How do you generate images from an API?

Generating images from an API follows a simple request-response pattern. Here's the typical workflow:

1. Create or import a template

First, you need a template, a design with dynamic fields that can be swapped. You can either:

• Import an existing Canva design (with Layerre)
• Build a template in a platform's editor (Bannerbear, Placid, etc.)
• Define a template as JSON (Creatomate, Shotstack)

2. Get your template ID and field names

After creating the template, you'll have:

• A template ID (e.g., tpl_abc123)
• A list of customizable fields (e.g., headline, subtitle, product_image)

3. Make an API call

bash
curl -X POST \
  "https://api.layerre.com/v1/template/3fa85f64-5717-4562-b3fc-2c963f66afa6/variant" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "overrides": [
      {
        "layer_id": "11111111-2222-4333-8444-555555555555",
        "properties": { "text": "Flash Sale Today" }
      },
      {
        "layer_id": "22222222-3333-4444-9555-666666666666",
        "properties": { "text": "Up to 50% off everything" }
      },
      {
        "layer_id": "33333333-4444-5555-a666-777777777777",
        "properties": { "img_url": "https://example.com/shoe.png" }
      }
    ],
    "export_type": "png"
  }'

4. Receive the result

The API returns the rendered image, either as a direct URL you can download, a binary stream, or a base64-encoded string depending on the API.

Common patterns for using image APIs:

• On-demand rendering: Generate an image when a user takes an action (signup, purchase, share)
• Batch processing: Loop through a spreadsheet and generate one image per row
• Webhook-triggered: Generate when an event fires in your CRM, e-commerce, or marketing tool
• Scheduled: Run a cron job or scheduled automation to generate daily/weekly content

Languages and frameworks: Most image generation APIs work with any language (JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, Go) via standard HTTP requests. Some offer SDKs for popular languages.