Insert Personalized Images in your Document Merge
Using images in your merged documents leads to better retention and engagement with your audience. To achieve our goal, we're going to use Google Sheets' built-in function called image().
In this article:
Set up Images
ⓘ Info: Supported image formats are PNG, GIF, and JPEG.
Images may be stored in Google Drive or externally (personal blogs, forums, commercial photo sites, ...).
In Google Slides
1. Create 2 new columns in your datasource. In our example, we labeled the headers as ImageURL and Images. Where:
ImageURL - URL where your images are uploaded or stored (column D).
Images - this contains the image() function that will reference your image’s URL column (column E).
2. Click cell E2 then type in =IMAGE(D2). Where D2 - is the cell of your image’s URL.
3. Copy the image() formula to the relevant rows.
4. Lastly, insert the {{image merge tag}} in your Google Slides.
ⓘ Info: The only placeholder that will work with {{image merge tags}} in Google Slides is the textbox.
Images will not be merged or displayed when the {{image merge tag}} is placed inside a table.
📌 Note: When using an {{image merge tag}}, make sure that only the header label of the image is written inside the textbox. Otherwise, the image won’t display at all (just its URL).
☝ Remember: On Adjusting the size of your image in Google Slides.
Right click on the image merge tag > Format options.
Adjust your {{image merge tag’s}} textbox size as desired (under the Size & Rotation panel).
Then check Lock aspect ratio.
Finally, click the Text fitting panel > select Do not autofit to keep your textboxes font size small and avoid spanning all over your slides.
Use the Concatenate() function to automate your link-generation.
💡 Tip: Having a hard time getting your Google Drive image URLs?
Use Folgo to easily generate and retrieve your image IDs in Google Drive.
Once your image IDs are generated by Folgo:
1. Enter this formula in cell D2 (under Column D - ImageURL) https://drive.google.com/uc?id=
2. Then add your image ID at the end 1abcWdefgFhiVYgWi5GUjklmn7kXeI-YZ (modified for demo).
Your full image URL should look similar to this:
https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1abcWdefgFhiVYgWi5GUjklmn7kXeI-YZ
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 to the relevant cells under Column D.
ⓘ Info: Use the Concatenate() function to automate your image-link generation.
You will immediately know that the URL you entered is correct
when you see an in-cell image generated by Google Sheets (cell E2).
In Google Docs
Follow steps 1 - 3 above in setting up your datasource.
4. Insert the {{image merge tag}} in your Google Docs.
💡 Tip: On Adjusting the size of your image in Google Docs.
Place your {{image merge tag}} inside a table. The image will automatically occupy the available vertical height while maintaining its aspect ratio. This method is recommended (but not mandatory).
Set up QR Codes
1. Create 2 new columns in your datasource. In our example, we labeled the headers as ImageURL and Images. Where:
ImageURL - URL where your images are uploaded or stored (column D).
Images - this contains the image() function that will reference your image’s URL column (column E).
2. Click cell E2 then enter
https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chs=200x200&cht=qr&chl=FirstName%20LastName%20kris@gmail.com
Where:
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 to the relevant cells under Column E.
ⓘ Info: Use the Concatenate() function to automate your image-link generation.
4. Insert the {{image merge tag}} in your Google Docs or Slides.
ⓘ Info: {{Image merge tags}} can be placed anywhere in your document (body, header, or footer). Just remember that since QR codes are generated as images, they will have Google Docs’ default padding, wrapping, and position. Adjust these properties as needed.