Create Branded Social Media Images with Bannerbear (Sync/Async modes)

Description

Automatically create branded social media graphics, certificates, thumbnails, or marketing visuals using Bannerbear's template-based image generation API.
Bannerbear's API is primarily asynchronous by default: this workflow shows you how to use both asynchronous (webhook-based) and synchronous modes depending on your needs.

What it does

This workflow connects to Bannerbear's API to generate custom images based on your pre-designed templates. You can modify text, colors, and other elements programmatically.

By default, Bannerbear works asynchronously: you submit a request, receive an immediate 202 Accepted response, and get the final image via webhook or polling. This workflow demonstrates both the standard asynchronous approach and an alternative synchronous method where you wait for the image to be generated before proceeding.

How it works

Set parameters - Configure your Bannerbear API key, template ID, and content (title, subtitle)
Choose mode - Select synchronous (wait for immediate response) or asynchronous (standard webhook delivery)
Generate image - The workflow calls Bannerbear's API with your modifications
Receive result - Get the image URL, dimensions, and metadata in PNG or JPG format

Async mode (recommended): The workflow receives a pending status immediately, then a webhook delivers the completed image when ready.

Sync mode: The workflow waits for the image generation to complete before proceeding.

Setup requirements

A Bannerbear account (free tier available)
A Bannerbear template created in your dashboard
Your API key and template ID from Bannerbear
For async mode: ability to receive webhooks (production n8n instance)

How to set up

Get Bannerbear credentials:
Sign up at bannerbear.com
Create a project and design a template
Copy your API key from Settings > API Key
Copy your template ID from the API Console

Configure the workflow:
Open the "SetParameters" node
Replace the API key and template ID with yours
Customize the title and subtitle text
Set call_mode to "sync" or "async"

For async mode (recommended):
Activate the "Webhook_OnImageCreated" node
Copy the production webhook URL
Add it to Bannerbear via Settings > Webhooks > Create a Webhook
Set event type to "image_created"

Customize the workflow

Modify the template parameters to match your Bannerbear template fields
Add additional modification objects for more dynamic elements (colors, backgrounds, images)
Connect to databases, CRMs, or other tools to pull content automatically
Chain multiple image generations for batch processing
Store generated images in Google Drive, S3, or your preferred storage
Use async mode for high-volume generation without blocking your workflow