AI Image Generation

--- name: AI Image Generation slug: image-generation version: 1.0.3 homepage: https://clawic.com/skills/image-generation description: Create AI images with GPT Image, Gemini Nano Banana, FLUX, Imagen, and top providers using prompt engineering, style control, and smart editing. changelog: Updated for 2026 with benchmark-backed model selection and clearer guidance for modern image generation stacks. metadata: {"clawdbot":{"emoji":"🎨","requires":{"bins":[],"env.optional":["OPENAI_API_KEY","GEMINI_API_KEY","BFL_API_KEY","GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT","REPLICATE_API_TOKEN","LEONARDO_API_KEY","IDEOGRAM_API_KEY"],"config":["~/image-generation/"]},"os":["linux","darwin","win32"]}} ---

Setup

On first use, read setup.md.

When to Use

User needs AI-generated visuals, edits, or consistent image sets. Use this skill to pick the right model, write stronger prompts, and avoid outdated model choices.

Architecture

User preferences persist in ~/image-generation/. See memory-template.md for setup.

~/image-generation/
├── memory.md      # Preferred providers, project context, winning recipes
└── history.md     # Optional generation log

Quick Reference

| Topic | File | |-------|------| | Initial setup | setup.md | | Memory template | memory-template.md | | Migration guide | migration.md | | Benchmark snapshots | benchmarks-2026.md | | Prompt techniques | prompting.md | | API handling | api-patterns.md | | GPT Image (OpenAI) | gpt-image.md | | Gemini and Imagen (Google) | gemini.md | | FLUX (Black Forest Labs) | flux.md | | Midjourney | midjourney.md | | Leonardo | leonardo.md | | Ideogram | ideogram.md | | Replicate | replicate.md | | Stable Diffusion | stable-diffusion.md |

Core Rules

1. Resolve aliases to official model IDs first

Community names shift quickly. Before calling an API, map the nickname to the provider model ID.

| Community label | Official model ID to try first | Notes | |-----------------|--------------------------------|-------| | Nano Banana | gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview | Common nickname, not an official Google model ID | | Nano Banana 2 / Pro | Verify provider docs | Usually a provider preset over Gemini image models | | GPT Image 1.5 | gpt-image-1.5 | Current OpenAI high-tier image model | | GPT Image mini / iMini | gpt-image-1-mini | Budget/faster OpenAI variant | | FLUX 2 Pro / Max | flux-pro / flux-ultra | Many platforms rename these SKUs |

2. Pick models by task, not by hype

| Task | First choice | Backup | |------|--------------|--------| | Exact text in image | gpt-image-1.5 | Ideogram | | Multi-turn edits | gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview | flux-kontext-pro | | Photoreal hero shots | imagen-4.0-ultra-generate-001 | flux-ultra | | Fast low-cost drafts | gpt-image-1-mini | imagen-4.0-fast-generate-001 | | Character/product consistency | flux-kontext-max | gpt-image-1.5 with references | | Local no-API workflows | flux-schnell | SDXL |

3. Use benchmark tables as dated snapshots

Benchmarks drift weekly. Use benchmarks-2026.md as a starting point, then recheck current rankings when quality is critical.

4. Draft cheap, finish expensive

Start with 1-4 low-cost drafts, pick one, then upscale or rerender only the winner.

5. Keep a fallback chain

If the preferred model is unavailable, fallback by tier: 1) same provider lower tier, 2) cross-provider equivalent, 3) local/open model.

6. Treat DALL-E as legacy

OpenAI lists DALL-E 2/3 as legacy. Do not use them as default for new projects.

Common Traps

• Using vendor nicknames as model IDs -> API errors and wasted retries
• Assuming "Nano Banana Pro" or "FLUX 2" are universal IDs -> provider mismatch
• Copying old DALL-E prompt habits -> weaker output vs modern GPT/Gemini image models
• Comparing text-to-image and image-editing scores as if they were the same benchmark
• Optimizing every draft at max quality -> cost spikes without quality gain

Security & Privacy

Data that leaves your machine:

• Prompt text
• Reference images when editing or style matching

Data that stays local:

• Provider preferences in ~/image-generation/memory.md
• Optional local history file

This skill does NOT:

• Store API keys
• Upload files outside chosen provider requests
• Persist generated images unless user asks to save them

External Endpoints

| Provider | Endpoint | Data Sent | Purpose | |----------|----------|-----------|---------| | OpenAI | api.openai.com | Prompt text, optional input images | GPT Image generation/editing | | Google Gemini API | generativelanguage.googleapis.com | Prompt text, optional input images | Gemini image generation/editing | | Google Vertex AI | aiplatform.googleapis.com | Prompt text, optional input images | Imagen 4 generation | | Black Forest Labs | api.bfl.ai | Prompt text, optional input images | FLUX generation/editing | | Replicate | api.replicate.com | Prompt text, optional input images | Hosted third-party image models | | Midjourney | discord.com | Prompt text | Midjourney generation via Discord workflows | | Leonardo | cloud.leonardo.ai | Prompt text, optional input images | Leonardo generation/editing | | Ideogram | api.ideogram.ai | Prompt text | Typography-focused image generation |

No other data is sent externally.

Migration

If upgrading from a previous version, read migration.md before updating local memory structure.

Trust

This skill may send prompts and reference images to third-party AI providers. Only install if you trust those providers with your content.

Related Skills

Install with clawhub install if user confirms:

• image-edit - Specialized inpainting, outpainting, and mask workflows
• video-generation - Convert image concepts into video pipelines
• colors - Build palettes for visual consistency across assets
• ffmpeg - Post-process image sequences and exports

Feedback

• If useful: clawhub star image-generation
• Stay updated: clawhub sync