# Introduction

> Learn what Bannerify does and where to start: the dashboard, the API, an SDK, or an automation tool.

Canonical: https://bannerify.co/docs

Bannerify turns a template into an image or a PDF. You design the template once in the editor. After that you send it new text, images, or data from an API, an SDK, or an automation tool, and you get a finished file back. It suits banners, product images, social cards, invoices, and labels that change for every customer or product.

Bannerify draws each file with a Rust engine called Takumi, and it does not start a browser. A template renders to an image (PNG, JPEG, or WebP) or to a PDF.

## Get started

1. [Create an API key](https://bannerify.co/docs/api-reference/authentication#create-an-api-key) on the **API Keys** page.
2. [Design a template](https://bannerify.co/docs/essentials/template-editor) and give each layer you want to change a name.
3. [Generate an image](https://bannerify.co/docs/essentials/generate-images) by sending the template id and your values.

The [Quickstart](https://bannerify.co/docs/onboarding) walks through all three steps with working requests.

## Choose your path

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Call the API" icon="code" href="https://bannerify.co/docs/api-reference/overview">
    Send a request and get an image or a PDF back
  </Card>
  <Card title="Use an SDK" icon="puzzle-piece" href="https://bannerify.co/docs/sdk/overview">
    Generate files from JavaScript, Python, PHP, or Go
  </Card>
  <Card title="Automate without code" icon="plug" href="https://bannerify.co/docs/integrations/overview">
    Connect Bannerify to Zapier, n8n, or Notion
  </Card>
  <Card title="Work from the terminal" icon="bolt" href="https://bannerify.co/docs/cli/overview">
    Render a template with one command
  </Card>
  <Card title="Ask an AI assistant" icon="nodes" href="https://bannerify.co/docs/mcp/overview">
    Let an AI assistant create images through MCP
  </Card>
  <Card title="Show images in a page" icon="image" href="https://bannerify.co/docs/essentials/signed-urls">
    Use a signed URL in an img tag or an email
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What you can build

| Job | What the template holds |
| --- | --- |
| Social cards | A headline, an author name, and an avatar |
| Product banners | A product photo, a name, a price, and a sale badge |
| Invoices and certificates as PDF | Names, line items, totals, and a QR code that you fill for each customer |
| Shipping labels | A barcode and an address block |
| Tickets | A QR code and the name of the attendee |

[Recipes for common jobs](https://bannerify.co/docs/essentials/automation-blueprints) has a template layout and a request for each of these.

## Explore the docs

| Section | What it covers |
| --- | --- |
| [Essentials](https://bannerify.co/docs/essentials/template-editor) | The editor, layer types, modifications, images, PDFs, spreadsheets, signed URLs, and recipes |
| [Integrations](https://bannerify.co/docs/integrations/overview) | Zapier, n8n, Notion, and your own S3 bucket |
| [MCP](https://bannerify.co/docs/mcp/overview) and [CLI](https://bannerify.co/docs/cli/overview) | Create files from an AI assistant or the terminal |
| [API reference](https://bannerify.co/docs/api-reference/overview) | Every endpoint, with authentication and errors |
| [SDKs](https://bannerify.co/docs/sdk/overview) | JavaScript, Python, PHP, and Go clients |
| [Account](https://bannerify.co/docs/account/billing) | Billing, quota, projects, and members |

New terms are in [Key concepts](https://bannerify.co/docs/glossary).

## Get help

Ask on [Discord](https://bannerify.co/discord) or write to [an@bannerify.co](mailto:an@bannerify.co). If a request fails, include the `requestId` from the error response.

## Related

- [Next: Quickstart](https://bannerify.co/docs/onboarding)
- [Documentation index](https://bannerify.co/docs/llms.txt)