Create Animated GIFs by API

Improve your email marketing with auto-generated GIFs via API. Produce custom GIFs for every recipient with their name, a specific product, or a coupon code. Easily send thousands of unique animated GIFs using no-code tools like Zapier or coding languages such as Node.js, PHP, Ruby, or Python.

Create animated GIFs by API
Generate personalized GIFs for every recipient
Create custom GIFs on the fly

How to Create Animated GIFs by API

Let's take email personalization as an example. The first step to generating animated GIFs is to create a template that is tailored to your email campaign. Once you have that template in place, you'll be able to generate thousands of personalized GIFs for each email recipient – completely automatically.

1
Create an animated GIF template

Choose a template that matches your brand's tone and style. It is possible to choose from a number of pre-designed templates as well as create your own using the online GIF editor.

To generate unique GIFs, make sure your template has at least one placeholder element that will be replaced through the API. This can be a text, image, or even a video clip.

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 Animated GIF Template ID",
"modifications": {
"Name": "William",
}
}
EOF

2
Set up the API integration

Once you have a template, generating unique GIFs is as simple as calling the API. Just provide the template ID and the values you wish to insert into the GIF, such as a recipient's name, personalized text, or a custom photo.

The API can be invoked by programming languages such as Node.js, PHP, Ruby, and Python. And for those who don't want to code, it's possible to set up an automated workflow in Zapier such as the one described in this animated GIF tutorial.

3
Generate Animated GIFs automatically

It's that simple! Generating customized GIFs for your welcome emails, abandoned cart emails, thank you emails, and other campaigns is incredibly straightforward. Thanks to the REST API, you can fully automate the process using a script or a no-code tool like Zapier. Another option is to use the URL API, enabling you to generate dynamic GIFs on the fly.

And if you're using an email marketing platform such as Mailchimp, HubSpot, or Klaviyo, sending personalized images and GIFs is even easier. Check out this tutorial on how to add dynamic images and GIFs to your email campaigns.

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

Frequently asked questions

How can I create animated GIFs by API?

Start by making a template in the editor, which will serve as a base for the animated GIFs. Once you have a template in place, you can use the API, either through a no-code tool like Zapier or a programming language such as Node.js, PHP, Ruby, or Python, to insert other text and images.

What kind of animated GIFs can I create by API?

Animated GIFs created using an API are commonly used for email campaigns. These GIFs are often personalized, featuring the recipient's name, a product they have shown interest in, or a discount code. You can add custom GIFs to various email campaigns, including welcome emails, abandoned cart emails, thank you emails, and many more.

How long does it take to set up?

You can easily set up a Zapier workflow within minutes by following this tutorial. And if you possess a basic understanding of APIs and a programming language, creating your first automated GIF will be a quick task. Alternatively, if you're using popular email service providers like Mailchimp, Hubspot, or Klaviyo, our 5-minute tutorial will help you get started.

What's the best API to create animated GIFs?

We believe Creatomate is the best API for automatically generating animated GIFs for email campaigns. Creatomate provides all the automation and design tools necessary to auto-generate high-quality GIFs that are compelling, visually appealing, and that meet your specific needs. Check out our list of the best Video Generation APIs to understand how Creatomate compares with other products on the market.