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Image Templates

What it is​

An Image Template is the visual design — the front of your mailer. It is a full-bleed image that prints on the front side of a postcard, letter, Notecard, MagnaCard, or other mailer type. You pair an Image Template with a Message Template to create a complete mailer.

note

Image Templates cover the front image only. The back of a postcard and the interior of a Notecard are configured in a Message Template, not here.

Four ways to create an Image Template:

  1. Upload a file — upload a design you made in another tool (Canva, Photoshop, etc.)
  2. Design in Canva — design directly in Canva and sync back to your library
  3. Dynamic Builder — build a personalized postcard template with layered graphics and recipient data tags (postcards only)
  4. ThanksAI Studio — let AI generate a design from a text prompt and optional website URL

How to create an Image Template​

Upload a file​

  1. Go to Image Templates in the dashboard.
  2. Click Add Template and choose the upload option for your mailer type (e.g., Upload 4×6 / 6×9), or scroll to the mailer type section and click the Upload button there.
  3. Select your image file (high-resolution PNG or PDF recommended).
  4. Add a descriptive name and save.

Design in Canva​

  1. Go to Image Templates in the dashboard.
  2. Scroll to the mailer type section you want to design for.
  3. Click the ... (more options) button in that section, then choose Design in Canva.
  4. Authorize Canva if prompted.
  5. Design your template in Canva. When finished, use the thanks.io app in Canva to sync it back to your Image Template library.

Dynamic Builder (postcards only)​

The Dynamic Builder creates a personalized postcard front by layering graphic elements — text, logo, QR code, and an optional overlay — on top of a background image. Each field can be tagged with recipient data so the design updates per-recipient when mail is sent.

  1. Go to Image Templates in the dashboard.
  2. Click Dynamic Builder in the 4x6 & 6x9 Postcards section header, or click Add Template → Dynamic Builder.
  3. Enter a Template Name.
  4. Choose a Layout Template — pick a preset that determines where the graphic elements are positioned on the postcard.
  5. Set your Background Image — upload an image, paste a URL, or click Use Map View / Use Street View to pull in a property map automatically.
  6. Fill in the text fields: Header (taggable, under 90 characters) and Sub-header (taggable, under 250 characters).
  7. Set the QR Code / Redirect URL (taggable), or click Use Message Side QR Code to pull it from the paired Message Template.
  8. Set your Logo Image URL (taggable), or click Use Logo / Use Symbol to pull from your Branding Builder settings.
  9. Optionally add an Overlay Graphic — a transparent PNG layered on top of everything (1875×1275 px).
  10. Click Generate Preview to see the result, then click Save Dynamic Image Template.
tip

All text and URL fields in the Dynamic Builder support data tags (e.g., ~FIRST_NAME~, ~ADDRESS~), so each recipient gets a personalized postcard front.

note

Image URL fields in Dynamic Builder (Background Image, Logo Image URL, and Overlay Graphic) support ~CUSTOM1~ through ~CUSTOM10~. During preview, token-based image sources render with placeholders. At send time, each token resolves per recipient; if the custom field value is missing or not a valid PNG/JPG URL, that recipient is skipped and the order is flagged with an error.

Generate via ThanksAI Studio​

See ThanksAI Studio for the full walkthrough. After generating a design, click Save as Image Template and it is added to your library.

Design tips​

  • Design to the correct dimensions for your mailer type. Each mailer has a specific canvas size and safe zone — keep important content inside the safe zone.
  • Leave a clear area where the QR code will be overlaid if your campaign uses one.
  • Name templates descriptively (e.g., "Just Listed - Modern Blue 2026") so they stay findable as the library grows.

Limits & gotchas​

  • Uploading and using Image Templates is available on all tiers.
  • Canva integration is available on all tiers.
  • The Dynamic Builder is available for 4x6 and 6x9 postcards only.