Generate PDF Certificate

Generate a professional achievement certificate with recipient name, course details, date, and a QR code for formal download or print.

Who this is for

Online learning platforms and corporate training departments use this recipe to generate a completion certificate on demand. Define the recipient name, course title, completion date, and a QR code linking to a verification page — producing a landscape PDF ready for formal download or print.

Request
curl -X POST https://api.iterationlayer.com/document-generation/v1/generate \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "format": "pdf",
    "document": {
      "metadata": {
        "title": "Certificate of Completion - Advanced Data Engineering",
        "author": "Horizon Academy"
      },
      "page": {
        "size": { "width_in_pt": 842, "height_in_pt": 595 },
        "margins": {
          "top_in_pt": 60,
          "right_in_pt": 72,
          "bottom_in_pt": 60,
          "left_in_pt": 72
        }
      },
      "styles": {
        "text": {
          "font_family": "Helvetica",
          "font_size_in_pt": 11.0,
          "line_height": 1.5,
          "color": "#333333"
        },
        "headline": {
          "font_family": "Helvetica",
          "font_size_in_pt": 24.0,
          "color": "#111111",
          "spacing_before_in_pt": 12.0,
          "spacing_after_in_pt": 6.0,
          "is_bold": true
        },
        "link": {
          "color": "#0066CC",
          "is_underlined": true
        },
        "list": {
          "text_style": {
            "font_family": "Helvetica",
            "font_size_in_pt": 11.0,
            "line_height": 1.5,
            "color": "#333333"
          },
          "marker_color": "#333333",
          "marker_gap_in_pt": 8.0
        },
        "table": {
          "header": {
            "background_color": "#333333",
            "text_color": "#FFFFFF",
            "font_size_in_pt": 11.0,
            "is_bold": true
          },
          "body": {
            "background_color": "#FFFFFF",
            "text_color": "#333333",
            "font_size_in_pt": 11.0
          },
          "border": {
            "outer": {
              "top": { "color": "#CCCCCC", "width_in_pt": 1.0 },
              "right": { "color": "#CCCCCC", "width_in_pt": 1.0 },
              "bottom": { "color": "#CCCCCC", "width_in_pt": 1.0 },
              "left": { "color": "#CCCCCC", "width_in_pt": 1.0 }
            },
            "inner": {
              "horizontal": { "color": "#EEEEEE", "width_in_pt": 0.5 },
              "vertical": { "color": "#EEEEEE", "width_in_pt": 0.5 }
            }
          }
        },
        "grid": {
          "background_color": "#FFFFFF",
          "border_color": "#CCCCCC",
          "border_width_in_pt": 0.0,
          "gap_in_pt": 12.0
        },
        "separator": {
          "color": "#CCCCCC",
          "thickness_in_pt": 1.0,
          "spacing_before_in_pt": 12.0,
          "spacing_after_in_pt": 12.0
        },
        "image": {
          "border_color": "#000000",
          "border_width_in_pt": 0.0
        }
      },
      "content": [
        { "type": "headline", "level": "h3", "text": "HORIZON ACADEMY" },
        { "type": "separator" },
        { "type": "headline", "level": "h1", "text": "Certificate of Completion" },
        { "type": "paragraph", "runs": [{ "text": "This certificate is proudly presented to" }] },
        { "type": "headline", "level": "h1", "text": "James Whitfield" },
        { "type": "paragraph", "runs": [{ "text": "for successfully completing the course" }] },
        { "type": "headline", "level": "h2", "text": "Advanced Data Engineering with Apache Spark" },
        { "type": "paragraph", "markdown": "Completed on **March 1, 2026** with a score of **94%** after 42 hours of coursework covering distributed data processing, pipeline orchestration, and performance optimization." },
        { "type": "separator" },
        { "type": "grid", "columns": [
          { "column_span": 4, "blocks": [
            { "type": "paragraph", "runs": [{ "text": "Certificate ID", "is_bold": true }] },
            { "type": "paragraph", "runs": [{ "text": "CERT-2026-ADE-07284" }] }
          ]},
          { "column_span": 4, "blocks": [
            { "type": "paragraph", "runs": [{ "text": "Issued By", "is_bold": true }] },
            { "type": "paragraph", "runs": [{ "text": "Dr. Elena Marchetti, Program Director" }] }
          ]},
          { "column_span": 4, "blocks": [
            {
              "type": "qr-code",
              "value": "https://verify.horizonacademy.com/cert/2026-ADE-07284",
              "width_in_pt": 80,
              "height_in_pt": 80,
              "fg_hex_color": "#000000",
              "bg_hex_color": "#FFFFFF"
            }
          ]}
        ]}
      ]
    }
  }'
Response
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "buffer": "JVBERi0xLjcKMSAwIG9iago8...",
    "mime_type": "application/pdf"
  }
}
Request
import { IterationLayer } from "iterationlayer";
const client = new IterationLayer({ apiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY" });

const result = await client.generateDocument({
  format: "pdf",
  document: {
    metadata: {
      title: "Certificate of Completion - Advanced Data Engineering",
      author: "Horizon Academy",
    },
    page: {
      size: { width_in_pt: 842, height_in_pt: 595 },
      margins: {
        top_in_pt: 60,
        right_in_pt: 72,
        bottom_in_pt: 60,
        left_in_pt: 72,
      },
    },
    styles: {
      text: {
        font_family: "Helvetica",
        font_size_in_pt: 11.0,
        line_height: 1.5,
        color: "#333333",
      },
      headline: {
        font_family: "Helvetica",
        font_size_in_pt: 24.0,
        color: "#111111",
        spacing_before_in_pt: 12.0,
        spacing_after_in_pt: 6.0,
        is_bold: true,
      },
      link: {
        color: "#0066CC",
        is_underlined: true,
      },
      list: {
        text_style: {
          font_family: "Helvetica",
          font_size_in_pt: 11.0,
          line_height: 1.5,
          color: "#333333",
        },
        marker_color: "#333333",
        marker_gap_in_pt: 8.0,
      },
      table: {
        header: {
          background_color: "#333333",
          text_color: "#FFFFFF",
          font_size_in_pt: 11.0,
          is_bold: true,
        },
        body: {
          background_color: "#FFFFFF",
          text_color: "#333333",
          font_size_in_pt: 11.0,
        },
        border: {
          outer: {
            top: { color: "#CCCCCC", width_in_pt: 1.0 },
            right: { color: "#CCCCCC", width_in_pt: 1.0 },
            bottom: { color: "#CCCCCC", width_in_pt: 1.0 },
            left: { color: "#CCCCCC", width_in_pt: 1.0 },
          },
          inner: {
            horizontal: { color: "#EEEEEE", width_in_pt: 0.5 },
            vertical: { color: "#EEEEEE", width_in_pt: 0.5 },
          },
        },
      },
      grid: {
        background_color: "#FFFFFF",
        border_color: "#CCCCCC",
        border_width_in_pt: 0.0,
        gap_in_pt: 12.0,
      },
      separator: {
        color: "#CCCCCC",
        thickness_in_pt: 1.0,
        spacing_before_in_pt: 12.0,
        spacing_after_in_pt: 12.0,
      },
      image: {
        border_color: "#000000",
        border_width_in_pt: 0.0,
      },
    },
    content: [
      { type: "headline", level: "h3", text: "HORIZON ACADEMY" },
      { type: "separator" },
      { type: "headline", level: "h1", text: "Certificate of Completion" },
      { type: "paragraph", runs: [{ text: "This certificate is proudly presented to" }] },
      { type: "headline", level: "h1", text: "James Whitfield" },
      { type: "paragraph", runs: [{ text: "for successfully completing the course" }] },
      { type: "headline", level: "h2", text: "Advanced Data Engineering with Apache Spark" },
      { type: "paragraph", markdown: "Completed on **March 1, 2026** with a score of **94%** after 42 hours of coursework covering distributed data processing, pipeline orchestration, and performance optimization." },
      { type: "separator" },
      { type: "grid", columns: [
        { column_span: 4, blocks: [
          { type: "paragraph", runs: [{ text: "Certificate ID", is_bold: true }] },
          { type: "paragraph", runs: [{ text: "CERT-2026-ADE-07284" }] },
        ]},
        { column_span: 4, blocks: [
          { type: "paragraph", runs: [{ text: "Issued By", is_bold: true }] },
          { type: "paragraph", runs: [{ text: "Dr. Elena Marchetti, Program Director" }] },
        ]},
        { column_span: 4, blocks: [
          {
            type: "qr-code",
            value: "https://verify.horizonacademy.com/cert/2026-ADE-07284",
            width_in_pt: 80,
            height_in_pt: 80,
            fg_hex_color: "#000000",
            bg_hex_color: "#FFFFFF",
          },
        ]},
      ]},
    ],
  },
});

console.log(result);
Response
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "buffer": "JVBERi0xLjcKMSAwIG9iago8...",
    "mime_type": "application/pdf"
  }
}
Request
from iterationlayer import IterationLayer
client = IterationLayer(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

result = client.generate_document(
    format="pdf",
    document={
        "metadata": {
            "title": "Certificate of Completion - Advanced Data Engineering",
            "author": "Horizon Academy",
        },
        "page": {
            "size": {"width_in_pt": 842, "height_in_pt": 595},
            "margins": {
                "top_in_pt": 60,
                "right_in_pt": 72,
                "bottom_in_pt": 60,
                "left_in_pt": 72,
            },
        },
        "styles": {
            "text": {
                "font_family": "Helvetica",
                "font_size_in_pt": 11.0,
                "line_height": 1.5,
                "color": "#333333",
            },
            "headline": {
                "font_family": "Helvetica",
                "font_size_in_pt": 24.0,
                "color": "#111111",
                "spacing_before_in_pt": 12.0,
                "spacing_after_in_pt": 6.0,
                "is_bold": True,
            },
            "link": {
                "color": "#0066CC",
                "is_underlined": True,
            },
            "list": {
                "text_style": {
                    "font_family": "Helvetica",
                    "font_size_in_pt": 11.0,
                    "line_height": 1.5,
                    "color": "#333333",
                },
                "marker_color": "#333333",
                "marker_gap_in_pt": 8.0,
            },
            "table": {
                "header": {
                    "background_color": "#333333",
                    "text_color": "#FFFFFF",
                    "font_size_in_pt": 11.0,
                    "is_bold": True,
                },
                "body": {
                    "background_color": "#FFFFFF",
                    "text_color": "#333333",
                    "font_size_in_pt": 11.0,
                },
                "border": {
                    "outer": {
                        "top": {"color": "#CCCCCC", "width_in_pt": 1.0},
                        "right": {"color": "#CCCCCC", "width_in_pt": 1.0},
                        "bottom": {"color": "#CCCCCC", "width_in_pt": 1.0},
                        "left": {"color": "#CCCCCC", "width_in_pt": 1.0},
                    },
                    "inner": {
                        "horizontal": {"color": "#EEEEEE", "width_in_pt": 0.5},
                        "vertical": {"color": "#EEEEEE", "width_in_pt": 0.5},
                    },
                },
            },
            "grid": {
                "background_color": "#FFFFFF",
                "border_color": "#CCCCCC",
                "border_width_in_pt": 0.0,
                "gap_in_pt": 12.0,
            },
            "separator": {
                "color": "#CCCCCC",
                "thickness_in_pt": 1.0,
                "spacing_before_in_pt": 12.0,
                "spacing_after_in_pt": 12.0,
            },
            "image": {
                "border_color": "#000000",
                "border_width_in_pt": 0.0,
            },
        },
        "content": [
            {"type": "headline", "level": "h3", "text": "HORIZON ACADEMY"},
            {"type": "separator"},
            {"type": "headline", "level": "h1", "text": "Certificate of Completion"},
            {"type": "paragraph", "runs": [{"text": "This certificate is proudly presented to"}]},
            {"type": "headline", "level": "h1", "text": "James Whitfield"},
            {"type": "paragraph", "runs": [{"text": "for successfully completing the course"}]},
            {"type": "headline", "level": "h2", "text": "Advanced Data Engineering with Apache Spark"},
            {"type": "paragraph", "markdown": "Completed on **March 1, 2026** with a score of **94%** after 42 hours of coursework covering distributed data processing, pipeline orchestration, and performance optimization."},
            {"type": "separator"},
            {"type": "grid", "columns": [
                {"column_span": 4, "blocks": [
                    {"type": "paragraph", "runs": [{"text": "Certificate ID", "is_bold": True}]},
                    {"type": "paragraph", "runs": [{"text": "CERT-2026-ADE-07284"}]},
                ]},
                {"column_span": 4, "blocks": [
                    {"type": "paragraph", "runs": [{"text": "Issued By", "is_bold": True}]},
                    {"type": "paragraph", "runs": [{"text": "Dr. Elena Marchetti, Program Director"}]},
                ]},
                {"column_span": 4, "blocks": [
                    {
                        "type": "qr-code",
                        "value": "https://verify.horizonacademy.com/cert/2026-ADE-07284",
                        "width_in_pt": 80,
                        "height_in_pt": 80,
                        "fg_hex_color": "#000000",
                        "bg_hex_color": "#FFFFFF",
                    },
                ]},
            ]},
        ],
    },
)

print(result)
Response
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "buffer": "JVBERi0xLjcKMSAwIG9iago8...",
    "mime_type": "application/pdf"
  }
}
Request
package main

import (
    "fmt"
    il "github.com/iterationlayer/sdk-go"
)

func main() {
    client := il.NewClient("YOUR_API_KEY")

    result, err := client.GenerateDocument(il.GenerateDocumentRequest{
        Format: "pdf",
        Document: il.DocumentDefinition{
            Metadata: il.DocumentMetadata{
                Title:  "Certificate of Completion - Advanced Data Engineering",
                Author: "Horizon Academy",
            },
            Page: il.PageConfig{
                Size:    il.PageSize{WidthInPt: 842, HeightInPt: 595},
                Margins: il.Margins{TopInPt: 60, RightInPt: 72, BottomInPt: 60, LeftInPt: 72},
            },
            Content: []il.ContentBlock{
                il.NewHeadlineBlock("h3", "HORIZON ACADEMY"),
                il.NewSeparatorBlock(),
                il.NewHeadlineBlock("h1", "Certificate of Completion"),
                il.ParagraphBlock{Type: "paragraph", Markdown: "This certificate is proudly presented to"},
                il.NewHeadlineBlock("h1", "James Whitfield"),
                il.ParagraphBlock{Type: "paragraph", Markdown: "for successfully completing the course"},
                il.NewHeadlineBlock("h2", "Advanced Data Engineering with Apache Spark"),
                il.ParagraphBlock{Type: "paragraph", Markdown: "Completed on **March 1, 2026** with a score of **94%** after 42 hours of coursework."},
                il.NewSeparatorBlock(),
                il.NewDocumentQrCodeBlock("https://verify.horizonacademy.com/cert/2026-ADE-07284", 80, 80),
            },
        },
    })
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    fmt.Println(result)
}
Response
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "buffer": "JVBERi0xLjcKMSAwIG9iago8...",
    "mime_type": "application/pdf"
  }
}

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