# API Keys

### 🚀 Getting Started: Navigating the Dashboard & Generating API Keys

Before making any image transformation requests to the ImageAura API, you need to authenticate using a valid **API Key**. This section will guide you through accessing your user portal and generating the appropriate key to start using the service.

#### 🧭 Accessing the User Portal

To begin:

1. Visit the **PichaX user portal**.
2. Log in using your registered account credentials.
3. Once logged in, navigate to the **Settings** page from the sidebar.
4. Click on **"API Keys"** in the settings menu.

> 💡 *You’ll land on the API Keys management page where you can create, view, or revoke your keys.*

#### 🔑 Creating an API Key

On the API Keys page:

* Click the **"Create API Key"** button.
* Choose the **type of key** you want to create:
  * **Development Key** – suitable for testing and local development. Supports both `http` and `https` requests. Transformations are watermarked. and are rate limited.
  * **Production Key** – designed for live environments. **Only supports `https` requests** for security reasons.
* Add an optional expiry date for the keys generated

After generation:

* Copy and store the key securely.
* Use the key in your API requests under the `key` query parameter.

<figure><img src="https://3934460169-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvKsBqmo1VdSh8MawoYjd%2Fuploads%2Fwn4vesuKX41vKzUoiJnC%2FScreenshot%202025-07-09%20at%2012.28.22%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=f2ab8431-b228-4fe0-b6fe-8a061c22ac8c" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>