Whiteboard explainer

A hand-drawn whiteboard or sketch explaining the concept, with the idea diagrammed rather than photographed.

When to use it

For abstract products and complicated processes, especially B2B. A sketch signals "let me show you how this works" in a way a polished graphic does not.

The thing to get right

Any words in the sketch are composited rather than drawn by the model. Hand-lettering rendered by an image model is the least legible thing it produces.

The format at a glance

• Output: a still image ad.
• Structure: a single frame, with the copy composited on top.
• Family: Image ads.
• Recipe id: whiteboard_explainer, which is what you name when you ask for it by hand or from an agent.

Who writes the words in the sketch?

The app, after the drawing is rendered. Hand-lettering produced by an image model is the least legible thing it makes, so every word in the diagram is composited rather than drawn.

Related formats

Static, direct-response creative for the feed: the headline, the offer, the proof, the comparison. Every word on these is composited by the app after the picture is rendered, so the copy comes out exactly as written.

• UGC side-by-side: a split-screen UGC comparison of two real moments side by side (problem vs solution, or before and after in use)
• Native / organic post: an ad disguised as an organic native social post that blends into the feed with a low ad vibe
• Pattern-interrupt: a deliberate pattern interrupt that breaks the feed with an unexpected visual that forces a stop
• Annotated callouts: the product annotated with handwritten-style callout notes + arrows pointing at features
• Unexpected twist: a setup and subverted-expectation twist, where the headline flips what you assumed, paired with a reveal
• Lifestyle + stat overlay: a lifestyle photo with bold stat or number overlays, proof composed onto a real moment

The full catalog is on the creative recipes index.

Models that render it

This format is rendered by an image model, with the copy composited on top afterwards. GPT Image 2.5 is the default pick. The image models page compares the rest, including Seedream 4.5, GPT Image Mini and FLUX1.1 Ultra.

Hermoso plans and renders a whiteboard explainer from your brand rather than from a prompt you write, composites every on-screen word after the render so the copy comes out exact, and exposes the same format to an AI agent over MCP. How Hermoso renders a format covers all three.