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[n8n-template] Certification Creator & Checker with PDFgenerationAPI Templates

From a simple MVP to a reusable, production-ready workflow It was a real pleasure to connect with Michal Liska , Chief Operating Officer at PDF Generator API…

From a simple MVP to a reusable, production-ready workflow

It was a real pleasure to connect with Michal Liska, Chief Operating Officer at PDF Generator API by Actual Reports, and to see this project featured as a real-world example inside the n8n ecosystem.

What started as a simple MVP to automate certificate generation evolved into a reusable, template-based workflow that is now shared with the community. This article documents that evolution, explains how the system works, and shows how you can reuse it in your own environment.

👉 The full story from the PDF Generator API team is available here:
https://pdfgeneratorapi.com/blog/how-the-n8n-community-sparked-our-new-partnership-program

PDF Template–based Workflow

This template provides a complete and reusable solution to automatically create, distribute, and verify digital certificates using n8n, with PDF Generator API templates for PDF generation.

The workflow is designed to cover the entire lifecycle of a certificate, from the initial request to public verification, in a clean and maintainable way.

It is an MVP, but already fully functional, tested, and production-ready, and can be reused with minimal configuration in different environments.

Example-certificate

Visit my Github n8n templates: https://github.com/paoloronco/n8n-templates

See the workflow on n8n Creators hub: coming soon

What problem this template solves

In many real-world scenarios, certificates are still:

  • generated manually
  • created with fragile scripts
  • hard to verify
  • visually inconsistent
  • difficult to maintain over time

This template solves those problems by providing:

  • automated certificate creation
  • a unique and verifiable Certification ID
  • consistent PDF output using templates
  • a public verification endpoint
  • a clear separation between automation logic and visual design

🚀 What makes this version different

YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/eqSWoPndVUg

This workflow is the evolution of the original HTML-based version.

Why templates instead of HTML?

The repository includes:

  • a ready-to-use PDF Generator API template
  • placeholders such as:
    • {Candidate}
    • {CourseName}
    • {DueDate}
    • {ID}

You can freely customize:

  • layout
  • fonts
  • colors
  • logos
  • signatures
  • date formatting
  • QR codes

No workflow changes are required when updating the template.

🤖 AI-powered template editing (Gemini)

PDF Generator API provides an AI Gem powered by Gemini to help users create and refine templates.

👉 AI Gem link: https://gemini.google.com/gem/1RrpDHQocP7E7C7Bpsc7yhDT-AkuKNuT_?usp=sharing

You can:

  • describe the layout in natural language
  • generate or modify templates
  • iterate faster without manual positioning

🛠 Requirements

Before importing the workflow, you need:

  1. n8n instance (Cloud or self-hosted)
  2. n8n Data Table with fields:
    • Name (string)
    • Surname (string)
    • CertificationID (string)
  3. PDF Generator API account
  4. Gmail OAuth2 credentials
  5. Ability to call HTTP webhooks

🚀 Installation

1. Import the workflow

  • Go to n8n → Workflows → Import
  • Paste workflow.json

2. Configure Data Table

Update these nodes:

  • Insert_Certification
  • Find_Certification_By_ID
  • Find_Certification_By_ID1

3. Configure credentials

  • PDF Generator API node → set credentials
  • Gmail node → set OAuth2 credentials

4. Activate the workflow

Click Activate and you’re ready to go.

🧪 Status: MVP (but production-ready)

This project started as an MVP, but it is:

  • fully functional
  • tested
  • modular
  • easy to extend

You can use it for free, adapt it to your needs, and deploy it in production with minimal changes.

🌍 Why this matters

This repository demonstrates how:

  • low-code automation
  • clean API design
  • reusable templates
  • community-driven sharing

can produce real-world, production-grade solutions, not just demos.

📎 Links