---
title: About custom images
description: To develop customized Docker images, start with ForgeOps-provided images. Then, build your configuration profile iteratively as you customize the platform to meet your needs. Building Docker images from time to time integrates your custom configuration profile into new Docker images.
component: forgeops
version: 7.5
page_id: forgeops:customize:custom-images
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/forgeops/2026.3/customize/custom-images.html
llms_txt: https://docs.pingidentity.com/forgeops/llms.txt
docs_for_agents: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/docs-for-agents.md
keywords: ["CDK", "Docker"]
superseded_by: https://docs.pingidentity.com/forgeops/2026.3/customize/custom-images.html
section_ids:
  in_development: In development
  in_production: In production
  next_step: Next step
---

# About custom images

## In development

To develop customized Docker images, start with ForgeOps-provided images. Then, build your configuration profile iteratively as you customize the platform to meet your needs. Building Docker images from time to time integrates your custom configuration profile into new Docker images.

To develop a customized DS Docker image, refer to [`ds` image](ds.html).

To develop a customized AM Docker image, refer to [`am` image](am.html).

To develop a customized IDM Docker image, refer to [`idm` image](idm.html).

![Brief overview of containers for developers.](_images/containerization-dev.svg)

## In production

Before you deploy the platform in production, you can build your own base images and integrate your configuration profiles into them.

Learn more about how to create Docker images for production deployment of the platform in [Base Docker images](../prepare/base-docker-images.html).

![Brief overview of containers used in production.](_images/containerization-prod.svg)

## Next step

* [icon: check-square-o, set=fa][Perform additional setup](setup.html)

* [icon: check-square-o, set=fa][Understand custom images](custom-images.html)

* [icon: square-o, set=fa]*[Customize the DS image](ds.html)*

* [icon: square-o, set=fa][Understand AM and IDM configuration](fr-data.html)

* [icon: square-o, set=fa][Understand property value substitution](value-substitution.html)

* [icon: square-o, set=fa][Customize the AM image](am.html)

* [icon: square-o, set=fa][Customize the IDM image](idm.html)