> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://agenticadvertisingorg-snap-format-preview-links.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Implementing Creative Agents

This guide explains how to implement a creative agent that defines and manages creative formats.

## What is a Creative Agent?

A creative agent is a service that:

* **Defines formats** - Specifies what assets are required and how they should be structured
* **Validates manifests** - Ensures creative manifests meet format requirements
* **Generates previews** - Shows how creatives will render
* **Builds creatives** (optional) - Generates manifests from natural language briefs

Creative agents are independent of sales agents. A third-party creative agency, ad tech platform, or publisher can implement a creative agent to serve multiple buyers and publishers.

## Core Requirements

### 1. Format ID Namespacing

Every format you define must use namespaced format IDs to prevent conflicts.

**Pattern:** `{domain}:{format_id}`

**Examples:**

* `creative.adcontextprotocol.org:display_300x250`
* `youragency.com:video_story_15s`
* `brandstudio.com:interactive_carousel`

**Rules:**

* Domain must match your agent's domain
* Format ID portion should be descriptive and unique within your namespace
* Use lowercase with underscores for consistency

### 2. Format Validation

When formats reference your agent\_url, you are the authority for:

* Format specifications
* Asset validation rules
* Technical requirements
* Preview generation

**Format definition example:**

```json theme={null}
{
  "format_id": {
    "agent_url": "https://youragency.com",
    "id": "story_sequence_5frame"
  },
  "name": "5-Frame Story Sequence",
  "type": "display",
  "min_frames": 5,
  "max_frames": 5,
  "frame_schema": {
    "assets": [
      {
        "asset_type": "image",
        "asset_role": "frame_image",
        "required": true,
        "requirements": {
          "width": 1080,
          "height": 1920,
          "file_types": ["jpg", "png", "webp"],
          "max_file_size_kb": 500
        }
      },
      {
        "asset_type": "text",
        "asset_role": "caption",
        "required": false,
        "requirements": {
          "max_length": 100
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  "global_assets": [
    {
      "asset_type": "image",
      "asset_role": "brand_logo",
      "required": true,
      "requirements": {
        "width": 200,
        "height": 200,
        "transparency_required": true
      }
    }
  ]
}
```

## Required Tasks

Creative agents must implement these two tasks:

### list\_creative\_formats

Return all formats your agent defines. This is how buyers discover what creative formats you support.

**Key responsibilities:**

* Return complete format definitions with all `assets_required`
* Include your `agent_url` in each format
* Use proper namespacing for `format_id` values

See [list\_creative\_formats task reference](/dist/docs/2.5.3/creative/task-reference/list_creative_formats) for complete API specification.

### preview\_creative

Generate a visual preview showing how a creative manifest will render in your format.

**Key responsibilities:**

* Validate manifest against format requirements
* Return validation errors if manifest is invalid
* Generate visual representation (URL, image, or HTML)
* Preview should be accessible for at least 24 hours

See [preview\_creative task reference](/dist/docs/2.5.3/creative/task-reference/preview_creative) for complete API specification.

## Optional Tasks

### build\_creative

Generate a creative manifest from a natural language brief. This enables AI-powered creative generation workflows.

**Key responsibilities:**

* Parse natural language brief
* Generate or source appropriate assets
* Return valid manifest for your format
* Optionally return preview URL

See [build\_creative task reference](/dist/docs/2.5.3/creative/task-reference/build_creative) for complete API specification.

## Validation Best Practices

### Manifest Validation

When validating manifests:

1. **Check format\_id** - Ensure it references your agent
2. **Validate required assets** - All required assets must be present
3. **Check asset types** - Assets must match specified types
4. **Validate requirements** - Dimensions, file types, sizes, etc.
5. **URL accessibility** - Verify asset URLs are accessible (optional but recommended)

**Example validation errors:**

```json theme={null}
{
  "status": "error",
  "error": "validation_failed",
  "validation_errors": [
    {
      "asset_id": "frame_1_image",
      "error": "missing_required_asset",
      "message": "Required asset 'frame_1_image' is missing"
    },
    {
      "asset_id": "brand_logo",
      "error": "invalid_dimensions",
      "message": "Logo must be 200x200px, got 150x150px"
    }
  ]
}
```

### Format Evolution

When updating format definitions:

* **Additive changes** (new optional assets) are safe
* **Breaking changes** (removing assets, changing requirements) require new format\_id
* Consider versioning: `youragency.com:format_name_v2`
* Maintain backward compatibility when possible

## Deployment Checklist

Before launching your creative agent:

* [ ] MCP and/or A2A endpoints are accessible
* [ ] All format\_ids use proper namespacing (`domain:id`)
* [ ] Domain in format\_id matches your `agent_url` domain
* [ ] `list_creative_formats` returns all your formats
* [ ] `preview_creative` validates manifests and generates previews
* [ ] Format definitions include complete asset requirements
* [ ] Documentation available for your custom formats

## Integration Patterns

### Pattern 1: Creative Agency

You're a creative agency building custom formats for brands:

```json theme={null}
{
  "format_id": {
    "agent_url": "https://brandstudio.com",
    "id": "hero_video_package"
  },
  "name": "Hero Video Package",
  "type": "video",
  "description": "Premium video creative with multiple aspect ratios",
  "assets_required": [
    {"asset_role": "hero_video_16x9", ...},
    {"asset_role": "hero_video_9x16", ...},
    {"asset_role": "hero_video_1x1", ...}
  ]
}
```

### Pattern 2: Platform-Specific Formats

You're a platform defining specialized formats:

```json theme={null}
{
  "format_id": {
    "agent_url": "https://platform.com",
    "id": "interactive_quiz"
  },
  "name": "Interactive Quiz Ad",
  "type": "rich_media",
  "description": "Engagement-driven quiz format",
  "assets_required": [
    {"asset_role": "question_1", "asset_type": "text", ...},
    {"asset_role": "answer_1a", "asset_type": "text", ...},
    // ... quiz structure
  ]
}
```

### Pattern 3: Format Extension Service

You provide enhanced versions of standard formats:

```json theme={null}
{
  "format_id": {
    "agent_url": "https://enhanced.com",
    "id": "video_30s_optimized"
  },
  "name": "Optimized 30s Video",
  "type": "video",
  "extends": "creative.adcontextprotocol.org:video_30s",
  "description": "Standard 30s video with automatic optimization",
  "assets_required": [
    // Same requirements as standard format
  ],
  "enhancements": {
    "auto_transcode": true,
    "quality_optimization": true,
    "format_variants": ["mp4", "webm", "hls"]
  }
}
```

## Related Documentation

* [Creative Formats](/dist/docs/2.5.3/creative/formats) - Understanding format structure
* [Creative Manifests](/dist/docs/2.5.3/creative/creative-manifests) - How manifests work
* [Asset Types](/dist/docs/2.5.3/creative/asset-types) - Asset specifications
* [list\_creative\_formats Task](/dist/docs/2.5.3/creative/task-reference/list_creative_formats) - API reference
* [preview\_creative Task](/dist/docs/2.5.3/creative/task-reference/preview_creative) - API reference
* [build\_creative Task](/dist/docs/2.5.3/creative/task-reference/build_creative) - API reference