Generate AI product ad images from Google Sheets using Fal.ai and OpenAI

⚠️ Note: All sensitive credentials should be set via n8n Credentials or environment variables. Do not hardcode API keys in nodes.

---

Who’s it for

Marketers, creators, and automation builders who want to generate UGC-style ad images automatically from a Google Sheet. Ideal for e‑commerce SKUs, agencies, or teams that need many variations quickly.

---

What it does (Overview)

This template turns a spreadsheet row into ad images ready for campaigns.

• Zone 1 — Create Ad Image: Reads product rows, downloads image, analyzes it, generates prompts, appends results back into Google Sheet.
• Zone 2 — Create Image (Fal nano‑banana): Generates ad image variations, polls Fal.ai API until done, uploads to Drive, and updates sheet with output URLs.

---

Requirements

• Fal.ai API key (env: FAL_KEY)
• Google Sheets / Google Drive OAuth2 credentials
• OpenAI (Vision/Chat) for image analysis
• A Google Sheet with columns for product and output
• Google Drive files set to Anyone with link → Viewer so APIs can fetch them

---

How to set up

1. Credentials: Add Google Sheets + Google Drive (OAuth2), Fal.ai (Header Auth with Authorization: Key {{$env.FAL_KEY}}), and OpenAI.
2. Google Sheet: Create sheets with the following headers.

Sheet: product

product_id | product_name | product_image_url | product_description | campaign | brand_notes | constraints | num_variations | aspect_ratio | model_target | status

Sheet: ad_image

scene_ref | product_name | prompt | status | output_url

1. Import the workflow: Use the provided JSON. Confirm node credentials resolve.
2. Run: Start with Zone 0 to verify prompt-only flow, then test Zone 1 for image generation.

---

Zone 1 — Create Ad Image (Prompt-only)

Reads product row, normalizes Drive link, analyzes image, generates structured ad prompts, appends to ad_image sheet.

---

Zone 2 — Create Image (Fal nano‑banana)

Reads product row, converts Drive link, generates image(s) with Fal nano‑banana, polls until complete, uploads to Drive, updates sheet.

---

Node settings (high‑level)

Drive Link Parser (Set)

{{ (() => {
  const u = $json.product || '';
  const q = u.match(/[?&]id=([\-\w]{25,})/);
  const d = u.match(/\/d\/([\-\w]{25,})/);
  const any = u.match(/[\-\w]{25,}/);
  const id = q?.[1] || d?.[1] || (any ? any[0] : '');
  return id ? 'https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=' + id : '';
})() }}

---

How to customize the workflow

• Adjust AI prompts to change ad style (luxury, cozy, techy).
• Change aspect ratio for TikTok/IG/Shorts (9:16, 1:1, 16:9).
• Extend Sheet schema for campaign labels, audiences, hashtags.
• Add distribution (Slack/LINE/Telegram) after Drive upload.

---

Troubleshooting

• JSON parameter needs to be valid JSON → Ensure expressions return objects, not strings.
• 403 on images → Make Drive files public (Viewer) and convert links.
• Job never completes → Check status_url, retry with *-fast models or off‑peak times.

---

Template metadata

• Uses: Google Sheets, Google Drive, HTTP Request, Wait/If/Switch, Code, OpenAI Vision/Chat, Fal.ai models (nano‑banana)

---

Visuals

Workflow Diagram

Example Product Image

Product Image - nano Banana