AI Image Creator

Generate PNG images via multiple AI models, routed through Cloudflare AI Gateway BYOK or directly via OpenRouter/Google AI Studio.

Model Selection

When the user mentions a model keyword in their image request, use the corresponding --model flag:

Models from seedream down to recraft-flash (except gpt5.4) use the OpenRouter Images API (/v1/images). Each accepts only the -a/-s/--quality/-r options it supports, and the script rejects anything else before calling the API. Run --list-models to see each model's limits.

Cost and time are real OpenRouter charges and end-to-end times (through the Cloudflare gateway) at default settings. They come from the Claude Opus robot benchmark, one sample per model on 2026-09-28. geminipro, riverflow, flux2 and gpt5.4 were not benchmarked; their figures are list prices or earlier cost-log values. For per-model output format, resolution and quality notes, read references/model-benchmarks.md. Re-run the benchmark with the ai-image-test-run skill.

Instructions

Routing check: If the user asks to describe, analyze, or explain an existing image (not generate a new one), skip directly to the Image Analysis (--analyze) section below. No prompt enhancement or output path needed.

Video routing: If the user asks to describe, analyze, or explain a video (or wants a text description of a clip to seed/extend a video prompt), skip directly to the Video Analysis (--analyze-video) section below.

Step 1: Write Prompt

For long or complex prompts (recommended), write to ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/tmp/prompt.txt using the Write tool:

Write prompt text to ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/tmp/prompt.txt

For short prompts (under 200 chars, no special characters), pass inline via --prompt.

CRITICAL — Prompt Quality Tips:

• Be detailed and descriptive. Include style, colors, composition, background, and intended use.
• Good: "A flat-design globe icon with vertical timezone band lines in blue and teal, white background, clean vector style, suitable for a web app at 512x512 pixels"
• Bad: "globe icon"
• Specify "transparent background" or "white background" explicitly.
• For icons, mention the target size (e.g., "512x512", "favicon at 32x32").
• For photos, describe lighting, camera angle, and mood.

Step 1.5: Prompt Enhancement (Optional — Progressive Disclosure)

Professional prompt patterns are available in 3 reference files. These are not loaded by default — only read them when the user's request matches a category or they explicitly ask for enhancement.

Category Detection — Match the user's request to a category:

When to skip enhancement:

• User's prompt is already detailed (150+ words with camera/lighting/composition specifics)
• Simple/direct requests ("generate a blue circle on white background")
• User says "no pattern" or provides a fully formed prompt

When to apply:

• User says "use product_hero pattern" or "apply social_media pattern" (explicit)
• Request clearly matches a category above (auto-detect)
• User asks for "enhanced prompt" or "professional quality"

Reference files (in references/ directory):

• prompt-core.md — Foundational rules: narrative prompting, camera/lens/lighting specs, text rendering rules, model recommendations
• prompt-platforms.md — Social media ratios, IAB ad sizes, web dimensions, POD specs — all mapped to -a/-s flags
• prompt-categories.md — 11 category formulas with templates and complete example prompts

Step 2: Run Generation Script

uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  -o "OUTPUT_PATH" \
  [--provider openrouter|google] \
  [-a "16:9"] \
  [-s "2K"] \
  [-m "model-id"] \
  [-r "ref-image.png"] \
  [--quality "high"] \
  [-t]

With a specific model:

uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  -o "OUTPUT_PATH" \
  -m riverflow \
  -p "A serene mountain lake at sunset"

With transparent background (requires ffmpeg + imagemagick):

uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  -o "mascot.png" \
  -t \
  -p "A friendly robot mascot character"

With reference image for editing/style transfer (see Reference Images for which models accept -r):

uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  -o "edited.png" \
  -r "original.png" \
  -p "Change the background to a sunset scene"

Or with inline prompt (default model):

uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  -o "OUTPUT_PATH" \
  -p "A simple blue circle on white background"

Step 3: Clean Up (if temp file used)

rm -f ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/tmp/prompt.txt

Step 4: Verify Output

file OUTPUT_PATH

Confirm it shows "PNG image data" and report the file path and size to the user.

Step 5: Post-Processing (optional)

If the user needs resizing, format conversion, or other manipulation, first detect available image tools, then use them. See Image Tools section below.

Parameters

Environment Variables

Gateway mode activates when all 3 CF_* vars are set. Falls back to direct mode if gateway fails.

For first-time setup, see references/setup-guide.md.

Transparent Mode (-t)

Generates images with transparent backgrounds using a 3-step pipeline:

1. Green screen generation — Prompt is augmented to place subject on solid #00FF00 green
2. FFmpeg chroma key — Removes green background + green fringe from edges
3. ImageMagick auto-crop — Trims transparent padding

Requirements: brew install ffmpeg imagemagick

Native transparency: With -m gpt-sunburst or -m gpt-flare, -t sends background: transparent to the Images API instead. The model renders the alpha channel directly: there is no green-screen prompt, no chroma key and no ffmpeg/imagemagick requirement. Output must still be PNG or WebP.

Use cases: Game sprites, icons, logos, mascots, marketing assets with transparency.

uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  -o "sprite.png" -t -p "A pixel art treasure chest"

Reference Images (-r)

Send existing images alongside text prompts for editing, style transfer, or guided generation. Supports multiple references, up to each model's limit:

# Edit an existing image
uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  -o "edited.png" -r "photo.png" -p "Make the background white"

# Style transfer with multiple references
uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  -o "combined.png" -r "style1.png" -r "content.png" -p "Apply the style of the first image to the second"

Supported formats: PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF.

Image Analysis (--analyze)

Describe, analyze, or explain existing images using multimodal AI vision. Returns text-only output (no image generated). Multimodal chat models only (gemini, gemini-lite, geminipro, gpt5.4). Images-API models output images only and are rejected.

No -o output path needed. No prompt enhancement needed. The script outputs JSON to stdout with the model's analysis in the analysis field.

# Analyze with default prompt (describes subject, style, colors, composition, mood, text)
uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  --analyze -r "photo.png"

# Analyze with custom prompt
uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  --analyze -r "photo.png" -p "Describe this image in plain text and also in JSON structured output"

# Analyze with a specific model
uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  --analyze -r "photo.png" -m gpt5.4 -p "What text is visible in this image?"

# Analyze multiple images together
uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  --analyze -r "before.png" -r "after.png" -p "Compare these two images and describe the differences"

JSON output format:

{"ok": true, "analyze": true, "analysis": "<model text>", "provider": "openrouter", "model": "...", "mode": "gateway", "elapsed_seconds": 3.2, "ref_images": 1}

Incompatible flags: --analyze cannot be combined with -t, -a, or -s. (-o is accepted but ignored in analyze mode, which returns text only.)

For advanced analysis prompt patterns (structured output, comparison, targeted analysis), read references/analyze-reference.md.

Video Analysis (--analyze-video)

Describe or analyze a video using OpenRouter video-input LLMs (no image generated). Use this to turn an existing clip into a description you can feed back as a prompt to generate or extend a video (e.g. with the ai-video-creator skill).

Structured JSON is the default. All 15 video models support strict structured outputs (response_format json_schema, verified), so by default analysis is a structured object with these fields: summary, setting, subjects[] (each with role/appearance/confidence), shot_timeline[] (timestamp/action/camera), camera_techniques[], editing_stylization[], lighting, color_palette[], mood, uncertain_details[], and a distilled video_generation_prompt. The editing_stylization and uncertain_details fields specifically counter the two main failure modes (missed freeze-frame/black-and-white stylization, and confabulated details). Pass --prose for a free-text description instead. The envelope's structured field is true when JSON parsed cleanly.

Pass the video via -r — either a local file (mp4/mov/webm/mkv/avi; sent as a base64 data URL) or a URL (publicly accessible, including YouTube). OpenRouter only; no -o, prompt enhancement, or output path needed.

Model selection (-m) — three presets cover the common cases; or pick any model by keyword (see --list-models):

All 15 video-capable models are selectable by keyword: qwen3.5-flash, seed-1.6-flash, seed-2.0-mini, mimo, qwen3.6-35b, qwen3.6-flash, step-3.7-flash, gemini3-flash-lite, seed-2.0-lite, seed-1.6, qwen3.5-plus, minimax-m3, qwen3.6-plus, gemini3.5-flash, gemini3-pro (cheapest → priciest). Run --list-models for IDs and per-1M-token pricing.

Bare family names are not keywords. -m gemini, -m seed, or -m qwen (the image-model families) are not valid --analyze-video selectors and error with "unknown video model". Use a preset (video-default/video-cheap/video-quality) or a full keyword from the list above (e.g. gemini3.5-flash, seed-1.6-flash).

# Default model (gemini3.5-flash), structured JSON output
uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  --analyze-video -r "clip.mp4"

# Free-text prose instead of JSON
uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  --analyze-video -r "clip.mp4" --prose

# Rock-bottom cost preset
uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  --analyze-video -r "clip.mp4" -m video-cheap

# Highest-accuracy preset on a YouTube URL with a custom focus
uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  --analyze-video -r "https://youtu.be/VIDEO_ID" -m video-quality \
  -p "Focus on camera movement and lighting"

JSON output format (default — analysis is a structured object):

{"ok": true, "analyze": true, "analyze_video": true, "structured": true, "analysis": {"summary": "...", "setting": "...", "subjects": [{"role": "protagonist", "appearance": "...", "confidence": "high"}], "shot_timeline": [{"timestamp": "0:00", "action": "...", "camera": "..."}], "camera_techniques": ["..."], "editing_stylization": ["monochrome freeze-frame", "..."], "lighting": "...", "color_palette": ["..."], "mood": "...", "uncertain_details": ["..."], "video_generation_prompt": "..."}, "provider": "openrouter", "model": "google/gemini-3.5-flash", "mode": "gateway", "elapsed_seconds": 16.9, "video_source": "clip.mp4"}

With --prose, analysis is a plain text string and structured is false.

Frame grounding (--contact-sheet, --verify)

The model samples its own frames internally, but it can still slip a confabulation into a single shot (e.g. a "golden glowing eye" in the final beat that isn't there). Two opt-in, local-file-only aids ground the analysis against real pixels using ffmpeg-extracted keyframes:

• --contact-sheet PATH — extracts ~12 evenly-spaced keyframes (always including first and last; capped uniform sampling, not scene-detect) and tiles them into one labeled image at PATH. This is the highest-leverage aid: a human (or you) can eyeball the whole clip at a glance to sanity-check the description. Built with ImageMagick montage (timestamp labels) or, if absent, ffmpeg's tile filter. The path is echoed back as contact_sheet in the JSON envelope.
• --verify — runs a cheap second pass that sends the contact sheet + a few full keyframes (with timestamps) and the pass-1 analysis back to the same model, and asks it to classify each claim supported / contradicted / not_visible strictly from the frames. The video is not re-sent (that would just re-confabulate from the same pixels), and undiscernible details stay not_visible rather than being "resolved" into a guess. Adds a verification object: {claims[]{claim,verdict,evidence}, corrections[], overall_accuracy}.

Both are skipped with a warning (never a hard error) for URL/YouTube sources or if ffmpeg is missing — the analysis itself always proceeds. Extracted frames go to a temp dir that is cleaned up automatically; only the --contact-sheet image is kept.

# Save a ground-truth contact sheet alongside the analysis, and verify the claims
uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py \
  --analyze-video -r "clip.mp4" \
  --contact-sheet "exports/clip_frames.png" --verify

Notes:

• Incompatible flags: cannot be combined with --analyze, -t, -a, or -s, and requires --provider openrouter.
• Large local files (>20 MB) trigger a warning — base64 payloads can be slow or rejected; prefer a hosted/YouTube URL or a shorter/lower-res clip.
• Context limits: Seed/Step models cap at ~256K tokens (fine for short clips); the 1M-context models (Qwen, Gemini, MiMo, MiniMax) are safer for longer footage.

Cost Tracking (--costs)

Every generation is logged to .ai-image-creator/costs.json in your project directory. View history:

uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/generate-image.py --costs

Shows per-model breakdown: generation count, total tokens, elapsed time, and recent entries. Security: Only non-sensitive data is logged (model, tokens, timing, file path). No API keys or credentials are ever stored.

Token totals may under-count. OpenRouter image-generation responses (and Cloudflare-gateway responses) often omit the usage block, so those entries log 0 tokens. Elapsed time and generation counts are always accurate; treat token totals as best-effort.

Consider adding .ai-image-creator/ to your .gitignore.

Composite Banners

Generate consistent logo banners across multiple sizes from a JSON config. Uses ImageMagick for offline compositing — no API calls, no network required. Composites an existing logo/mark onto branded backgrounds with text at standard dimensions.

Composite vs. AI Generation — Decision Rule

Use composite-banners.py when ALL of these are true:

• User has an existing logo/mark they want to use as-is (provides or references a logo file)
• User wants consistent branding across multiple standard sizes (not one creative image)
• The output is logo + text on a solid/gradient background (not a photograph, illustration, or creative design)

Use generate-image.py (AI generation) when ANY of these are true:

• User wants a creative/artistic banner design (describes a scene, mood, concept, or style)
• User wants AI to design the visual content (product shots, illustrations, creative layouts)
• User wants a single banner with artistic content, not a multi-size brand kit

When composite mode applies, read references/composite-reference.md for full config schema, preset dimensions, and font handling details.

Quick Start

1. Init config: uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/composite-banners.py --init
2. Edit banner-config.json — set logo path, brand text, colors, banner sizes
3. Validate: uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/composite-banners.py --validate
4. Generate: uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/composite-banners.py -c banner-config.json -o ./banners/

Composite Parameters

Requirements: ImageMagick 7 (brew install imagemagick or apt install imagemagick).

Workflow Hints

Starting composite mode:

• Ask user for: logo file path, brand name, tagline text, brand colors (hex)
• If user doesn't have a logo yet → use generate-image.py to create one first
• Run --init to scaffold config, then help user fill in their brand values

During generation:

• Always run --validate before generating to catch font/logo issues early
• Use --name to iterate on one banner before generating the full set
• Show user 3-4 representative sizes (hero, OG, square, leaderboard) for approval

After generation:

• If user wants creative/artistic redesign of banner visuals → switch to generate-image.py (composite only does logo + text on gradient/solid backgrounds)
• If banners look too plain → suggest AI-generating a textured or photographic background first, then compositing the logo onto it

Combined workflow (most powerful):

1. Use generate-image.py to AI-create a hero background or textured pattern
2. Use composite-banners.py to overlay the logo + text onto that background at all standard sizes This gives both creative AI visuals AND pixel-perfect logo consistency.

Image Tools

On first invocation, detect available image manipulation tools:

which magick convert sips ffmpeg 2>/dev/null

Available Tools

Common Post-Processing

# Resize
magick output.png -resize 512x512 icon-512.png

# Multiple sizes (icons)
for s in 16 32 48 64 128 256 512; do magick output.png -resize ${s}x${s} icon-${s}.png; done

# Convert to WebP
magick output.png output.webp

# Maskable icon (add safe-zone padding)
magick output.png -gravity center -extent 120%x120% maskable.png

# macOS sips resize
sips --resampleWidth 512 --resampleHeight 512 output.png --out icon-512.png

CRITICAL: Check tool availability before using. Prefer magick (IM7) over convert (IM6). If no tools found, inform user: brew install imagemagick.

Common Issues

"No API credentials configured"

Cause: Environment variables not set or not exported. Fix: Add exports to ~/.zshrc and run source ~/.zshrc. See references/setup-guide.md.

"HTTP 401: Unauthorized"

Cause: Invalid or expired API key/token. Fix: Check AI_IMG_CREATOR_CF_TOKEN (gateway) or AI_IMG_CREATOR_OPENROUTER_KEY (direct). Regenerate if needed.

"No images in response"

Cause: Model returned text only (safety filter, unclear prompt, or unsupported request). Fix: Make the prompt more specific and descriptive. Avoid prohibited content.

"Connection error" / timeout

Cause: Network issue or image generation taking too long (300s timeout). Fix: Retry. If persistent, try --provider google as alternative. Check CF gateway status.

Detailed API Reference

For full API formats, response schemas, BYOK configuration, and curl examples: see references/api-reference.md

For first-time setup instructions: see references/setup-guide.md