image-generation

type	skill
lifecycle	experimental
inheritance	inheritable
name	image-generation
description	Generate images using Replicate API — model selection, prompt engineering, and output handling
tier	standard
applyTo	**/*image*,**/*visual*,**/*graphic*,**/*banner*,**/*icon*,**/*logo*
currency	2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z

Image Generation via Replicate

Generate images programmatically using Replicate's hosted ML models.

Purpose

Enable Alex to create images for documentation, UI assets, banners, and visual content without manual design tools.

When to Use

Trigger	Action
"Create an image of..."	Generate via Replicate
"Make a banner/icon/logo"	Generate with appropriate model
"Visualize this concept"	Generate illustration
Documentation needs visual	Generate diagram or illustration

Model Selection

Model	Best For	Speed	Quality
black-forest-labs/flux-schnell	Fast drafts, iteration	⚡ Fast	Good
black-forest-labs/flux-dev	High quality finals	🐢 Slow	Excellent
stability-ai/sdxl	General purpose	Medium	Very Good
stability-ai/stable-diffusion-3	Latest SD	Medium	Excellent

Default: flux-schnell for speed. Upgrade to flux-dev for final assets.

Prompt Engineering

Structure

[Subject] [Style] [Details] [Technical specs]

Style Modifiers

Style	Prompt Addition
Photorealistic	"photorealistic, 8k, detailed"
Illustration	"digital illustration, clean lines"
Icon/Logo	"minimal, vector style, simple shapes, no text"
Technical diagram	"technical diagram, clean, labeled, white background"
Abstract	"abstract, geometric, modern"

Negative Prompts

Always include to avoid common issues:

blurry, low quality, distorted, text, watermark, signature

For icons/logos add:

complex background, photorealistic, detailed textures

API Reference

Authentication

REPLICATE_API_TOKEN=r8_xxxxx

Create Prediction

curl -X POST https://api.replicate.com/v1/predictions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $REPLICATE_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "version": "<model-version-id>",
    "input": {
      "prompt": "...",
      "negative_prompt": "...",
      "width": 1024,
      "height": 1024,
      "num_outputs": 1
    }
  }'

Poll for Result

curl https://api.replicate.com/v1/predictions/<id> \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $REPLICATE_API_TOKEN"

Response States

Status	Meaning
starting	Model is loading
processing	Generating image
succeeded	Done — output contains URLs
failed	Error — check error field

Common Sizes

Use Case	Dimensions
Square (social, avatar)	1024×1024
Banner (GitHub, docs)	1280×640
Thumbnail	512×512
Wide (header)	1920×1080

Output Handling

1. Download the generated URL immediately (expires)
2. Save to workspace with descriptive name
3. Optimize if needed (large files)

Decision Framework

User wants image
    ↓
Is it a quick draft? → flux-schnell
    ↓
Is it final quality? → flux-dev
    ↓
Is it an icon/logo? → Add "minimal, vector style"
    ↓
Is it a photo? → Add "photorealistic, 8k"
    ↓
Generate → Download → Save

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Prompt too vague	Add style + technical specs
Expecting text in image	AI models can't do text reliably
Not downloading output	URLs expire — save immediately
Wrong aspect ratio	Match intended use case
Forgetting negative prompt	Always include quality negatives

Troubleshooting

Issue	Cause	Fix
401 Unauthorized	Bad/missing token	Check REPLICATE_API_TOKEN
Model loading slow	Cold start	Wait or use popular model
Output is blurry	Low quality prompt	Add "high quality, detailed, 8k"
Wrong style	Prompt mismatch	Be explicit about style