How to Generate Images from Google Sheets with Make

Introduction

In today's fast-paced digital world, automating repetitive tasks is crucial for efficiency. One such task is generating custom images based on data. This tutorial will show you how to use Templated's image generation API in combination with Google Sheets and Make (formerly known as Integromat) to create a powerful, no-code automation workflow.

By the end of this guide, you'll be able to automatically generate custom images using data from your Google Sheets, all without writing a single line of code!

What You'll Need

1. A Templated account (sign up at templated.io if you haven't already)
2. A Make (Integromat) account
3. A Google account with access to Google Sheets

Step 1: Create or Choose a Base Template

1. Log in to your Templated account.
2. Create a new template or choose an existing one from our library.
3. Customize your template with dynamic text and image layers that will be filled with data from your Google Sheet.

For this tutorial, let's assume we're creating social media posts for news articles. Our template might include:

• A background image layer
• A title text layer
• A subtitle text layer
• A headline text layer

Step 2: Prepare Your Google Sheet

1. Create a new Google Sheet or use an existing one.
2. Set up columns for each piece of data you want to use in your template. For our news articles example:
   • Column A: Title
   • Column B: Subtitle
   • Column C: Headline
   • Column D: Background Image

Fill in some sample data to test with later.

Step 3: Create a Make Scenario

1. Log in to your Make account and create a new scenario.
2. Start with a Google Sheets trigger module. Choose "Watch Rows" as the action.
3. Connect your Google account and select the spreadsheet and worksheet you prepared.
4. Configure the module to watch for new or updated rows.

Step 4: Set Up the Templated Module in Make

1. Add a new module to your scenario and search for "Templated".
2. Choose the "Generate Image" action.
3. You'll need to authenticate with Templated. Use your API key, which you can find in your Templated dashboard under API settings.
4. Once authenticated, select the template you created or chose in Step 1.

Step 5: Map Your Data

In the Templated module settings:

1. For each dynamic layer in your template, map the corresponding column from your Google Sheet.
2. For our news articles example:
   • Map the "Title" field to Column A
   • Map the "Subtitle" field to Column B
   • Map the "Headline" field to Column C
   • Map the "Background Image" field to Column D

Step 6: Test Your Workflow

1. Save your scenario and run a test.
2. Check the output of the Templated module. You should see a generated image URL.
3. Visit your Templated dashboard to view the generated image in your image list.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've successfully set up an automated workflow to generate images from Google Sheets data using Templated and Make. This powerful combination allows you to create custom visuals at scale, saving time and ensuring consistency in your visual content.

Remember, this is just the beginning. Templated's flexible API and Make's extensive app integrations open up endless possibilities for automating your visual content creation process.

Ready to take your image generation to the next level? Sign up for a free Templated account and start creating your own automated workflows today!