birds table_wrapped_birds ternary-mathjax ternary-mathjax-title-place-subtitle || EXIT_STATE=$?
+        uv run test/image/make_baseline.py mathjax3    legend_mathjax_title_and_items mathjax parcats_grid_subplots table_latex_multitrace_scatter table_plain_birds table_wrapped_birds ternary-mathjax ternary-mathjax-title-place-subtitle || EXIT_STATE=$?
         exit $EXIT_STATE
         ;;
 
     make-baselines-b64)
         SUITE=$(find $ROOT/test/image/mocks/ -type f -printf "%f\n" | sed 's/\.json$//1' | circleci tests split)
-        sudo python3 test/image/make_baseline.py b64 $SUITE || EXIT_STATE=$?
+        uv run test/image/make_baseline.py b64 $SUITE || EXIT_STATE=$?
         exit $EXIT_STATE
         ;;
 
     make-baselines)
         SUITE=$(find $ROOT/test/image/mocks/ -type f -printf "%f\n" | sed 's/\.json$//1' | circleci tests split)
-        sudo python3 test/image/make_baseline.py $SUITE || EXIT_STATE=$?
+        uv run test/image/make_baseline.py $SUITE || EXIT_STATE=$?
         exit $EXIT_STATE
         ;;
 
diff --git a/test/image/make_baseline.py b/test/image/make_baseline.py
index 6b29e47e09f..ede0e1967a1 100644
--- a/test/image/make_baseline.py
+++ b/test/image/make_baseline.py
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
+import asyncio
+import json
 import os
 import sys
-import json
+
+import kaleido
 import plotly.io as pio
+
 from convert_b64 import arraysToB64
 
+
 args = []
 if len(sys.argv) == 2 :
     args = sys.argv[1].split()
@@ -19,7 +24,7 @@
 dirIn = os.path.join(root, 'test', 'image', 'mocks')
 dirOut = os.path.join(root, 'build', 'test_images')
 
-# N.B. equal is the falg to write to baselines not test_images
+# N.B. equal is the flag to write to baselines not test_images
 
 if '=' in args :
     args = args[args.index('=') + 1:]
@@ -31,11 +36,12 @@
 print('output to', dirOut)
 
 mathjax_version = 2
+mathjax = None
 if 'mathjax3' in sys.argv or 'mathjax3=' in sys.argv :
     # until https://github.com/plotly/Kaleido/issues/124 is addressed
     # we are uanble to use local mathjax v3 installed in node_modules
     # for now let's download it from the internet:
-    pio.kaleido.scope.mathjax = 'https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/mathjax@3.2.2/es5/tex-svg.js'
+    mathjax = 'https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/mathjax@3.2.2/es5/tex-svg.js'
     mathjax_version = 3
     print('Kaleido using MathJax v3')
 
@@ -52,8 +58,8 @@
 
     plotlyjs = plotlyjs_with_virtual_webgl
 
-pio.kaleido.scope.plotlyjs = plotlyjs
-pio.kaleido.scope.topojson = "file://" + os.path.join(root, 'topojson', 'dist')
+pio.defaults.plotlyjs = plotlyjs
+pio.defaults.topojson = "file://" + os.path.join(root, 'topojson', 'dist')
 pio.templates.default = 'none'
 
 ALL_MOCKS = [os.path.splitext(a)[0] for a in os.listdir(dirIn) if a.endswith('.json')]
@@ -79,55 +85,74 @@
     sys.exit(1)
 
 failed = []
-for name in allNames :
-    outName = name
-    if mathjax_version == 3 :
-        outName = 'mathjax3___' + name
-
-    print(outName)
-
-    created = False
-
-    MAX_RETRY = 2 # 1 means retry once
-    for attempt in range(0, MAX_RETRY + 1) :
-        with open(os.path.join(dirIn, name + '.json'), 'r') as _in :
-            fig = json.load(_in)
-
-            width = 700
-            height = 500
-            if 'layout' in fig :
-                layout = fig['layout']
-                if 'autosize' not in layout or layout['autosize'] != True :
-                    if 'width' in layout :
-                        width = layout['width']
-                    if 'height' in layout :
-                        height = layout['height']
-
-            if 'b64' in sys.argv or 'b64=' in sys.argv or 'b64-json' in sys.argv :
-                newFig = dict()
-                arraysToB64(fig, newFig)
-                fig = newFig
-                if 'b64-json' in sys.argv and attempt == 0 : print(json.dumps(fig, indent = 2))
-
-            try :
-                pio.write_image(
-                    fig=fig,
-                    file=os.path.join(dirOut, outName + '.png'),
-                    width=width,
-                    height=height,
-                    validate=False
-                )
-                created = True
-            except Exception as e :
-                print(e)
-                if attempt < MAX_RETRY :
-                    print('retry', attempt + 1, '/', MAX_RETRY)
-                else :
-                    failed.append(outName)
-
-        if(created) : break
-
-if len(failed) > 0 :
-    print('Failed at :')
-    print(failed)
-    sys.exit(1)
+
+async def make_baselines_async():
+
+    kopts = dict(
+        plotlyjs=plotlyjs,
+    )
+    if mathjax is not None:
+        kopts['mathjax'] = mathjax
+
+    async with kaleido.Kaleido(n=1, **kopts) as k:
+        for name in allNames:
+            outName = name
+            if mathjax_version == 3:
+                outName = 'mathjax3___' + name
+
+            print(outName)
+
+            created = False
+
+            MAX_RETRY = 2 # 1 means retry once
+            for attempt in range(0, MAX_RETRY + 1) :
+                with open(os.path.join(dirIn, name + '.json'), 'r') as _in :
+                    fig = json.load(_in)
+
+                    width = 700
+                    height = 500
+                    if 'layout' in fig :
+                        layout = fig['layout']
+                        if 'autosize' not in layout or layout['autosize'] != True :
+                            if 'width' in layout :
+                                width = layout['width']
+                            if 'height' in layout :
+                                height = layout['height']
+
+                    if 'b64' in sys.argv or 'b64=' in sys.argv or 'b64-json' in sys.argv :
+                        newFig = dict()
+                        arraysToB64(fig, newFig)
+                        fig = newFig
+                        if 'b64-json' in sys.argv and attempt == 0 : print(json.dumps(fig, indent = 2))
+
+                    try:
+                        bytes = await k.calc_fig(
+                            fig,
+                            path=None,
+                            opts=dict(
+                                format="png",
+                                width=width,
+                                height=height,
+                            ),
+                        )
+                        filename = os.path.join(dirOut, outName + '.png')
+                        with open(filename, "wb") as f:
+                            f.write(bytes)
+                        created = True
+                    except Exception as e:
+                        print(e)
+                        if attempt < MAX_RETRY :
+                            print('retry', attempt + 1, '/', MAX_RETRY)
+                        else :
+                            failed.append(outName)
+
+                if(created): break
+
+    if len(failed) > 0 :
+        print('Failed at :')
+        print(failed)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    asyncio.run(make_baselines_async())
\ No newline at end of file