---

name: generate-image description: >- Generate images using AI. Use when asked to generate, create, or make images, textures, icons, sprites, artwork, visual assets, or mockups. Supports OpenAI (gpt-image-2) and Google Gemini (Nano Banana). Requires an API key for the chosen provider. argument-hint: "[description of the image to generate]" license: MIT metadata: version: "2.1.0" providers: "openai, gemini"

Generate Image

You are an image generation assistant. When invoked, follow the workflow below.

Workflow

1. Check for API keys — check whether SKILL_IMAGE_GEN_OPENAI_KEY and/or SKILL_IMAGE_GEN_GEMINI_KEY are set in the environment.
2. If one key is set — use that provider. No need to ask.
3. If both are set — pick based on context (OpenAI for polish, Gemini for speed), or ask if the user has a preference.
4. If no keys are set — run the Onboarding section.
5. Generate the image using the appropriate API reference.
6. Tell the user where the image was saved.

Onboarding

Only run this if no keys are set. Guide the user conversationally.

1. Ask which provider they'd like to use:
   • OpenAI (gpt-image-2) — High quality, excellent text rendering, paid per image
   • Google Gemini (Nano Banana) — Fast, free tier available, great for iteration
2. Direct them to get an API key:
   • OpenAI → https://platform.openai.com/api-keys
   • Gemini → https://aistudio.google.com/apikey
3. Once they provide the key, set SKILL_IMAGE_GEN_OPENAI_KEY or SKILL_IMAGE_GEN_GEMINI_KEY in the current session and persist it to the appropriate shell profile.
4. Proceed to generate the image they originally asked for.

API Reference: OpenAI

Method: POST URL: https://api.openai.com/v1/images/generations

Headers:

• Authorization: Bearer <SKILL_IMAGE_GEN_OPENAI_KEY>
• Content-Type: application/json

Body (JSON):

{
  "model": "gpt-image-2",
  "prompt": "<user prompt>",
  "n": 1,
  "size": "1024x1024",
  "quality": "medium"
}

| Field | Default | Options | |---|---|---| | model | gpt-image-2 | gpt-image-2, gpt-image-1 | | size | 1024x1024 | 1024x1024, 1024x1536, 1536x1024, auto | | quality | medium | low, medium, high |

Response: data[0].b64_json contains the base64-encoded image. Decode it and save to the output path. If data[0].url is present instead, download the image from that URL.

API Reference: Google Gemini (Nano Banana)

Method: POST (uses Generative Language Image or Content endpoint depending on model)

URL (examples):

• Text+image/content endpoint: https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta/models/<model>:generateContent
• Image-specific endpoint (newer image models may use): https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1/models/<model>:generateImage

Authentication (recommended):

• Preferred: Authorization: Bearer <ACCESS_TOKEN> (use OAuth2 service account or short-lived access token).
• API Key (legacy / limited): can be passed as x-goog-api-key: <KEY> header or ?key=<KEY> query param, but some image-generation models require OAuth/Bearer tokens.

Headers:

• Authorization: Bearer <ACCESS_TOKEN> (preferred)
• Content-Type: application/json

Body (JSON) — content endpoint (text+image):

{
  "contents": [{"parts": [{"text": "Generate an image: <user prompt>"}]}],
  "generationConfig": {"responseModalities": ["IMAGE"]}
}

Body (JSON) — image-specific endpoint (if supported by model):

{
  "prompt": "<user prompt>",
  "imageConfig": {"modes": ["RGB"], "size": "1024x1024"}
}

| Field | Default | Options | |---|---|---| | model (in URL) | gemini-2.0-flash-exp or an image-capable model | e.g., gemini-2.5-flash-image, image-bison |

Response (guidance):

• For content endpoint: inspect candidates[0].content.parts[] for entries with inlineData.data (base64 image) and inlineData.mimeType.
• For image endpoint: response commonly includes images or data field carrying base64-encoded image(s) or URLs — decode/save accordingly.

Notes & troubleshooting:

• Many Google image models now require OAuth Bearer tokens; prefer service-account-based short-lived tokens rather than long-lived API keys.
• If 401/403 errors occur, verify token scopes and that the calling project has the Generative API enabled.
• If requests return 400, confirm request body shape and model name.
• Log outgoing request headers and body (with keys redacted) to aid debugging.

Error cases: error key (API error), promptFeedback.blockReason (safety block), finishReason: "SAFETY" (filtered).

Migration guidance:

• Update integrations to support both Authorization: Bearer and x-goog-api-key but prefer and document using OAuth where image models require it.
• Add tests that mock both endpoints and assert request shape, headers, and image decoding behavior.

Agent Guidelines

• Choose the output path intelligently — save to the project's relevant directory (e.g., assets/, images/, or the current directory).
• For game textures, enrich prompts with "seamless", "tileable", "game asset".
• For batch generation, make multiple API calls in parallel.
• If the user asks to switch providers or what options are available, explain both and help them set up.
• Always create the output directory before saving.
• Ensure special characters in the user's prompt are properly escaped in the JSON body.