AI Banner Generator - Apify Actor

Generate professional marketing banners using multiple AI models including Google Gemini, OpenAI DALL-E 3, Stable Diffusion XL, and Midjourney. This Actor automates banner creation with customizable text, colors, dimensions, and styles, plus the ability to revise existing banners.

Features

🎨 Multiple Generation Options

• Native/Canvas ⭐ NEW: No API required! Generate beautiful gradient-based banners instantly
• Google Gemini Pro: AI-powered design guidance and enhancement
• OpenAI DALL-E 3: High-quality image generation with HD quality
• Stable Diffusion XL: Open-source image generation via Replicate
• Midjourney: Artistic style generation via Replicate

✨ Key Capabilities

• Automated Design Generation: Create professional banners in seconds
• Multiple Style Templates: Modern, Minimalist, Vibrant, Professional, Playful, Elegant, Bold
• Customizable Text & Colors: Maintain brand consistency
• Bulk Banner Creation: Generate up to 5 variations at once
• Banner Revision: Modify existing banners with AI assistance
• Flexible Dimensions: Support for any size from 300x200 to 3000x2000 pixels
• Multiple Output Formats: PNG, JPEG, WebP

🎯 Target Audience

• Digital marketers needing quick campaign banners
• Small business owners without design resources
• E-commerce store owners for product promotions
• Social media managers handling multiple accounts
• Web developers needing banner content for clients

💰 Pricing

This Actor uses pay-per-event pricing:

• $0.10 USD per banner generated
• No monthly fees - pay only for what you use
• Each variation counts as one event
• Free $5 credits for new users (50 free banners!)

Example costs:

• 1 banner = $0.10
• 3 variations = $0.30
• 10 banners = $1.00

📊 See PRICING.md for detailed pricing information and cost calculator.

Note: You'll also need API keys for AI models (costs vary by provider).

Input Parameters

Required Fields

• AI Model: Select from Native/Canvas, Gemini Pro, DALL-E 3, Stable Diffusion, or Midjourney
• API Key: Your API key for the selected model (NOT required for Native/Canvas)
• Banner Text: Main headline text for the banner

Optional Fields

• Mode: Generate new banner or revise existing one
• Sub Text: Secondary text or tagline
• Banner Style: Visual style (Modern, Minimalist, Vibrant, etc.)
• Dimensions: Width and height in pixels
• Primary Color: Brand color in hex format (e.g., #4A90E2)
• Secondary Color: Secondary brand color in hex format
• Industry: Category for context (E-commerce, Technology, Fashion, etc.)
• Number of Variations: Generate 1-5 variations
• Call-to-Action: Include CTA button with custom text
• Output Format: PNG, JPEG, or WebP
• Custom AI Prompt: Provide your own prompt for AI models (advanced users)
• Skip Text Overlay: Skip adding text if AI already generated it

Revision Mode Fields

• Existing Banner URL: URL of the banner to revise
• Revision Instructions: Description of desired changes

API Keys

You'll need an API key for your chosen AI model:

Google Gemini Pro

1. Visit Google AI Studio
2. Create a new API key
3. Copy and paste into the Actor input

OpenAI DALL-E 3

1. Visit OpenAI Platform
2. Create a new API key
3. Ensure you have credits in your account
4. Copy and paste into the Actor input

Stable Diffusion / Midjourney (via Replicate)

1. Visit Replicate
2. Create an API token
3. Add billing information to your account
4. Copy and paste into the Actor input

Usage Examples

Example 1: Generate Banner with Native/Canvas (No API Required!)

{
  "mode": "generate",
  "aiModel": "native",
  "bannerText": "Summer Sale - 50% Off!",
  "subText": "Limited Time Offer",
  "bannerStyle": "vibrant",
  "bannerWidth": 1200,
  "bannerHeight": 628,
  "primaryColor": "#FF6B6B",
  "secondaryColor": "#FFA500",
  "industry": "ecommerce",
  "includeCallToAction": true,
  "callToActionText": "Shop Now",
  "numberOfVariations": 3,
  "outputFormat": "png"
}

Example 2: Generate E-commerce Banner with DALL-E

{
  "mode": "generate",
  "aiModel": "dall-e-3",
  "apiKey": "your-openai-api-key",
  "bannerText": "Summer Sale - 50% Off!",
  "subText": "Limited Time Offer",
  "bannerStyle": "vibrant",
  "bannerWidth": 1200,
  "bannerHeight": 628,
  "primaryColor": "#FF6B6B",
  "secondaryColor": "#FFA500",
  "industry": "ecommerce",
  "includeCallToAction": true,
  "callToActionText": "Shop Now",
  "numberOfVariations": 3,
  "outputFormat": "png"
}

Example 3: Generate Social Media Banner

{
  "mode": "generate",
  "aiModel": "stable-diffusion",
  "apiKey": "your-replicate-api-key",
  "bannerText": "Join Our Community",
  "subText": "Connect with thousands of creators",
  "bannerStyle": "modern",
  "bannerWidth": 1080,
  "bannerHeight": 1080,
  "primaryColor": "#4A90E2",
  "secondaryColor": "#7B68EE",
  "industry": "technology",
  "includeCallToAction": true,
  "callToActionText": "Sign Up Free",
  "outputFormat": "webp"
}

Example 4: Custom AI Prompt (Advanced)

{
  "mode": "generate",
  "aiModel": "dall-e-3",
  "apiKey": "your-openai-api-key",
  "bannerText": "Summer Vacation",
  "customPrompt": "Create a stunning tropical beach scene at sunset with palm trees, turquoise water, and golden sand. Vibrant colors, photorealistic style, no text or typography. Leave center space clear for text overlay. 1200x628 pixels.",
  "bannerWidth": 1200,
  "bannerHeight": 628,
  "outputFormat": "png"
}

Example 5: Revise Existing Banner

{
  "mode": "revise",
  "aiModel": "dall-e-3",
  "apiKey": "your-openai-api-key",
  "existingBannerUrl": "https://example.com/banner.jpg",
  "revisionInstructions": "Change the background to a gradient from blue to purple, and make the text more prominent",
  "bannerText": "New Year Sale",
  "primaryColor": "#4169E1",
  "secondaryColor": "#9370DB",
  "outputFormat": "png"
}

Output

The Actor saves results to the default dataset with the following structure:

{
  "mode": "generate",
  "aiModel": "dall-e-3",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z",
  "banners": [
    {
      "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/.../banner_1234567890_v1.png",
      "fileName": "banner_1234567890_v1.png",
      "dimensions": {
        "width": 1200,
        "height": 628
      },
      "format": "png",
      "generationMethod": "dall-e",
      "variationNumber": 1,
      "prompt": "..."
    }
  ],
  "metadata": {
    "bannerText": "Summer Sale - 50% Off!",
    "subText": "Limited Time Offer",
    "style": "vibrant",
    "dimensions": "1200x628",
    "colors": {
      "primary": "#FF6B6B",
      "secondary": "#FFA500"
    },
    "industry": "ecommerce",
    "numberOfVariations": 1
  }
}

Common Banner Sizes

Social Media

• Facebook Cover: 820 x 312 px
• Facebook Post: 1200 x 630 px
• Instagram Post: 1080 x 1080 px
• Instagram Story: 1080 x 1920 px
• Twitter Header: 1500 x 500 px
• LinkedIn Banner: 1584 x 396 px

Web Banners

• Leaderboard: 728 x 90 px
• Large Rectangle: 336 x 280 px
• Medium Rectangle: 300 x 250 px
• Wide Skyscraper: 160 x 600 px
• Billboard: 970 x 250 px
• Hero Banner: 1920 x 600 px

Tips for Best Results

1. Be Specific: Provide clear, descriptive text for better AI generation
2. Brand Consistency: Use your brand colors for consistent identity
3. Test Variations: Generate multiple variations to find the best design
4. Choose Right Model:
   • Native/Canvas: ⭐ Best for quick, cost-free banners with gradients and clean design
   • DALL-E 3: Best for photorealistic and detailed designs
   • Stable Diffusion: Great for artistic and creative styles
   • Gemini: Good for design guidance (uses canvas fallback)
   • Midjourney: Excellent for artistic and stylized banners
5. Optimize Dimensions: Match your target platform's recommended sizes
6. Use Revision Mode: Refine existing banners instead of starting from scratch
7. Start with Native: Try the Native/Canvas option first - it's free, fast, and produces professional results!

Cost Considerations

• Native/Canvas: FREE! No external API costs
• DALL-E 3: ~$0.04-0.08 per image (depending on size and quality)
• Stable Diffusion: ~$0.0023 per second on Replicate
• Midjourney (Replicate): ~$0.0023 per second on Replicate
• Gemini Pro: Free tier available, paid plans for higher usage

💡 Pro Tip: Use Native/Canvas mode to avoid external API costs entirely!

Limitations

• DALL-E 3 supports specific sizes (1024x1024, 1792x1024, 1024x1792)
• Stable Diffusion works best up to 1024x1024 pixels
• API rate limits apply based on your plan
• Generation time varies by model (5-30 seconds typically)

Support

For issues or questions:

• Check the Apify documentation
• Review AI model documentation for specific API issues
• Ensure your API keys are valid and have sufficient credits

License

This Actor is provided as-is for use on the Apify platform.