How can I send binary image attachments correctly in an n8n webchat workflow?

Below is an overview of how you can send an image as a proper attachment in your webchat using n8n.

Key Steps

1. Retrieve the Image as Binary Data
   You mentioned that you already have an HTTP node that downloads the file. Ensure that the HTTP request returns binary data (check that the “Response Format” is set to “File” or “Binary”). This makes sure you get the exact data you need, along with metadata like the mime type.

2. Pass Along the Binary Data in the Workflow
   When using the AI Agent node to provide output in the chat, the response must have the right structure to render an image in your webchat. In many cases, this means ensuring that:

   • The binary data is attached to the message payload.
   • Metadata such as filename or mime type (e.g. image/png or image/jpeg) is correctly set.

3. Convert to an Attachment If Needed
   Depending on your webchat implementation, you might need to convert the binary into a Base64 encoded string. For instance, if your chat frontend accepts images via a data URI, you can use a Function node to convert the binary data like so:

   JSCopied
   // Assuming the binary data is in item.binary.image
   const binaryData = $item().binary.image.data;
   const mimeType = $item().binary.image.mimeType;
   const base64Data = Buffer.from(binaryData, 'base64').toString('base64');
   return {
     json: {
       attachment: `data:${mimeType};base64,${base64Data}`,
       message: "Here is your image:"
     }
   };

   Adjust the field names as needed according to how your workflow is structured.

4. Make Sure the Chat Frontend Understands the Attachment
   Whether you send the image as a binary attachment or as a data URI in your JSON message, verify that the chat component is designed to render images. Often the chat UI will check for a specific field (for example, attachment) to display binary content as an image.

Putting It Together

• After retrieving the binary file from Airtable via the HTTP node, pass the data into a Function node (or similar) to prepare the message payload.
• In that payload, include both the text and the binary (or the encoded data) along with correct metadata.
• When the payload reaches the Chat Trigger (or your custom chat workflow), the connected UI should render the image using the provided attachment field.

Final Thoughts

By ensuring that your workflow:

• Retrieves the binary data in the correct format,
• Converts or attaches it with the necessary information (mime type and filename), and
• Structures the outgoing payload in a way that your chat UI recognizes as an image,

you can deliver end-to-end image handling in your AI agent chat. Be sure to test the entire flow in your webchat component to validate that the image displays correctly.

Happy developing, and enjoy integrating these capabilities into your AI workflows with n8n!