image-gen

name	image-gen
description	Generate images with OpenAI's gpt-image models. Use when the user asks you to create, draw, make, design, or generate a picture, image, illustration, logo, diagram, or artwork. Saves the result to the group workspace and delivers it via send_file.

Image Generation

Generate images using OpenAI's gpt-image model family. The result is saved to the group's workspace as a PNG and then sent to the user as a file attachment.

When to use

• The user asks for an image, picture, drawing, illustration, logo, or diagram ("make me a picture of…", "draw a…", "generate a logo for…").
• The user wants you to visualize something ("show me what that looks like").

Do NOT use this for image editing of an uploaded photo — this skill only does text-to-image generation.

How to run

Call the generator with Bash:

node /home/node/.claude/skills/image-gen/generate.js \
  --prompt "a watercolor of a koala drinking coffee" \
  --model gpt-image-2 \
  --size 1024x1024 \
  --output /workspace/group/generated/koala.png

The script prints the output path to stdout on success. On failure it exits non-zero and writes the error to stderr (typically an OpenAI API message).

Parameters

• --prompt (required) — text description of the image.
• --model (default gpt-image-2) — pick one:
  • gpt-image-2 — highest quality, default. Requires a verified OpenAI organization. If you see a "must be verified" error, fall back to gpt-image-1.5 and tell the user they can verify at platform.openai.com/settings/organization/general.
  • gpt-image-1.5 — fast and broadly available, good fallback.
  • gpt-image-1 — previous generation, still capable.
  • gpt-image-1-mini — fastest, cheapest.
  • dall-e-3 — legacy, only if the user asks for it by name.
• --size (default 1024x1024) — 1024x1024, 1792x1024 (landscape), or 1024x1792 (portrait).
• --output (required) — absolute path where the PNG should be saved. Put files under /workspace/group/generated/ so the group stays tidy.

Delivering the image

After the script succeeds, send the file with the send_file MCP tool:

mcp__nanoclaw__send_file({
  file_path: "/workspace/group/generated/koala.png",
  caption: "Your watercolor koala"
})

Include a short caption that references what was requested so the user has context alongside the image.

Model selection guidance

• Default to gpt-image-2 unless the user has indicated a preference.
• If gpt-image-2 returns a verification error, retry with gpt-image-1.5 and note the fallback in your reply.
• If the user says "cheaper", "faster", or "just a draft", use gpt-image-1-mini.
• If the user specifies a model by name, respect their choice.

Filename conventions

• Directory: /workspace/group/generated/ (create if missing — the script handles this).
• Name: short slug of what was asked, e.g. koala.png, sales-pipeline-dashboard.png.
• If the user asks for multiple variants in one request, suffix with an index: koala-1.png, koala-2.png.

Troubleshooting

• Verification error — expected for gpt-image-2 on unverified orgs. Fall back to gpt-image-1.5 and tell the user what to do.
• No image data in response — the model sometimes refuses prompts on content-policy grounds. Re-read the error text; if it's a policy refusal, tell the user plainly rather than retrying blindly.
• OPENAI_API_KEY not set — the container env is missing the key. This is a configuration issue for the user to resolve.