hvac-marketing-skills/skills/ad-creative/references/generative-tools.md

Generative AI Tools for Ad Creative

Reference for using AI image generators, video generators, and code-based video tools to produce ad visuals at scale.

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When to Use Generative Tools

Need	Tool Category	Best Fit
Static ad images (banners, social)	Image generation	Nano Banana Pro, Flux, Ideogram
Ad images with text overlays	Image generation (text-capable)	Ideogram, Nano Banana Pro
Short video ads (6-30 sec)	Video generation	Veo, Kling, Runway, Sora
Product mockups and variations	Image generation + references	Flux (multi-image reference)
Templated video ads at scale	Code-based video	Remotion
Personalized video (name, data)	Code-based video	Remotion
Brand-consistent variations	Image gen + style refs	Flux, Ideogram, Nano Banana Pro

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Image Generation

Nano Banana Pro (Gemini)

Google DeepMind's image generation model, available through the Gemini API.

Best for: High-quality ad images, product visuals, text rendering API: Gemini API (Google AI Studio, Vertex AI) Pricing: ~$0.04/image (Gemini 2.5 Flash Image), ~$0.24/4K image (Nano Banana Pro)

Strengths:

• Strong text rendering in images (logos, headlines)
• Native image editing (modify existing images with prompts)
• Available through the same Gemini API used for text generation
• Supports both generation and editing in one model

Ad creative use cases:

• Generate social media ad images from text descriptions
• Create product mockup variations
• Edit existing ad images (swap backgrounds, change colors)
• Generate images with headline text baked in

API example:

# Using the Gemini API for image generation
curl -X POST "https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta/models/gemini-2.0-flash-exp:generateContent" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "x-goog-api-key: $GEMINI_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "contents": [{"parts": [{"text": "Create a clean, modern social media ad image for a project management tool. Show a laptop with a kanban board interface. Bright, professional, 16:9 ratio."}]}],
    "generationConfig": {"responseModalities": ["TEXT", "IMAGE"]}
  }'

Docs: Gemini Image Generation

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Flux (Black Forest Labs)

Open-weight image generation models with API access through Replicate and BFL's native API.

Best for: Photorealistic images, brand-consistent variations, multi-reference generation API: Replicate, BFL API, fal.ai Pricing: ~$0.01-0.06/image depending on model and resolution

Model variants:

Model	Speed	Quality	Cost	Best For
Flux 2 Pro	~6 sec	Highest	$0.015/MP	Final production assets
Flux 2 Flex	~22 sec	High + editing	$0.06/MP	Iterative editing
Flux 2 Dev	~2.5 sec	Good	$0.012/MP	Rapid prototyping
Flux 2 Klein	Fastest	Good	Lowest	High-volume batch generation

Strengths:

• Multi-image reference (up to 8 images) for consistent identity across ads
• Product consistency — same product in different contexts
• Style transfer from reference images
• Open-weight Dev model for self-hosting

Ad creative use cases:

• Generate 50+ ad variations with consistent product/person identity
• Create product-in-context images (your SaaS on different devices)
• Style-match to existing brand assets using reference images
• Rapid A/B test image variations

Docs: Replicate Flux, BFL API

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Ideogram

Specialized in typography and text rendering within images.

Best for: Ad banners with text, branded graphics, social ad images with headlines API: Ideogram API, Runware Pricing: ~$0.06/image (API), ~$0.009/image (subscription)

Strengths:

• Best-in-class text rendering (~90% accuracy vs ~30% for most tools)
• Style reference system (upload up to 3 reference images)
• 4.3 billion style presets for consistent brand aesthetics
• Strong at logos and branded typography

Ad creative use cases:

• Generate ad banners with headline text directly in the image
• Create social media graphics with branded text overlays
• Produce multiple design variations with consistent typography
• Generate promotional materials without needing a designer for each iteration

Docs: Ideogram API, Ideogram

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Other Image Tools

Tool	Best For	API Status	Notes
DALL-E 3 (OpenAI)	General image generation	Official API	Integrated with ChatGPT, good text rendering
Midjourney	Artistic, high-aesthetic images	No official public API	Discord-based; unofficial APIs exist but risk bans
Stable Diffusion	Self-hosted, customizable	Open source	Best for teams with GPU infrastructure

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Video Generation

Google Veo

Google DeepMind's video generation model, available through the Gemini API and Vertex AI.

Best for: High-quality video ads with native audio, vertical video for social API: Gemini API, Vertex AI Pricing: ~$0.15/sec (Veo 3.1 Fast), ~$0.40/sec (Veo 3.1 Standard)

Capabilities:

• Up to 60 seconds at 1080p
• Native audio generation (dialogue, sound effects, ambient)
• Vertical 9:16 output for Stories/Reels/Shorts
• Upscale to 4K
• Text-to-video and image-to-video

Ad creative use cases:

• Generate short video ads (15-30 sec) from text descriptions
• Create vertical video ads for TikTok, Reels, Shorts
• Produce product demos with voiceover
• Generate multiple video variations from the same prompt with different styles

Docs: Veo on Vertex AI

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Kling (Kuaishou)

Video generation with simultaneous audio-visual generation and camera controls.

Best for: Cinematic video ads, longer-form content, audio-synced video API: Kling API, PiAPI, fal.ai Pricing: ~$0.09/sec (via fal.ai third-party)

Capabilities:

• Up to 3 minutes at 1080p/30-48fps
• Simultaneous audio-visual generation (Kling 2.6)
• Text-to-video and image-to-video
• Motion and camera controls

Ad creative use cases:

• Longer product explainer videos
• Cinematic brand videos with synchronized audio
• Animate product images into video ads

Docs: Kling AI Developer

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Runway

Video generation and editing platform with strong controllability.

Best for: Controlled video generation, style-consistent content, editing existing footage API: Runway Developer Portal

Capabilities:

• Gen-4: Character/scene consistency across shots
• Motion brush and camera controls
• Image-to-video with reference images
• Video-to-video style transfer

Ad creative use cases:

• Generate video ads with consistent characters/products across scenes
• Style-transfer existing footage to match brand aesthetics
• Extend or remix existing video content

Docs: Runway API

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Sora 2 (OpenAI)

OpenAI's video generation model with synchronized audio.

Best for: High-fidelity video with dialogue and sound API: OpenAI API Pricing: Free tier available; Pro from $0.10-0.50/sec depending on resolution

Capabilities:

• Up to 60 seconds with synchronized audio
• Dialogue, sound effects, and ambient audio
• sora-2 (fast) and sora-2-pro (quality) variants
• Text-to-video and image-to-video

Ad creative use cases:

• Video testimonials and talking-head style ads
• Product demo videos with narration
• Narrative brand videos

Docs: OpenAI Video Generation

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Higgsfield

Full-stack video creation platform with cinematic camera controls.

Best for: Social video ads, cinematic style, mobile-first content Platform: higgsfield.ai

Capabilities:

• 50+ professional camera movements (zooms, pans, FPV drone shots)
• Image-to-video animation
• Built-in editing, transitions, and keyframing
• All-in-one workflow: image gen, animation, editing

Ad creative use cases:

• Social media video ads with cinematic feel
• Animate product images into dynamic video
• Create multiple video variations with different camera styles
• Quick-turn video content for social campaigns

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Video Tool Comparison

Tool	Max Length	Audio	Resolution	API	Best For
Veo 3.1	60 sec	Native	1080p/4K	Gemini	Vertical social video
Kling 2.6	3 min	Native	1080p	Third-party	Longer cinematic
Runway Gen-4	10 sec	No	1080p	Official	Controlled, consistent
Sora 2	60 sec	Native	1080p	Official	Dialogue-heavy
Higgsfield	Varies	Yes	1080p	Web-based	Social, mobile-first

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Code-Based Video: Remotion

For templated, data-driven video ads at scale, Remotion is the best option. Unlike AI video generators that produce unique video from prompts, Remotion uses React code to render deterministic, brand-perfect video from templates and data.

Best for: Templated ad variations, personalized video, brand-consistent production Stack: React + TypeScript Pricing: Free for individuals/small teams; commercial license required for 4+ employees Docs: remotion.dev

Why Remotion for Ads

AI Video Generators	Remotion
Unique output each time	Deterministic, pixel-perfect
Prompt-based, less control	Full code control over every frame
Hard to match brand exactly	Exact brand colors, fonts, spacing
One-at-a-time generation	Batch render hundreds from data
No dynamic data insertion	Personalize with names, prices, stats

Ad Creative Use Cases

1. Dynamic product ads Feed a JSON array of products and render a unique video ad for each:

// Simplified Remotion component for product ads
export const ProductAd: React.FC<{
  productName: string;
  price: string;
  imageUrl: string;
  tagline: string;
}> = ({productName, price, imageUrl, tagline}) => {
  return (
    <AbsoluteFill style={{backgroundColor: '#fff'}}>
      <Img src={imageUrl} style={{width: 400, height: 400}} />
      <h1>{productName}</h1>
      <p>{tagline}</p>
      <div className="price">{price}</div>
      <div className="cta">Shop Now</div>
    </AbsoluteFill>
  );
};

2. A/B test video variations Render the same template with different headlines, CTAs, or color schemes:

const variations = [
  {headline: "Save 50% Today", cta: "Get the Deal", theme: "urgent"},
  {headline: "Join 10K+ Teams", cta: "Start Free", theme: "social-proof"},
  {headline: "Built for Speed", cta: "Try It Now", theme: "benefit"},
];
// Render all variations programmatically

3. Personalized outreach videos Generate videos addressing prospects by name for cold outreach or sales.

4. Social ad batch production Render the same content across different aspect ratios:

• 1:1 for feed
• 9:16 for Stories/Reels
• 16:9 for YouTube

Remotion Workflow for Ad Creative

1. Design template in React (or use AI to generate the component)
2. Define data schema (products, headlines, CTAs, images)
3. Feed data array into template
4. Batch render all variations
5. Upload to ad platform

Getting Started

# Create a new Remotion project
npx create-video@latest

# Render a single video
npx remotion render src/index.ts MyComposition out/video.mp4

# Batch render from data
npx remotion render src/index.ts MyComposition --props='{"data": [...]}'

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Choosing the Right Tool

Decision Tree

Need video ads?
├── Templated, data-driven (same structure, different data)
│   └── Use Remotion
├── Unique creative from prompts (exploratory)
│   ├── Need dialogue/voiceover? → Sora 2, Veo 3.1, Kling 2.6
│   ├── Need consistency across scenes? → Runway Gen-4
│   ├── Need vertical social video? → Veo 3.1 (native 9:16)
│   └── Need cinematic camera work? → Higgsfield, Kling
└── Both → Use AI gen for hero creative, Remotion for variations

Need image ads?
├── Need text/headlines in image? → Ideogram
├── Need product consistency across variations? → Flux (multi-ref)
├── Need quick iterations on existing images? → Nano Banana Pro
├── Need highest visual quality? → Flux Pro, Midjourney
└── Need high volume at low cost? → Flux Klein, Nano Banana

Cost Comparison for 100 Ad Variations

Approach	Tool	Approximate Cost
100 static images	Nano Banana Pro	~$4-24
100 static images	Flux Dev	~$1-2
100 static images	Ideogram API	~$6
100 × 15-sec videos	Veo 3.1 Fast	~$225
100 × 15-sec videos	Remotion (templated)	~$0 (self-hosted render)
10 hero videos + 90 templated	Veo + Remotion	~$22 + render time

Recommended Workflow for Scaled Ad Production

1. Generate hero creative with AI (Nano Banana, Flux, Veo) — high-quality, exploratory
2. Build templates in Remotion based on winning creative patterns
3. Batch produce variations with Remotion using data (products, headlines, CTAs)
4. Iterate — use AI tools for new angles, Remotion for scale

This hybrid approach gives you the creative exploration of AI generators and the consistency and scale of code-based rendering.

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Platform-Specific Image Specs

When generating images for ads, request the correct dimensions:

Platform	Placement	Aspect Ratio	Recommended Size
Meta Feed	Single image	1:1	1080x1080
Meta Stories/Reels	Vertical	9:16	1080x1920
Meta Carousel	Square	1:1	1080x1080
Google Display	Landscape	1.91:1	1200x628
Google Display	Square	1:1	1200x1200
LinkedIn Feed	Landscape	1.91:1	1200x627
LinkedIn Feed	Square	1:1	1200x1200
TikTok Feed	Vertical	9:16	1080x1920
Twitter/X Feed	Landscape	16:9	1200x675
Twitter/X Card	Landscape	1.91:1	800x418

Include these dimensions in your generation prompts to avoid needing to crop or resize.