image-generation

name	image-generation
description	Generate or edit images from text prompts. Use when the user asks to create, draw, design, or edit an image, illustration, photo, icon, poster, or any visual content.
metadata	{"cowagent":{"requires":{"anyEnv":["OPENAI_API_KEY","GEMINI_API_KEY","ARK_API_KEY","DASHSCOPE_API_KEY","MINIMAX_API_KEY","LINKAI_API_KEY"]}}}

Image Generation

Generate and edit images using AI models. The script automatically picks a backend based on which API keys are configured — you don't need to specify a model unless the user explicitly names one. Never guess or invent a model: when the user doesn't name one, omit model entirely so the configured default/provider is used.

Supported models (passed via model only when the user asks for a specific one):

• OpenAI — gpt-image-2, gpt-image-1
• Gemini Nano Banana — nano-banana-2, nano-banana-pro, nano-banana
• Seedream (Volcengine Ark) — seedream-5.0-lite, seedream-4.5
• Qwen (DashScope) — qwen-image-2.0, qwen-image-2.0-pro
• MiniMax — image-01

Usage

Run scripts/generate.py with a JSON argument. Use the absolute <base_dir> path — do NOT cd into the skill directory, since it is a builtin skill and gets reset on restart (anything written there is lost).

python <base_dir>/scripts/generate.py '<json_args>'

Images are saved to the workspace (or the open project dir) under images/, so they persist and stay reachable to the client.

Set bash timeout to at least 600 seconds, as image generation can take 30–200s per provider, and the script may try multiple providers sequentially.

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
prompt	string	yes	—	Image description
image_url	string / list	no	null	Input image(s) for editing: local file path or URL. Multi-image fusion is supported (pass a list)
quality	string	no	auto	low / medium / high (only some backends honour this)
size	string	no	auto	512 / 1K / 2K / 3K / 4K, or pixel value (1024x1024)
aspect_ratio	string	no	null	1:1 / 3:2 / 2:3 / 16:9 / 9:16 / 21:9 (some backends also support extreme ratios like 1:4 / 8:1)

Higher quality and larger size cost more and run slower. In normal cases, when the user does not explicitly specify, low or medium is sufficient. Only use high when the user asks for it.

Example — generate

python <base_dir>/scripts/generate.py '{"prompt": "A corgi astronaut floating in space"}'

With aspect ratio:

python <base_dir>/scripts/generate.py '{"prompt": "Isometric miniature city of Shanghai at sunset", "size": "2K", "aspect_ratio": "16:9"}'

Important: Editing vs Generating

When the user asks to edit, modify, or improve an existing image, pass the original image via image_url. Prefer local file paths directly — the script handles file reading internally. Without image_url, the script generates a brand-new image instead of editing.

Example — edit (image-to-image)

python <base_dir>/scripts/generate.py '{"prompt": "Add a Santa hat to the dog", "image_url": "/path/to/dog.png"}'

Multi-image fusion — pass a list:

python <base_dir>/scripts/generate.py '{"prompt": "Combine these characters into a group photo", "image_url": ["/path/a.png", "/path/b.png"]}'

Output

Prints JSON to stdout:

{
  "model": "doubao-seedream-5-0-260128",
  "images": [
    {"url": "/path/to/output.png"}
  ]
}

After success, display the image to the user. You can either embed it in markdown (![description](/path/to/output.png)) or use the send tool.

On error:

{
  "error": "error message"
}

Setup

The script needs at least one of these API keys (set via env_config or config.json):

OPENAI_API_KEY / GEMINI_API_KEY / ARK_API_KEY / DASHSCOPE_API_KEY / MINIMAX_API_KEY / LINKAI_API_KEY

Each also has an optional *_API_BASE for custom endpoints. The script automatically picks the first configured backend and falls back to the next if it fails — no need to specify a model.

Error Handling

If the script returns an error after trying all configured backends, do NOT retry with the same parameters — the failure is almost always a configuration issue (wrong API key, unsupported API base). Tell the user to fix it via env_config, then retry.

Notes

• HTTP timeout is 300s — high-resolution generation can take over 200s.
• Omit quality / size to let the model pick automatically (auto).
• Input images for editing are auto-compressed to ≤ 4MB / longest edge ≤ 4096px.