Product + AI Image Creator - Meta Ads, Email, Social with fal.ai & Placid

Daniel Setzermann • members
• 5 min read
Product + AI Image Creator - Meta Ads, Email, Social with fal.ai & Placid

This workflow automatically transforms product photos into professional marketing visuals by placing them in custom backgrounds while preserving product details and text legibility. The system uses multiple AI models in sequence and Placid templates for precise control over final layout and text placement.

The Core Challenge: Preserving Product Integrity

Most AI image generation tools distort products when changing backgrounds - text becomes unreadable, logos get warped, and fine details disappear. This workflow solves that problem by using specialized AI models that maintain product integrity while seamlessly integrating new environments.

Workflow Architecture

The system processes images through five stages:

  1. Input Processing - Upload product image and specify requirements
  2. AI Copywriting - Generate marketing copy from website analysis
  3. Background Generation - Create style reference images
  4. Product Integration - Replace background while preserving product
  5. Template Assembly - Combine elements using Placid for precise control

Stage 1: Input Processing

The workflow starts with a form requiring:

  • Product Image: Original photo (recommended 1080x1920px)
  • Scene Description: Target environment ("mountain scene", "beach setting")
  • Website URL: For brand and copy analysis
  • Lighting: Desired mood ("daylight", "golden hour", "moonlight")

The system uploads the image to temporary storage and passes it through the processing pipeline.

Stage 2: AI Copywriting Analysis

A GPT-4o-mini agent analyzes the provided website URL to extract:

  • Brand positioning and voice
  • Key product benefits
  • Marketing messaging style

Output is structured JSON:

{
  "claim": "Main headline text",
  "bullet1": "First benefit point",
  "bullet2": "Second benefit point", 
  "bullet3": "Third benefit point"
}

Stage 3: Background Scene Generation

A specialized GPT-4.1-mini agent creates detailed prompts for background generation. The agent:

  • Analyzes brand aesthetic from the website
  • Creates minimalist, premium scene descriptions
  • Includes technical photography specifications
  • Ensures scenes complement rather than compete with products

Example generated prompt:

"Photorealistic, minimalist beach scene with smooth driftwood surface, scattered seashells, pale sand, gentle ocean waves in blurred background. Soft natural daylight, pastel sky, clean composition with negative space. Canon EOS R5, RF 50mm f/1.2, aperture f/2.2, ISO 100, shallow depth of field"

Stage 4: Multi-Model Image Processing

This stage uses three AI models in sequence to achieve high-quality results:

Google Imagen 4 - Style Reference

Generates a reference image using the background prompt. This serves as a style guide for subsequent processing and improves final image quality.

Ideogram v3 - Background Replacement

The critical step that replaces the background while preserving the product:

  • Maintains all product details including text and logos
  • Preserves perspective and scale relationships
  • Integrates product naturally into new environment
  • Keeps brand elements readable and intact

Fal.ai Time of Day Relighting

Adjusts lighting to match the specified mood:

  • Creates realistic shadows and highlights
  • Matches product lighting to environment
  • Adds atmospheric effects
  • Enhances overall realism

Note: This step may slightly reduce text sharpness but significantly improves photorealism.

Stage 5: Template Assembly with Placid

Placid.app combines all elements using predefined templates:

Precise Control: Templates define exact positioning for images and text elements Consistent Layout: Professional typography and spacing across all outputs
Multi-Format Support: Same template works for various social media dimensions Brand Compliance: Maintains consistent visual identity

Template structure requires matching layer names to JSON output:

  • image layer: Final processed product image
  • subtitle layer: Main claim text
  • bullet1, bullet2, bullet3 layers: Benefit points

Technical Implementation

Built on n8n workflow automation platform with:

API Orchestration: Connects OpenAI, Fal.ai, Google Imagen, and Placid services Status Monitoring: Polls AI model completion status with built-in retries Error Handling: Automatic retries when models are overloaded File Management: Handles temporary storage and final asset delivery

Processing Time for one image: ca. 60s

Service Requirements

Required integrations:

  • n8n: Workflow platform (free tier available)
  • OpenAI: GPT models for copywriting ($0.01-0.03 per ad)
  • Fal.ai: Image processing models ($0.10-0.20 per ad)
  • Placid.app: Template system ($19/month for 500 credits/images subscription)
  • Google Drive: File storage (optional, free tier sufficient)

Estimated cost per generated asset: $0.24

Template Configuration

Placid templates require specific setup:

  1. Create template with required layer names
  2. Position image and text elements
  3. Set fonts and styling to match brand
  4. Configure output dimensions for target platforms
  5. Test with sample data to verify layout

Layer naming convention must match workflow JSON output for automatic population.

Quality Control Factors

Input Image Quality: Higher resolution inputs produce better results Scene Compatibility: Simple, descriptive scenes work best Lighting Consistency: Match lighting descriptions to product needs Template Design: Well-designed templates ensure professional output

Common Issues:

  • Complex backgrounds may cause processing delays
  • Very detailed product text may lose some sharpness after relighting
  • Extreme lighting conditions may require iteration

Output Formats and Usage

Generated assets work across multiple channels:

  • Meta/Facebook Ads: Story and feed formats
  • Instagram: Posts and stories
  • Email Marketing: Header images and product showcases
  • Website: Landing page visuals and product galleries
  • LinkedIn: Sponsored content and company posts

The workflow maintains consistent branding across all formats while adapting to platform-specific requirements.

Workflow Customization

Key areas for customization:

Copywriting Prompts: Modify system messages to match brand voice Background Styles: Adjust scene generation for different aesthetics
Template Variants: Create multiple layouts for different campaign types Processing Options: Configure quality vs speed trade-offs

All customization happens through the n8n interface without requiring code changes.

Setup Process

  1. Install n8n (cloud or self-hosted)
  2. Import workflow JSON template
  3. Configure API credentials for each service
  4. Create Placid templates matching your brand
  5. Test with sample products to refine settings

Results and Capabilities

The workflow consistently produces marketing visuals that:

  • Preserve product details and text legibility
  • Integrate products naturally into custom backgrounds
  • Maintain brand consistency across formats
  • Generate professional layouts automatically
  • Support multiple marketing channels from single input

This approach solves the fundamental challenge of AI image generation: maintaining product integrity while achieving creative flexibility and precise layout control.

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