Overview
Dynamic media services are a core part of the Frontify DAM. They power how assets are processed, optimized, and delivered across digital touchpoints — ensuring consistent quality and performance.
Assets are stored once in Frontify and delivered dynamically in the right format and quality for each use case, without creating or managing duplicates.
Note: Dynamic media services were formerly referred to as Media delivery. The new naming reflects a broader set of capabilities.
For technical implementation details, see the developer documentation for the Media Processing API.
What are Dynamic media services?
Dynamic media services are the set of capabilities that define how assets are processed, transformed, and delivered from Frontify to users, websites, applications, and integrations.
They include:
Media processing and delivery
Asset transformations
Smart CDN links
Together, these capabilities enable on-demand optimization and reliable delivery, while keeping assets governed from a single source of truth.
Core capabilities of Dynamic media services
1. Media processing and delivery
Media processing and delivery ensure that assets stored in Frontify are efficiently processed and distributed through a global Content Delivery Network (CDN).
This includes:
Automatic optimization of images, videos, and documents
Fast loading times through smart caching and global edge locations
Reliable delivery across platforms, devices, and regions
Consistent previews and asset handling throughout the DAM
Good to know:
Images maintain quality and adjust aspect ratio responsively across different screen sizes.
Document previews and delivery are supported, with capabilities varying by file type — including full navigation for PDFs.
For technical implementation details, see the developer documentation for the Media Processing API.
2. Asset processing and transformations
Dynamic media services support asset processing in two ways:
In the platform (UI): Users can transform assets when downloading them from Frontify, such as converting a file format or selecting a predefined size (where available). These transformations are applied at download time and don’t modify the original asset stored in the DAM. For details, see Asset transformations.
Via the API: Developers can generate asset variations dynamically by adding parameters to Frontify asset preview URLs (sometimes referred to as
previewUrlorgenericUrl). This supports common transformation needs such as resizing, cropping, and format changes — without creating predefined derivatives. The API also provides access to advanced features, including background removal, autofocus, and color filters. For full technical details, see the Media Processing API developer documentation.
Both in-platform downloads and API-based transformations are powered by the same dynamic media services infrastructure.
3. Smart CDN links
Dynamic media services provide intelligent CDN links that allow assets to be used outside the Frontify platform — for example, on websites, in apps, or via integrations.
Frontify supports:
Dynamic CDN links, which always deliver the latest approved version of an asset
Static CDN links, which always point to a fixed revision for compliance or archival needs
Both link types work seamlessly with media processing and delivery, allowing transformations like resizing or format optimization to be applied through the URL.
For more details, see CDN Links.
Benefits
Faster performance
Assets load quickly thanks to optimized processing, smart caching, and a global CDN.Consistent asset delivery
Static and dynamic CDN links help maintain brand consistency across all digital touchpoints.Simplified workflows
Assets can be delivered or downloaded in the required formats without manual resizing or duplication.Improved previews and collaboration
Full PDF previews make reviewing and collaborating on multi-page documents easier.Optimized formats by default
Assets are delivered in modern, performance-optimized formats such as WebP with automatic fallbacks for compatibility.
Things to be aware of
While Dynamic media services work seamlessly in most setups, the following scenarios may require attention:
Teams using static CDN links may need to update references if their delivery strategy changes.
Third-party integrations should be reviewed to ensure compatibility with asset transformations and delivery behavior.
Firewall or proxy restrictions may need adjustment if asset delivery is blocked by IT policies.
For guidance, refer to the Media delivery transition guide or the developer documentation.
Availability and pricing
Dynamic media services are core to the Frontify DAM and available as part of your Frontify subscription.
For high-traffic or advanced delivery use cases, pricing may vary based on usage. To learn more, reach out to your Customer Success Manager, who can help assess your setup and requirements.
Looking ahead
Dynamic media services continue to evolve and may include additional capabilities over time — expanding how assets are processed, transformed, and delivered from Frontify.