Ad variations lets you take a ready-made ad you like and create new versions instead of starting over. You decide what to change and what to keep, so you can explore different creative directions while keeping the parts that already work.
You can use the builder in three helpful ways:
What you can do | How it works |
Vary elements | Keep the parts that work and generate new versions of selected text, visuals, colors, or other elements. |
Merge ads | Select two creatives and choose which elements Zeely should take from each one. |
Localize an ad | Translate or replace the text while keeping the visual design. |
The results work like regular Image ads, so you can edit them, upload them, launch them in campaigns, or use them to create more variations.
Here’s how to create your variations:
Log in to your Zeely account: https://app.zeely.ai/
In the left-hand menu, click Image ads, then select Ad variations.
Choose the image ad you want to work with.
You can drop an image into the upload area by clicking Drop or upload an image ad, or select an existing creative from Projects.
To do this, click the empty image field, select Projects in the window that opens, and then choose a product from All products. Uploaded files can be in WEBP, PNG, JPEG, JPG, or HEIC format and must be no larger than 10 MB.
Wait for Zeely to analyze the ad.
Analysis usually takes 30 to 60 seconds. Zeely looks over the creative and identifies editable parts such as text, background, objects, colors, font style, visual effects, and composition. The available elements will depend on what appears in your ad.
Choose Vary, Merge, or Localize, depending on what you want to create.
Use Vary to change selected elements in one creative while keeping the rest close to the original.
Use Merge to combine elements from two creatives. For example, you can use the visual from the first creative and the text from the second.
Use Localize to translate the text in a static creative while keeping its visual design.
Create new versions with Vary
Choose how many versions to create.
Under Number of variations, use the minus and plus buttons to set the number you need. You can create up to six variations in one run.
Choose what should change.
Click Elements to vary. Review the elements Zeely found, along with the description shown beneath each one. Then choose what should happen to every element:
Click the lock icon to keep it as it is.
Click Vary to create new versions of it.
Click the trash icon to remove it from the generated variations.
You can vary several elements in the same run. For example, you could change the Background, Color palette, and Composition while keeping the Main object and Brand product font unchanged.
Keeping an element locked is useful when it must remain consistent, such as your product, logo, or visual style.
Open an element marked Vary, then choose how the change should work:
Per variation: Give each result its own instruction.
Same for all: Apply one instruction to every result.
Depending on the element, you can enter exact text, write a prompt, upload a reference image, or select the sparkle icon to let Zeely decide.
Exact text: Enter the wording exactly as it should appear in the ad.
Prompt: Describe the change you want Zeely to make.
AI choice: Click the sparkle icon to let Zeely come up with a suitable change.
Upload an image: When working with a visual element, click the image icon inside the prompt field to add a reference image.
You can mix these options within the same set. For example, Zeely can choose three new backgrounds while following your specific prompt for the fourth.
The Variation brief on the right shows the selected changes for every result. Review it before generating and complete anything marked Missing. To clear all current selections, click Reset.
When everything looks right, click Generate. The button displays the credit cost before generation begins.
Alternatively, you can open Vary from Projects: click the three-dot menu on an existing image, then select Create variations. Then, choose Vary.
Combine two creatives with Merge
Select your source creatives
Open Merge.
Upload your first creative or select one from Projects. Then, repeat the process to add your second creative.
Wait while Zeely analyzes both images and identifies their elements. Analysis usually takes between 30 and 60 seconds. Do not close the tab during this process.
Once both images are marked Analyzed, click Merge setup.
Choose the source for each element. Zeely compares both creatives and lists the elements it detects. Depending on the images, these may include:
Brand product: Detected brand or product text.
Background: The setting behind the main subject.
Main object: The primary person, product, or subject.
Secondary objects: Supporting objects and visual details.
Color palette: The main colors used in the creative.
Brand product font: The font used for detected brand or product text.
Visual effects: Lighting, shadows, highlights, blur, and similar effects.
Graphic elements: Shapes, lines, frames, and other design details.
Composition: The framing, crop, placement, and overall arrangement.
The elements shown in Merge setup depend on what Zeely detects in your source creatives. For each element, choose:
#1 to use it from Original ad #1
#2 to use it from Original ad #2
Custom to ask AI to create a new version
Once the setup is complete, click Generate. Zeely uses your selections to create one new creative.
Good to know: Merge does not place one image on top of another. Zeely analyzes the elements in both sources and generates a new image from your selections, so the result may differ from the originals.
Replace or rearrange the source creatives
To swap the creatives between the two slots, clear one slot first, then select the source again in the position you want.
If you remove a creative, the element settings return to source #1. Add a new creative and wait for Zeely to analyze it before reviewing the setup again.
Important: You can select the same creative for both slots, and Zeely will not display a warning. Generating the result will still use credits, so check both sources before clicking Generate.
Alternatively, you can open Merge from Projects: click the three-dot menu on an existing image, then select Create variations > Merge. The image you selected becomes one of your source creatives.
Translate an ad with Localize
Your ad can speak any language. What's more, Zeely adjusts the position of the translated text to fit the same layout and creates a separate creative for every target language you select.
Open Localize.
Select an image from Projects or upload one from your device.
Wait while Zeely analyzes the image and identifies its text. Once the creative is marked Analyzed, review the language under Translate from.
Click Generate to see your ad speak a new language. The translated version will appear on the left.
Alternatively, you can translate your ad right from Projects: click the three-dot menu on an existing image, then select Create variations. Then, choose Localize.
You can localize:
a ready-made ad creative
an image created in Playground
your own uploaded image
a previous Ad variations result
Uploaded images must meet the following requirements:
Maximum file size: 10 MB
Supported formats: WEBP, PNG, JPEG, JPG, and HEIC
Videos and other nonstatic files aren’t supported just yet. No worries if you upload one by mistake. Zeely will let you know before deducting any credits.
Zeely automatically detects the language in the creative and displays it under Translate from.
If the detected language is incorrect:
Click Translate from.
Select the language used in the original creative.
Changing the source language also updates the languages available under Translate to.
Important: Localize translates the text in your creative, but it won’t fully adapt your ad to another country, culture, or market.
Ad variations is your creative playground. Remember how kids can spend hours playing with toys, finding new ways to use them? You can do the same with your ads.
Keep your product, text, and layout, but switch up the background. Or stick with the same visual style and try a fresh color palette. You decide what stays, what changes, and what gets a whole new look. That’s what it means to be a creator.
If you have any questions, contact our Support team at [email protected] or use the in-app chat. We'd be glad to help you in your creative journey.