Slides

Slides are a simple way to show several products, messages, or personalized moments in a single image - without relying on fragile interactive carousel code.

Highlights and Use Cases

• Combine 2-5 slides by default into a single animated GIF..
• Use uploaded artwork, externally hosted images, or supported pre-built NiftyImages as slides.
• Create product carousels, multi-message hero images, personalized recap experiences, promotional banners, and always-on sequences.
• Live NiftyImage slides can update at open, so personalized data, charts, weather, maps, and other supported content can stay current.
• Slideshows use a standard NiftyImages image URL and can be placed in campaigns like a normal image.

From Create New Image, choose Slides to begin building an animated GIF.

How it Works

1. Create a new Slideshow

From 'Create New Image', choose 'Slides'. Start by adding at least two slides. The output dimensions are initially based on the first image and can be adjusted within your account limits.

The Slides editor uses a visual workspace with a slide rail for adding, selecting, and reordering frames.

2. Choose what each slide displays

Each slide can come from one of three sources:

Choose an uploaded image, an external image URL, or a supported existing NiftyImage.

• Upload - PNG, JPG, or GIF.
• External URL - Point to an image hosted by your brand. NiftyImages downloads the image and fits it to the slideshow canvas.
• Select a NiftyImage - Use an existing supported NiftyImage, including Personalized Images, Charts, Barcodes, Calendars, Maps, and Weather-enabled Personalized Images.

Not every NiftyImage type can be used as a slide. Timers, A/B Split Tests, Polls, Scratchers, Social Signals, other Slideshows, Rule Sets, and legacy image types are not supported as slideshow frames.

3. Set timing, order, and looping

• Drag slides into the order you want them to play.
• Set a different display duration for each slide, from 0.1 to 10 seconds.
• Choose Loop Forever, or set a specific number of loops. A finite loop stops on the final frame.
• Use Fit to show the entire source image without upscaling smaller artwork, or Fill to cover the canvas and crop overflow.
• Choose a background color for letterboxed areas and for flattening transparency into the GIF.

* A best practice is to lead with the most important visual and finish with the call to action. (TIP: in email clients that do not accept animated GIFs, the first frame will show static)

4. Preview and save

Preview your animated slideshow before saving to check timing, personalization, and file size.

Static slideshows are saved as a GIF, while slideshows containing live NiftyImages update with current data when opened.

5. Add the Slideshow to your campaign

After saving, use the production image URL or image tag from the Slideshow details page and place it in your email or other supported campaign just as you would a standard image.

Using Live NiftyImages as Slides

Combine static images with live NiftyImages to create personalized, dynamic slideshows that update when opened.

Supported live slides include:

• Personalized Images
• Charts
• Weather
• Maps
• Calendars and Barcodes

Merge tags and other dynamic data automatically pass through to your live slides. If a live slide cannot load, it is simply skipped so the rest of the slideshow continues to work.

Common Use Cases

Compatibility and Tracking

• Slideshows render as animated GIFs in email clients that support GIF animation.
• Clients that do not animate GIFs gracefully fall back to the first frame, which is why the first slide should communicate the most important message.
• The Slideshow itself tracks opens and clicks like other NiftyImages. Live child images rendered inside it do not receive separate open counts.
• One click destination applies to the complete GIF.