Generate, edit-from-reference, or analyze images with AI via OpenRouter (gemini, geminipro, riverflow, flux2, seedream, gpt5, gpt5.4; Cloudflare AI Gateway BYOK). Also analyze a video (--analyze-video, read-only — no video generated) into a text description for video prompts. Use when the user asks to generate an image, create a PNG, make an icon, make it transparent, edit with a reference, design a logo/banner, describe/analyze/explain an image ("what's in this image"), or describe/analyze a video ("what happens in this video").
Generate, edit-from-reference, or analyze images with AI via OpenRouter (gemini, geminipro, riverflow, flux2, seedream, gpt5, gpt5.4; Cloudflare AI Gateway BYOK). Also analyze a video (--analyze-video, read-only — no video generated) into a text description for video prompts. Use when the user asks to generate an image, create a PNG, make an icon, make it transparent, edit with a reference, design a logo/banner, describe/analyze/explain an image ("what's in this image"), or describe/analyze a video ("what happens in this video").
allowed-tools
Bash, Read, Write
compatibility
Requires uv (Python runner) and network access. Environment variables for CF AI Gateway or direct API keys must be configured in shell profile (~/.zshrc on macOS, ~/.bashrc on Linux, or System Environment Variables on Windows).
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.
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:
prompt-core.md + prompt-platforms.md + prompt-categories.md § marketing_banner. Routing hint: If user has an existing logo and wants multiple standard sizes → use composite mode instead (see ## Composite Banners).
prompt-core.md + prompt-platforms.md + prompt-categories.md § web_app. Routing hint: For "logo banners" or "OG images with my logo" where user has existing logo → use composite-banners.py. For "design me a new logo" → use generate-image.py.
"brand kit", "logo banners", "banner sizes", "IAB sizes", "consistent banners" + user has existing logo
composite
Read references/composite-reference.md, use composite-banners.py
"consistent character", "same character/product across frames", "comic strip", "storyboard", "frame set", "start and last frame", "panels", "before/after"
frame_consistency
Read references/consistency-presets.md — keep people/objects/scenes consistent across a SET of frames (for video first/last frames or stitched comic strips)
"describe", "analyze", "what's in this image", "explain image"
analyze
Handled by the top Routing check — read references/analyze-reference.md only for advanced/structured analysis patterns
No match / simple request
—
Skip patterns, generate directly
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
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 (multimodal models only):
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.
OpenRouter only: 1K, 2K, 4K. 0.5K is accepted only on the Gemini 3.1 Flash preview build (-m google/gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview-20260226); every selectable keyword rejects it
--model
-m
No
gemini
Model keyword (gemini, geminipro, riverflow, flux2, seedream, gpt5, gpt5.4) or full model ID
--ref
-r
No
--
Reference image file (repeatable). For editing/style transfer. Multimodal models only (gemini, geminipro, gpt5, gpt5.4)
--analyze
--
No
--
Analyze/describe a reference image (text-only output, no image generated). Requires -r. Multimodal models only
--analyze-video
--
No
--
Analyze/describe a video. Pass the video via -r (local file or URL). OpenRouter only. Choose a model/preset with -m (default gemini3.5-flash). Returns structured JSON by default
--prose
--
No
--
(--analyze-video only) Return free-text prose instead of the default structured JSON
--contact-sheet
--
No
--
(--analyze-video, local file only) Extract evenly-spaced keyframes with ffmpeg and save a labeled contact-sheet image to PATH — a human ground-truth reference. Skipped for URL sources / if ffmpeg is missing
--verify
--
No
--
(--analyze-video, local file only) Second pass that checks the analysis against extracted frames (no video re-sent) and classifies each claim supported/contradicted/not_visible. Adds a verification object. Costs one extra model call
--transparent
-t
No
--
Generate with transparent background. Requires ffmpeg + imagemagick
--costs
--
No
--
Display generation/cost history for this project and exit
--list-models
--
No
--
List available model keywords and exit
Environment Variables
Variable
Required For
Description
AI_IMG_CREATOR_CF_ACCOUNT_ID
Gateway mode
Cloudflare account ID
AI_IMG_CREATOR_CF_GATEWAY_ID
Gateway mode
AI Gateway name
AI_IMG_CREATOR_CF_TOKEN
Gateway mode
Gateway auth token
AI_IMG_CREATOR_OPENROUTER_KEY
Direct OpenRouter
OpenRouter API key (sk-or-...)
AI_IMG_CREATOR_GEMINI_KEY
Direct Google
Google AI Studio API key
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:
Green screen generation — Prompt is augmented to place subject on solid #00FF00 green
FFmpeg chroma key — Removes green background + green fringe from edges
ImageMagick auto-crop — Trims transparent padding
Requirements:brew install ffmpeg imagemagick
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. Multimodal models only (gemini, geminipro, gpt5, gpt5.4) — image-only models (riverflow, flux2, seedream) will error.
# 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 models only (gemini, geminipro, gpt5, gpt5.4).
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 -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"
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):
Preset
Resolves to
When to use
video-default (or omit -m)
gemini3.5-flash (Google Gemini 3.5 Flash)
Default — best accuracy + fastest; reads audio. ~11× the cost of the cheap tier
video-cheap
qwen3.5-flash (Qwen3.5 Flash)
Rock-bottom cost for quick scene summaries (or mimo for a cheap, more detailed read)
video-quality
gemini3-pro (Google Gemini 3.1 Pro)
Highest-accuracy reading when it matters most
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):
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
Init config:uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/composite-banners.py --init
Editbanner-config.json — set logo path, brand text, colors, banner sizes
Validate:uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/composite-banners.py --validate
Generate:uv run python ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/composite-banners.py -c banner-config.json -o ./banners/
Composite Parameters
Argument
Short
Default
Description
--config
-c
banner-config.json
Config JSON path
--output-dir
-o
.
Output directory
--name
-n
all
Generate single banner by name
--format
-f
png
png, webp, jpeg
--list-presets
List IAB/social/web size presets
--init
Generate starter config
--validate
Check config, exit 0 or 2
--dry-run
Preview without rendering
--json
Structured JSON to stdout
--verbose
-v
Verbose output
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):
Use generate-image.py to AI-create a hero background or textured pattern
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:
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 (120s 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
