| name | image-generation |
| description | Generates and edits images using Google Gemini, OpenAI GPT Image, and xAI Grok Image APIs via shell scripts. This skill should be used when the user asks to "generate an image", "create an image", "edit an image", "modify an image", "make a picture", "draw me a", "text to image", "generate with gemini", "generate with openai", "generate with xai", "generate with grok", "gpt image", "gemini image", or "grok image". |
| version | 2026.7.0 |
Image Generation with Gemini, OpenAI, and xAI
Generate and edit images using Google Gemini, OpenAI GPT Image 2, and xAI Grok Image APIs via shell scripts.
Available Providers
Google Gemini
- Model:
gemini-3-pro-image-preview (default, "Nano Banana Pro"). Alt: gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview (Flash, 14 ratios).
- Strengths: Premium quality, up to 4K output, thinking mode, Google Search grounding, multi-turn editing with up to 14 reference images
- Aspect ratios: 10 on Pro (1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2, 2:3, 4:5, 5:4, 21:9); Flash adds 4 extreme ratios (1:4, 4:1, 1:8, 8:1)
- Resolution:
--image-size takes 1K, 2K, 4K on both Pro and Flash; Flash additionally supports 512 (UPPERCASE required)
- Env var:
GEMINI_API_KEY
OpenAI GPT Image 2
- Model:
gpt-image-2 (default, snapshot gpt-image-2-2026-04-21); gpt-image-1.5 available as previous flagship via --model
- Strengths: Superior text rendering, transparent backgrounds, up to 16 input images for editing, quality tiers
- Sizes: 1024x1024, 1536x1024 (landscape), 1024x1536 (portrait)
- Quality: low (fast/cheap), medium, high (best fidelity)
- Env var:
OPENAI_API_KEY
xAI Grok Image
- Model:
grok-imagine-image-pro (default, premium tier, 30 RPM), grok-imagine-image (standard, 300 RPM)
- Strengths: Prompt revision by chat model, flat per-image pricing, diverse style range, many aspect ratios
- Aspect ratios: 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2, 2:3, 2:1, 1:2, 19.5:9, 9:19.5, 20:9, 9:20, auto
- Resolution:
--resolution takes 1k, 2k (LOWERCASE required, opposite of Gemini)
- Editing: Same endpoint as generation; source image passed as data URI
- Env var:
XAI_API_KEY or GROK_API_KEY
Usage
Text-to-Image Generation
Use the scripts at ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/:
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/gemini.sh" \
--mode generate \
--prompt "a serene mountain landscape at sunset" \
--output ./generated.png
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/openai.sh" \
--mode generate \
--prompt "a serene mountain landscape at sunset" \
--output ./generated.png
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/xai.sh" \
--mode generate \
--prompt "a serene mountain landscape at sunset" \
--output ./generated.png
Image Editing
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/gemini.sh" \
--mode edit \
--prompt "change the sky to a starry night" \
--input-image ./original.png \
--output ./edited.png
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/openai.sh" \
--mode edit \
--prompt "change the sky to a starry night" \
--input-image ./original.png \
--output ./edited.png
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/xai.sh" \
--mode edit \
--prompt "change the sky to a starry night" \
--input-image ./original.png \
--output ./edited.png
Parallel Generation
Use scripts/run-all.sh — a single Bash call that owns the streaming pane lifecycle and
forks all providers in parallel. The watcher renders per-provider colored banners (gemini
blue / openai gray / xai red) with model + timing, plus an animated bottom spinner of
pending providers shown until the first image renders. Once the first image appears the
spinner goes silent so the inline images accumulate (further redraws would erase them in
tmux control mode).
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/run-all.sh" \
--mode generate \
--prompt "<prompt>" \
--output-base "<base>"
Each provider produces <base>-gemini.png, <base>-openai.png, <base>-xai.png.
Optional flags:
--input-image <path> — required for --mode edit--providers gemini,openai — comma-separated subset--gemini-extra "--image-size 4K --aspect-ratio 16:9" — pass-through args to gemini.sh--openai-extra "--quality high" — pass-through args to openai.sh--xai-extra "--resolution 2k" — pass-through args to xai.sh
Per-provider stderr/stdout is captured under $DISPLAY_PANE_DIR/logs/<provider>.{out,err}
while the pane is open. Errors render as a red error banner inline. After all providers
finish, run-all.sh closes the pane and exits with status 0 if every provider succeeded, 1
otherwise.
Prompting Tips
General
- Be specific and descriptive: "a golden retriever puppy playing in autumn leaves, soft afternoon light" beats "dog in park"
- Specify style explicitly: "watercolor painting", "photorealistic", "flat vector illustration"
- Include composition details: "close-up", "aerial view", "centered", "rule of thirds"
Text in Images
- OpenAI GPT Image 2 is significantly better at rendering text
- Put text in quotes or ALL CAPS in the prompt:
a sign that reads "OPEN 24 HOURS"
- Specify typography details: font style, size, color, placement
Editing
- Describe what to change, not the whole image
- Be specific about which elements to preserve vs modify
- For Gemini: supports iterative multi-turn refinement
- For OpenAI: can accept up to 16 reference images
- For xAI: prompts are revised by a chat model before generation
Error Handling
- Scripts exit with code 1 on failure and print error details to stderr
- If an API key is missing, the script exits immediately with a clear message
- HTTP errors include the status code and API error message
- If multiple providers are used in parallel and one fails, report the error and present the successful results
- Rate limit errors (HTTP 429) mean the provider's quota is exhausted - try again later or use the other provider
Script Options Reference
gemini.sh
| Flag | Values | Default |
|---|
--mode | generate, edit | (required) |
--prompt | text | (required) |
--output | file path | (required) |
--input-image | file path | (edit only) |
--aspect-ratio | 14 ratios (1:1, 16:9, 21:9, 1:4, 4:1, 1:8, 8:1, etc.) | 1:1 |
--image-size | 512, 1K, 2K, 4K (UPPERCASE) | (API default 1K) |
--thinking-level | minimal, High | unset (API minimal) |
--image-only | (flag) | off |
--search-grounding | (flag) | off |
--model | gemini model name | gemini-3-pro-image-preview |
openai.sh
| Flag | Values | Default |
|---|
--mode | generate, edit | (required) |
--prompt | text | (required) |
--output | file path | (required) |
--input-image | file path | (edit only) |
--size | auto, 1024x1024, 1536x1024, 1024x1536 | 1024x1024 |
--quality | auto, low, medium, high | high |
--background | auto, transparent, opaque | auto |
--output-format | png, jpeg, webp | png |
--output-compression | 0-100 (jpeg/webp only) | -- |
--moderation | auto, low | auto |
--input-fidelity | low, high (edit only) | unset (API low) |
--model | OpenAI model name | gpt-image-2 |
xai.sh
| Flag | Values | Default |
|---|
--mode | generate, edit | (required) |
--prompt | text | (required) |
--output | file path | (required) |
--input-image | file path | (edit only) |
--aspect-ratio | 14 ratios (1:1, 16:9, 19.5:9, 20:9, auto, etc.) | (none) |
--resolution | 1k, 2k (LOWERCASE) | (API default) |
--model | xAI model name | grok-imagine-image-pro |
