Overview
Asset transformations in Frontify let you adapt assets to different channels and use cases at the moment of download. Instead of creating duplicates or editing files externally, you can transform assets directly in the platform — while keeping the original file intact.
This article focuses on in-platform asset transformations, available through the Frontify interface. Frontify also supports extensive transformations via its Media Processing API, which is documented separately.
What are asset transformations?
Asset transformations allow you to download assets in formats and sizes that fit your needs — without changing or duplicating the original file.
Depending on the asset, transformations may include:
Converting to alternative file formats
Resizing using predefined dimensions
Cropping images
Downloading predefined static renditions
Recoloring supported SVG icons using brand colors
Converting documents to PDF
These options help teams work faster while maintaining governance and brand consistency.
Asset transformation capabilities (at a glance)
Asset type | What users can do at download | What admins settings are available | Supported output formats |
Images (Media Library) |
|
| JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, HEIF |
Logos (Logo Library) |
|
| AVIF, HEIF, JPEG, PNG, WebP (in addition to original and static renditions) |
Icons (Icon Library) |
|
| AVIF, HEIF, JPEG, PNG, WebP, SVG (for recolored exports) |
Documents (Document Library) |
|
| PDF (All formats excluding .ai) |
Note:
All transformations are available in the unified download flow for single-asset downloads.
Currently not supported: Bulk downloads and video files.
At the moment, admins can define which sizes are available for image downloads, but they can’t restrict which file formats appear. All supported formats are always available.
Downloading and transforming an asset
Asset transformations are available when downloading single assets from Library pages (the DAM frontend, ie Libraries embedded in Guidelines).
How it works:
Open an asset on a Library page.
Click Download.
Choose Original file or Customize.
If you choose Customize, select:
One or more output file formats, and/or
A predefined size (if available)
Recolor (for icons)
Download the transformed asset.
Note:
Asset transformations are available for single-asset downloads. Bulk downloads always deliver the original files.
Transformations follow the same permission rules as downloads.
Admin configuration
Overview
Admins manage asset transformation behavior at library and at asset level.
Defining custom download sizes for images
Enabling or disabling cropping in the consumer view
Locking aspect ratios for cropped images
Admins can't currently restrict output file formats. All supported formats are always available during download.
Media library settings: Download sizes
Admins can define custom download sizes for images in the Media Library in 'Usage settings'. These sizes appear as preset options when users download an image. Sizes that are larger than the asset is automatically hidden.
Sizes are defined in pixels and can be tailored to common channels (e.g., social media, web banners).
On the bottom part of the appearing side panel, you find a section called ‘Add Download image size’. There, you’re able to predefine available download sizes for your assets which will ultimately be shown in the consumer view of your asset library.
Note that the width has to be documented in pixels.
When adding new download sizes you have to choose whether consumers can crop the asset based on:
Fit: Maintain the aspect ratio while scaling down to fit the desired dimensions.
Crop: Crop the image around it's focal point (default center) to achieve the desired dimensions. Requires both width and height to be set.
Please keep in consideration that some image formats such as tiff does not support resizes, one of the other supported file format would need to be selected.
Once you’ve predefined various export sizes, your brand consumers can simply export assets in the right format by choosing the respective download size.
Media library settings: Cropping images
Cropping lets users adjust an image before downloading it — without editing the original file. This can be enabled underneath the size settings in 'Usage settings' of a Media Library.
For detailed instructions, see Custom Crop & Focal Point.
Asset level settings: Download sizes
For each individual asset, you can select and deselect what sizes should be available for download. This does not currently exist for file formats, but is being considered.
Icon library settings: Download colors
For icon and logo libraries, you can predefine what colors an icon can be converted into upon download. This is done in the usage settings of the Library backend.
You can all colors under: Library settings ⟶ Usage settings ⟶ Icon settings ⟶ Assign downloadable colors.
Note: Recoloring is only possible for SVG and PNG files. If the user selects a file extension that does not support recoloring, the color will change back to the original icon color.
Logo library settings: Static renditions
In the Logo Library, admins can upload predefined static renditions of a logo directly to the logo asset. These renditions can be provided in multiple file formats and are made available to users as fixed download options.
Static renditions differ from asset transformations. This gives teams additional control and ensures that specific, approved logo versions are always available exactly as intended.
Good to know
Asset transformations don’t modify the original file stored in Frontify.
Transformed files are created on demand at download time.
Supported transformation options depend on asset type and library configuration.
Additional transformation capabilities may become available over time.
Bulk download of transformed assets is planned for H2 2026
Please be aware that if you're transforming an asset, the quality of it might change depending on it's size..






