Placeholder Image API FreeNo signup

Generate placeholder images on the fly. Solid colors, gradients, avatars from initials, and design patterns. Returns PNG, JPG, or WebP. 60 req/min/IP. Try it →

Quick start

curl "https://forge-node.tail2b516d.ts.net/placeholder/600x400" --output out.png
curl "https://forge-node.tail2b516d.ts.net/placeholder/300/3498db/ffffff?text=Hello" --output hello.png
curl "https://forge-node.tail2b516d.ts.net/placeholder/avatar?name=Andras+Forge" --output me.png
curl "https://forge-node.tail2b516d.ts.net/placeholder/gradient?w=1200&h=628&color1=ec4899&color2=8b5cf6&text=Forge" --output og.png

Compatible-style endpoint

GET /placeholder/{spec}[/bg[/fg]]?text=...&format=png

Drop-in compatible with the placeholder.com URL grammar. spec is WIDTH or WIDTHxHEIGHT. Colors accept hex (with or without #) and named values. If text is omitted, the dimensions are rendered.

/placeholder/600
/placeholder/600x400
/placeholder/600x400/0f172a
/placeholder/600x400/0f172a/22d3ee
/placeholder/600x400/0f172a/22d3ee?text=Hello%20World&format=webp

Solid color

GET /placeholder/solid?w=...&h=...&bg=...&fg=...&text=...&font_size=...&format=...

Param	Default	Notes
w	600	16-4096
h	= w	16-4096
bg	cccccc	Hex (with/without #), `rgb(...)`, named (red, blue, slate, etc.)
fg	auto	Defaults to white or dark based on background luminance
text	WxH	Centered. Empty string = no text.
font_size	auto	Auto-fits if omitted
format	png	png, jpg, webp

Gradient

GET /placeholder/gradient?w=...&h=...&color1=...&color2=...&angle=135&text=...&format=...

angle is degrees. 0 = left to right, 90 = top to bottom, 135 = diagonal. Negative values rotate the other direction.

Avatar (initials from name)

GET /placeholder/avatar?name=...&size=256&rounded=true&bg=auto&fg=auto

Background color is deterministically derived from the name hash, so the same input always returns the same color (great for user avatars). Initials use first+last letter.

Pattern

GET /placeholder/pattern?w=...&h=...&type=stripes&fg=...&bg=...&scale=20

Patterns: stripes, dots, checker, grid. Useful for blog hero images and design mockups.

Random

GET /placeholder/random?w=...&h=...&text=...&seed=...

Random vibrant solid color. Pass seed for deterministic output (great for snapshot testing).

Helpers

GET /placeholder/colors -- JSON of named palette + supported patterns and formats

GET /health/placeholder -- service health

Limits

Dimensions: 16-4096 px each axis (avatar 16-1024)
Format: png (default), jpg, webp
Rate limit: 60 requests/minute/IP
Cache: 1 hour (Cache-Control: public, max-age=3600)

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