Image Generation API

Automate and scale your marketing with images and animated GIFs generated through an API. Create hundreds of social media visuals, e-commerce banners, and dynamic email images – on autopilot. Say goodbye to manual and repetitive tasks by setting up an automated workflow using a no-code tool like Zapier or a coding language such as Node.js, PHP, Ruby, or Python.

Create images by API
Automate and scale your visuals
Generate images on demand

Tutorial: How to Create Images by API

It is common for marketing visuals to follow a similar design. Here's where automation templates come in. A template is a reusable design where certain elements are automatically replaced to generate thousands of unique derivatives. These elements can be product images, names, prices, titles, etc. Here is an overview of how this works to auto-generate visuals for social media, e-commerce, email personalization, and more.

1
Create an image template

The first step in automating visuals is creating a reusable template. This design consists of dynamic elements, such as text, colors, and images, all of which can be replaced using an image API.

There are a variety of ready-made video templates available, but you can create your own image designs using the online editor. This allows you to automate images and animated GIFs for virtually any marketing purpose.

curl -s -X POST https://api.creatomate.com/v1/renders \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer Your-API-Key' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data-binary @- << EOF
{
"template_id": "Your Template ID",
"modifications": {
"Review": "If you're looking for a secluded and peaceful retreat, this cabin in the woods is the perfect choice! 🌲❤️",
"Date": "Reviewed on March 2023",
"Name": "Elisabeth Parker",
"Profile Picture": "https://example.com/image1.jpg"
"Photo": "https://example.com/image2.jpg"
}
}
EOF

2
Generate images using the API

Once you have created an image template, you can use the API to automate the process by providing different content to be placed within the template. It's just a matter of specifying the template ID and values you want to insert into the template.

The API can be invoked by any programming language or no-code tool such as Zapier. This lets you generate any number of images completely automatically from your own software application, or no-code workflows.

3
Fully automate the image creation process

Whatever type of marketing visuals you need to create, you can set up an automated workflow that works for you. You could, for example, generate social media posts from a Google Sheets spreadsheet or Airtable document. Or if you have an online store, you could create visuals for your products. And you can also add dynamic images or GIFs to your email marketing campaigns to send your subscribers personalized visuals.

In case you don't need a fully automated workflow, you can also create visuals using a simple spreadsheet or form. These methods do not require API integration, so be sure to check out those tutorials as well.

Want to try it yourself? Get started for free in minutes:

Frequently asked questions

What is an image generation API?

An image generation API is a service that lets you create images on demand. You can use it to generate any type of marketing or personalized image on the fly. It can be used by both developers and non-technical users, as it works with Node.js, PHP, Ruby, and Python, as well as no-code automation tools like Zapier.

How do I create images using an API?

First, make a reusable image template. Next, invoke the API to create custom-generated images based on that template and custom data. This data can include personalized titles, color schemes, pictures, and much more. The image creation process can be automated by calling the API from an application, or using a no-code tool like Zapier.

What kind of images can I make by API?

You can create virtually any kind of image as long as the design fits into a template. Most often, it's used for social media, advertising, or email personalization, serving industries like real estate, e-commerce, travel, automotive, and more.

How long does it take to set up?

A Zapier workflow can be set up in a few minutes with no technical knowledge required. As a starting point, you can follow one of our step-by-step tutorials. And if you have a basic understanding of APIs and a programming language, you can also set up an automated workflow with code within 10 minutes.

Can I create videos using the image generation API?

Yes! It is also possible to create videos using Creatomate, since it provides a video generation API as well. It is just as easy to automate videos with Creatomate as it is to automate images.

What is the best API to generate images?

We believe Creatomate is the best image and video generation API on the market. It comes with all the tools you need to create marketing visuals of any kind, together with a template editor equipped with all the necessary features to generate high-quality image and video banners. Refer to this article for a comparison with other products.