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Image Transformation

Transform, resize, and convert images at scale

Transform images with smart crop, upscaling, background removal, resizing, format conversion, and more through one EU-hosted API.

Zero data retention Made & hosted in the EU 100 trial credits

See Image Transformation in action

Start from a real implementation pattern, not blank docs. See the input, runnable code, and structured output your workflow can use next.

Input Preview
Group photo before smart crop

Wide group photo before cropping to a narrow banner where face retention matters

Output Preview
Narrow smart-cropped group photo output

AI smart crop shifts the crop upward so the banner keeps the group’s heads in frame

Request
curl -X POST \
  https://api.iterationlayer.com/image-transformation/v1/transform \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "file": {
    "type": "url",
    "name": "group-photo.jpg",
    "url": "https://iterationlayer.com/code-samples/group-photo.jpg"
  },
  "operations": [
    {
      "type": "smart_crop",
      "width_in_px": 728,
      "height_in_px": 160
    }
  ]
}'
Response
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "buffer": "/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQ...",
    "mime_type": "image/jpeg"
  }
}
Request
import { IterationLayer } from "iterationlayer";

const client = new IterationLayer({
  apiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY",
});

const result = await client.transformImage({
  file: {
    type: "url",
    name: "group-photo.jpg",
    url: "https://iterationlayer.com/code-samples/group-photo.jpg",
  },
  operations: [
    {
      type: "smart_crop",
      width_in_px: 728,
      height_in_px: 160,
    },
  ],
});
Response
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "buffer": "/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQ...",
    "mime_type": "image/jpeg"
  }
}
Request
from iterationlayer import IterationLayer

client = IterationLayer(
    api_key="YOUR_API_KEY"
)

result = client.transform_image(
    file={
        "type": "url",
        "name": "group-photo.jpg",
        "url": "https://iterationlayer.com/code-samples/group-photo.jpg",
    },
    operations=[
        {
            "type": "smart_crop",
            "width_in_px": 728,
            "height_in_px": 160,
        },
    ],
)
Response
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "buffer": "/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQ...",
    "mime_type": "image/jpeg"
  }
}
Request
import il "github.com/iterationlayer/sdk-go"

client := il.NewClient("YOUR_API_KEY")

result, err := client.TransformImage(il.TransformImageRequest{
  File: il.NewFileFromURL(
      "group-photo.jpg",
      "https://iterationlayer.com/code-samples/group-photo.jpg",
  ),
  Operations: []il.TransformOperation{
    il.NewSmartCropOperation(728, 160),
  },
})
Response
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "buffer": "/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQ...",
    "mime_type": "image/jpeg"
  }
}

Use the same workflow from code, agents, or n8n

When an automation moves from prototype to production, you should not have to rebuild it for every environment. Iteration Layer lets scripts, agents, and n8n workflows call the same European AI workflow runtime.

Input 40+ file formats
Extraction Documents, websites, and markdown
Generation Documents, images, and sheets
Output Structured format

Fits into your existing stack

Native SDKs for TypeScript, Python, and Go. OpenAPI spec for everything else. MCP server for AI agents and Claude Code skills. n8n integration for visual workflows.

EU AI workflow runtime

Run document, image, and file steps through one EU-hosted workflow layer with shared API conventions and billing.

Agent-ready by design

Expose the same document and image actions to MCP tools and Claude Code skills, then reuse the API contract when workflows graduate into scripts or automations.

Verified n8n node

Install the verified Iteration Layer node in n8n, then route documents and generated files through the same provider from visual workflows.

Three steps to your first transformation

01

Send your image

Provide an image URL or base64-encoded file in any supported format. The API accepts common raster formats and handles decoding automatically.

02

Define operations

Chain up to 30 operations in a single request. 24 operation types including AI smart crop, AI upscale, and AI background removal.

03

Get the output

Receive the transformed image in your chosen format as base64-encoded JSON. Control quality settings for lossy formats.


30-Step Pipelines

Chain up to 30 operations in a single request — resize, crop, blur, sharpen, convert, and 19 more. One API call replaces your entire Sharp script.

AI Upscaling

Upscale images 2-4x with AI while preserving detail and sharpness.

AI Smart Crop

Automatically center crops on the most important subjects in any image.

AI Background Removal

Remove backgrounds cleanly from product photos, portraits, and more.

Compress To Target

Specify a target file size and the API iteratively compresses until it fits. No more guessing quality values for upload limits.

Format Conversion

Convert between JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, and HEIF with quality control.

Real-world pipelines, ready to ship

Each recipe chains multiple APIs into a complete workflow. Pick one, tweak it, and deploy — or use it as a starting point for your own pipeline.

Compress Image for Email

Resize, sharpen, and compress an image to fit email platform size limits in a single pipeline.

Compress Image to Target File Size

Compress an image to fit within a specific file size in bytes using quality-first compression.

Convert Image Format

Convert an image between PNG, JPEG, and WebP formats with quality control for web optimization.

Generate Thumbnail

Resize a source image to a thumbnail and convert to WebP.

Optimize Product Image for Amazon

Prepare a product photo to meet Amazon's main image requirements: pure white background, square format, 2000×2000px, JPEG.

Optimize Product Image for Etsy

Smart crop a product photo to Etsy's recommended 2000×2000px square format and export as JPEG.

Optimize Product Image for Shopify

Resize a product photo to Shopify's recommended 2048×2048px square format, sharpen, and convert to WebP for fast storefront load times.

Optimize Product Photo

Resize, enhance, and compress a product photo for an e-commerce listing with consistent quality.

Process Real Estate Photo

Enhance and standardize a property listing photo with auto-contrast, sharpening, and consistent sizing.

Remove Product Background

Remove the background from a product photo using AI-powered segmentation.

Resize Image for Print Publishing

Resize and convert manuscript images to KDP-compliant dimensions at 300 DPI for print-on-demand.

Resize Image for Social Media

Resize and crop a single image into platform-specific dimensions for social media.

Smart Crop Avatar and Remove Background

Smart crop to face, remove the background, and convert to WebP for a clean user avatar.

Smart Crop Group Photo

Use AI detection to smart-crop individual portraits from a group photo.

Smart Crop Product Image

AI-powered subject-aware crop that centers on the product regardless of its position in the frame.

Upscale Low-Resolution Image

Upscale a low-resolution image using AI super-resolution for print or high-DPI display.

European by design

Your data is processed on EU-hosted infrastructure and never stored beyond temporary logs. Zero data retention, GDPR-compliant workflows, and a Data Processing Agreement are available for every customer. Learn more about our security practices .

EU-hosted core processing

Application and processing infrastructure runs in Europe, with provider-scope ISO 27001 and BSI C5 evidence documented for procurement reviews.

Zero data retention

Customer files and processing results are not stored after the request. Usage logs are retained for 90 days and automatically deleted.

Clear answers for security teams

Give reviewers the answers they need up front: where files are processed, what is retained, which subprocessors are involved, and how AI inputs, outputs, review gates, and audit records move through each workflow.

Pricing

Start usage-based. Switch to a subscription when your volume becomes predictable.

Pay as you go

Usage-based

$0.099 to $0.069 / credit

Graduated pricing. Your effective rate decreases automatically as monthly usage grows.

  • No monthly commitment
  • Pay only for credits used
  • Automatic volume discounts as usage grows
Subscriptions

Predictable volume

From $19 /month

Fixed recurring credit packs with lower effective credit prices for steady usage.

  • Lower effective per-credit prices
  • Fixed recurring credit packs
  • Predictable monthly budget
Trial Week

Try Iteration Layer with 100 credits

$1 / 7 days

Start with one shared trial pool before choosing subscription or pay-as-you-go billing.

All APIs included 7-day trial Project-based budget caps Auto overage billing

Still evaluating?

Compare Iteration Layer against the biggest alternatives at a glance, then open the full head-to-head pages when you want the details.

Feature Iteration Layer Cloudinary imgix Cloudflare Images
Resize
Yes
Resize images to exact dimensions or by percentage with multiple fit modes
Yes
Comprehensive resize operations with multiple crop and fit modes
Yes
Comprehensive resize via w, h, and fit URL parameters
Yes
Resize via width and height parameters in named variants
Smart crop (AI)
Yes
AI-powered object detection for intelligent cropping
Paid add-on
AI-based smart cropping available at extra cost on top of the base plan
No
No AI-powered smart cropping available
No
No AI-powered smart cropping available
Background removal
Yes
AI-powered background removal in a single pipeline step
Paid add-on
AI background removal available at extra cost on top of the base plan
No
No background removal available
No
No background removal available
Output formats
6 formats
JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, HEIF, and GIF output supported
5 formats
JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, and GIF output supported
4 formats
JPEG, PNG, WebP, and AVIF output supported
4 formats
JPEG, PNG, WebP, and AVIF output supported

See how we compare to our competitors

Cloudinary imgix Cloudflare Images Sharp

Frequently asked questions

Can I chain multiple operations?
Yes. Chain up to 30 operations in a single request — resize, crop, blur, sharpen, convert, and 19 more. Operations execute sequentially in the order you define.
What output formats are supported?
The API outputs JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, and AVIF. You can convert between formats using the convert operation.
What AI features are included?
Smart crop (centers on faces, people, and animals using AI detection), 2-4x AI upscale, and AI background removal. All are standard pipeline operations.
Is there a size limit?
Input images can be up to 50 MB. The API processes them efficiently regardless of resolution.

Build your first workflow in minutes

Chain our APIs into a workflow you can test with your own data during the 7-day trial.

Zero data retention Made & hosted in the EU 100 trial credits