CAROUSEL AD IMAGES
AI carousel ad images that read as one sequence, card by card
A carousel ad is a row of cards a person swipes through, so each image has to stand alone and also look like it belongs with the one before it. Meta's Ads Guide allows 2 to 10 cards and recommends square 1:1 cards for Facebook Feed carousels, while image-only carousels in Instagram Feed are recommended at 4:5. ImageQuarry suits that sequence work: you settle the first card, then ask for the next one in words while naming the backdrop, light and angle to carry over. Each card is a version you can compare against the others, and a weak card can be redone from an earlier step without touching the rest.
ImageQuarry does not assemble the carousel or publish card dimensions: download each card, check it against Meta's carousel spec for the placement, and build the ad in Meta's tools.
Last updated October 2026
Making a carousel, one card at a time
- 01
Fix the look on card one
Write the opening card in detail: the product, the surface, where the light comes from, the camera height. Or upload the hero photo you already use. Everything later inherits from this, so spend the most requests here.
- 02
Build each next card from the last
Select the card you like and ask for the next beat: the product in use, a detail, a second color. Repeat the consistent elements each time, such as "same linen backdrop, same light from the left", and compare the new version with its neighbors.
- 03
Line up the run and export
Put the chosen cards side by side in order and swap any that break the rhythm. Download them, crop each to the placement's recommended shape, and load them into the carousel in Ads Manager in the order you planned.
Carousel requests, card by card
A five card run for a ceramic mug brand, written as requests a person could type. They describe what to ask for, not finished cards.
Card 1: the hook
The first card decides whether anyone swipes. One clear object and a little curiosity work well.
Card 2: in use
The second card answers how it fits into a day. Keep the setting so the swipe feels continuous.
Card 3: the detail
A close crop shows the craft, the glaze or the stitching, that a wide shot hides.
Card 4: the range
Carousels are a natural way to show colorways. Branch from card one so the setup stays put and only the color changes.
Card 5: the payoff
The last card often carries the offer or a call to visit. Leave clear space for the words you will add in a design tool.
Story arc instead of products
A carousel can also walk through steps: before, during and after. Ask for the same scene at three moments.
Carousel ad rules from Meta
Two to ten cards
Meta's Ads Guide sets the number of carousel cards at 2 to 10 for both Facebook Feed and Instagram Feed carousel ads.
Square on Facebook Feed
For Facebook Feed carousels, Meta recommends a 1:1 ratio at least 1080 by 1080 pixels, JPG or PNG, up to 30MB per image, with a 3% aspect ratio tolerance.
Taller on Instagram when images only
For Instagram Feed carousels, Meta recommends 4:5 when the carousel contains only images, and 1:1 when it contains video.
Short text per card
On Facebook Feed carousels Meta suggests about 80 characters of primary text, a 20 character headline and an 18 character description per card, and a landing page URL is required.
Each card builds on the one you selected
A request builds on the version you picked instead of starting over, and you can say what to keep, like the backdrop and the light, then compare the new card with the last.
Organize the run in a project
Keep a campaign's cards together in a project and come back to them, with their prompts and history, when the next season's carousel starts.
A five card carousel storyboard
An editorial plan for a product carousel: the job of each card and the words to repeat so the run looks continuous.
| Card | Job in the sequence | Carry over from the card before |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop the scroll with one clear object | Sets the backdrop, light and camera height |
| 2 | Show it in use | Backdrop and light; add hands or a person |
| 3 | Prove the quality up close | Light direction; tighter crop |
| 4 | Show the range or the options | Backdrop, light and spacing; change color only |
| 5 | Close with the offer or next step | Backdrop and light; leave space for words |
What an AI carousel ad image is
An AI carousel ad image is one card in a swipeable ad sequence, made from a written description or by changing an uploaded photo, and planned to match the cards on either side of it. ImageQuarry keeps each card as a version, so the whole sequence can be compared and adjusted before you download it.
It is not a carousel builder: ImageQuarry does not order, link or publish the cards. The order, links and text are set in the ad platform.
Carousel ad image questions
How many cards should a carousel have?
Meta allows 2 to 10 cards. Many product stories fit in three to five, which keeps the run tight and gives each card a distinct job.
How do I keep cards looking consistent?
Repeat the same setup words in every request, such as the backdrop, the light direction and the camera height, and build each card from the previous chosen version. Compare neighbors side by side before you download.
Square or 4:5 for carousel cards?
Meta recommends 1:1 for Facebook Feed carousels and 4:5 for image-only Instagram Feed carousels. If you run both, ask for compositions with margin on all sides and crop each set separately.
Can one carousel show several products?
Yes. Hold the setting constant in each request and change only the product, or branch from the opening card for each item so every card starts from the same scene.
Does ImageQuarry build the carousel ad itself?
No. It makes and edits the card images. Card order, links, headlines and the upload happen in Meta's ad tools.
Do I need a paid plan to make carousel cards?
Yes, every image is made on a paid monthly plan: Starter at $9 per month with 100 image credits a month, or Pro at $29 per month with 300 image credits a month.
Related ad image formats
Sources
Checked October 20, 2026
Pricing
| ImageQuarry plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $9 per month | 100 image credits a month; optional metered overage at $0.12 per extra credit, off unless you turn it on |
| Pro | $29 per month | 300 image credits a month; optional metered overage at $0.09 per extra credit, off unless you turn it on |
Create an image. Edit it with words. Keep refining.
Set the first card. Build the rest from it.
Describe the opening image, ask for each next card in words that carry the same light and backdrop, and keep every card until the sequence reads as one.
Start creatingAlready have an account? Sign in