Use OTTO PPC's AI image generation to create Landscape, Square, Portrait, and Vertical image assets for your Performance Max campaigns — by writing a custom prompt, refining a generated result, attaching a reference image, or using your Brand Vault.
🖼️ Where AI Image Generation Appears in PMAX
The Generate with AI option is available inside any Performance Max (PMAX) campaign under Image Assets. It supports the four image formats required by Google Ads:
- Landscape — 1.91:1 ratio, used for display and banner placements
- Square — 1:1 ratio, suited for mobile and discovery feeds
- Portrait — 4:5 ratio, suited for mobile and social feeds
- Vertical — 9:16 ratio, used for YouTube Shorts and Google Discover Stories placements
To open the panel, go to your PMAX campaign in OTTO PPC, click Image Assets, select the image format you need, and click Generate with AI.
✏️ How to Write a Prompt for AI Image Generation
Your typed prompt is the AI's primary instruction. Be specific — describe the subject, setting, and visual style you want to see. The more concrete your description, the more targeted the output.
Steps:
- Open the Generate with AI panel for your chosen image format.
- Type your prompt in the prompt field. For example: "A professional woman reviewing analytics on a laptop in a modern, sunlit office — clean, minimal style."
- Click Generate.
- Review the image previews returned by the AI.
- Select the image you want and click Add to Assets to save the image to your campaign.
What happens next: The image is added to your Image Assets list for this format. Google Ads recommends uploading at least 3–5 images per format for optimal delivery.
Tips for stronger prompts:
- Lead with the main subject, then add the setting, then the mood or visual style.
- Use concrete descriptors — "bright natural light" rather than "nice lighting."
- Keep prompts action-focused; describe what you want rather than what to avoid.
Generated previews appear within a few seconds of clicking Generate.
🔁 How to Use the Refine Button on a Generated Image
The Refine button adjusts a selected generated image based on a new instruction — without regenerating from scratch. Use it when you like the overall composition but want to change a specific element such as color, background, or lighting.
Steps:
- Generate an initial image using a prompt (see the prompt section above).
- Select the image you want to adjust from the preview set.
- Click Refine.
- Enter your adjustment instruction — for example: "Change the background to white" or "Make the lighting warmer and softer."
- Click Apply.
The AI updates only the elements you described while preserving the rest of the image. The refined version appears alongside the original so you can compare before choosing. Click Add to Assets to save the image to your campaign.
📎 How to Attach a Reference Image for AI Generation
A reference image gives the AI a visual example — style, color palette, or composition — to draw from alongside your prompt. Use it when you have an existing asset whose visual style you want the generated output to match.
Steps:
- Open the Generate with AI panel.
- Click Attach Reference Image (or the image upload icon in the panel).
- Upload your reference file from your device (JPEG or PNG).
- Enter a prompt describing how the AI should use the reference — for example: "Generate a product lifestyle image in the same color palette and minimalist style as the reference."
- Click Generate.
The AI combines your prompt and reference image to shape the output. To remove the reference before generating, click the X on the uploaded thumbnail. Click Add to Assets to save the image to your campaign.
🏛️ How to Use Brand Vault for AI Image Generation
The Brand Vault stores your approved brand assets — logos, color palettes, and visual guidelines — so the AI can apply your brand identity automatically to every generated image. This eliminates re-uploading or re-describing brand elements each time you generate.
Steps:
- Open the Generate with AI panel inside your PMAX Image Assets section.
- Select Brand Vault from the panel options.
- Choose the brand profile you want to apply.
- Enter your image prompt as usual.
- Click Generate.
The AI applies your brand's colors and visual style to the generated image. If Brand Vault is not yet configured, go to Header (apps-grid icon) → More Features → Brand Vault to add your brand assets before using this option. Click Add to Assets to save the image to your campaign.
⚠️ Known issue: If you encounter an error when launching your PMAX campaign after adding image assets, this is a known issue currently being resolved. Refresh and retry, or contact support if the error persists.
🎯 You can now generate, refine, and brand-match PMAX image assets in all four formats directly inside OTTO PPC. To ensure every AI-generated image stays on-brand, keep your assets up to date in Header (apps-grid icon) → More Features → Brand Vault whenever your visual identity changes.