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Image Placeholders

Time to learn: 5 minutes
Prerequisites: Understanding of Placeholders

Image placeholders let you add dynamic images to your documents that change based on your data. Perfect for profile pictures, product images, logos, and more.

🖼️

Image Placeholders Quick Reference

SetupAdd image, set alt text
FormatJPG or PNG
Size limitUnder 50MB
RequirementPublicly accessible URL

Watch the Tutorial​

See image placeholders in action:

Learn how to add dynamic images to your documents using image placeholders. Perfect for profile pictures, product images, logos, and more.

Video Chapters

What Are Image Placeholders?​

Image placeholders are images in your template that get replaced with different images based on your data. For example:

  • Profile pictures in resumes that change for each candidate
  • Product images in catalogs
  • Company logos in proposals
  • Event photos in certificates

How to Create Image Placeholders​

Step 1: Insert an Image​

  1. Open your template in the Gdocify editor
  2. Insert an image into your Google Doc (Insert → Image)
  3. Resize and position the image as needed
  4. This image will serve as your placeholder

Step 2: Set the Alt Text​

The alt text of the image becomes the placeholder name:

  1. Right-click the image
  2. Select "Alt text" or "Image options"
  3. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "profile picture" or "product image")
  4. This name will be used as the placeholder identifier

Step 3: Map to Your Data​

  1. Open the Mapping Config overlay
  2. Find your image placeholder (it will appear with the alt text name)
  3. Select the field from your data source that contains image URLs
  4. Save the mapping

Image Requirements​

For images to work correctly, they must meet these requirements:

Format​

  • JPG or PNG formats only
  • Other formats (GIF, WebP, etc.) are not supported

Size​

  • Under 50MB per image
  • Larger images may cause slow generation or errors

Accessibility​

  • Publicly accessible URL required
  • Images must be accessible without authentication
  • Use URLs like:
    • https://example.com/image.jpg
    • https://storage.googleapis.com/bucket/image.png
    • Not: file:///path/to/image.jpg (local files won't work)

How It Works​

When Gdocify generates a document:

  1. It finds the image placeholder in your template
  2. Reads the image URL from your data source
  3. Downloads the image from that URL
  4. Replaces the placeholder image with the downloaded image
  5. Maintains the same size and position

Common Use Cases​

Profile Pictures in Resumes​

Add candidate photos that change for each resume:

  • Alt text: "profile picture"
  • Map to: "Profile Picture URL" field in Airtable
  • Each candidate's resume gets their own photo

Product Images in Catalogs​

Show different product images:

  • Alt text: "product image"
  • Map to: "Product Image URL" field
  • Each product gets its own image

Company Logos in Proposals​

Include client logos:

  • Alt text: "company logo"
  • Map to: "Logo URL" field
  • Each proposal gets the client's logo

Event Photos in Certificates​

Add event or venue photos:

  • Alt text: "event photo"
  • Map to: "Event Photo URL" field
  • Each certificate includes the relevant photo

Setting Up Image URLs in Your Data​

Your data source needs a field containing image URLs. Here are some options:

Option 1: Direct Image URLs​

Store full URLs directly:

https://example.com/images/john-smith.jpg
https://example.com/images/sarah-johnson.jpg

Option 2: Airtable Attachments​

If using Airtable:

  1. Use an "Attachment" field type
  2. Upload images to Airtable
  3. Gdocify will use the attachment URLs automatically

Option 3: Cloud Storage​

Use cloud storage services:

  • Google Cloud Storage
  • AWS S3
  • Cloudinary
  • Imgur

Make sure the URLs are publicly accessible.

Troubleshooting​

Images Not Appearing​

Check the URL:

  • Verify the URL is accessible in a browser
  • Make sure it's a direct image link (ends in .jpg, .png)
  • Ensure the image is publicly accessible

Check the format:

  • Only JPG and PNG are supported
  • Convert other formats before uploading

Check the size:

  • Images over 50MB may fail
  • Compress large images if needed

Images Loading Slowly​

Optimize images:

  • Compress images before uploading
  • Use appropriate dimensions (don't use 4K images for small placeholders)
  • Consider using a CDN for faster delivery

Wrong Image Appearing​

Verify the mapping:

  • Check that the correct field is mapped
  • Ensure the URL in your data is correct
  • Test the URL directly in a browser

Image Quality Issues​

Check image resolution:

  • Use high-quality source images
  • Ensure images are at least the size you need in the document
  • Avoid upscaling small images

Best Practices​

  • Use consistent image sizes: Keep placeholder images the same size for consistent results
  • Optimize before uploading: Compress images to reduce file size
  • Test with one image first: Verify it works before processing many records
  • Use reliable hosting: Ensure your image hosting is stable and fast
  • Keep URLs updated: If images move, update the URLs in your data source

Tips​

  • Start with a placeholder image: Use a generic image in your template, then replace it dynamically
  • Test URLs: Always test image URLs in a browser before using them
  • Monitor file sizes: Keep images under 50MB to avoid issues
  • Use descriptive alt text: Make it clear what the image represents

Next Steps​

Now that you understand image placeholders:

  1. Learn about Conditions for conditional images
  2. Explore Sections for conditional content blocks
  3. Check out other Features to enhance your documents