| name | cover-image |
| description | Generate editorial cover images from article context. Use when user wants a cover image, hero image, or editorial illustration for an article or blog post. Not for table/diagram images (use table-image). |
| allowed-tools | ["Bash","Read"] |
| compatibility | Requires GEMINI_API_KEY or GOOGLE_API_KEY in environment. Uses ~/.claude/skills/_generate_image.py |
ABOUTME: Generate editorial cover images from article context using Gemini image generation
ABOUTME: Distills articles into hand-drawn sketch visual metaphors with ink stroke style
Cover Image Skill
Generate editorial cover images using Gemini's image generation. Distill article content into a visual metaphor rendered as a hand-drawn sketch.
Workflow
1. Understand the Article
Read the article/context provided by the user. Identify the core concept, tension, or insight that could become a visual metaphor.
2. Craft the Prompt
Build a prompt using this structure:
Black and white hand-drawn sketch, loose ink strokes, technical architectural drawing style.
[visual metaphor distilled from article context]. High contrast, minimalist, white background,
editorial tech illustration. --ar 16:9
Visual metaphor guidelines:
- Translate abstract concepts into concrete imagery (e.g., "microservices" -> "separate buildings connected by bridges")
- Prefer architectural/technical metaphors over literal depictions
- Keep the scene simple: one strong central image, not a collage
- Avoid text, labels, or UI elements in the image
3. Show Prompt for Approval
Present the crafted prompt to the user. Wait for confirmation before generating.
4. Generate
uv run ~/.claude/skills/_generate_image.py "<approved prompt>" --ar 16:9 -o cover.png
5. Report
Report the saved file path and suggest reviewing the image.
Example
Article about: "Why we migrated from monolith to microservices"
Prompt:
Black and white hand-drawn sketch, loose ink strokes, technical architectural drawing style.
A massive ancient stone building cracking apart, its fragments floating and reorganizing into
a constellation of small interconnected structures, linked by thin precise lines.
High contrast, minimalist, white background, editorial tech illustration. --ar 16:9
Notes
- Requires
GEMINI_API_KEY or GOOGLE_API_KEY in environment
- Default output:
cover.png in current directory
- Default aspect ratio: 16:9 (landscape, editorial)
- Uses shared script:
~/.claude/skills/_generate_image.py
