Does this skill work with local image files?

Yes. For editing local files with the built-in tool, first load the image with the `view_image` tool so it appears in conversation context, then proceed with the edit. For direct file-path control and advanced parameters, use the explicit CLI fallback mode (which requires OPENAI_API_KEY) only when explicitly requested.

What's the difference between the built-in tool and the CLI fallback?

The built-in `image_gen` tool is the default for normal generation and editing; it does not require an API key. The CLI fallback (`scripts/image_gen.py`) offers subcommands like `generate-batch` and explicit parameters like masks and input fidelity, but only use it if you explicitly ask for the CLI path and set OPENAI_API_KEY.

Where are generated images saved by default?

Generated images are saved under `$CODEX_HOME/generated_images/` by default. For project-bound assets, they must be moved or copied into the workspace before finishing; do not leave project-referenced assets only at the default path.

Can I generate multiple image variants in one request?

Yes. In built-in mode, issue one `image_gen` call per variant. In explicit CLI mode, use the `generate-batch` subcommand if you need to generate many prompts at once.

Should I use this skill for SVG icons or logos that match existing repo code?

No. For icons, logos, or UI graphics that should match existing SVG/vector/code-native assets in the repo, edit those directly instead. Use this skill when you need raster output like photos, illustrations, sprites, mockups, or transparent-background cutouts.

imagegen by openai

Sample prompts (copy/paste)

These prompt recipes are shared across both top-level modes of the skill:

built-in image_gen tool (default)
explicit scripts/image_gen.py CLI fallback

Use these as starting points. They are intentionally complete prompt recipes, not the default amount of augmentation to add to every user request.

When adapting a user's prompt:

keep user-provided requirements
only add detail according to the specificity policy in SKILL.md
do not treat every example below as permission to invent extra story elements

The labeled lines are prompt scaffolding, not a closed schema. Asset type and Input images are prompt-only scaffolding; the CLI does not expose them as dedicated flags.

Execution details such as explicit CLI flags, quality, input_fidelity, masks, output formats, and local output paths depend on mode. Use the built-in tool by default; only apply CLI-specific controls after the user explicitly opts into fallback mode.

For prompting principles (structure, specificity, invariants, iteration), see references/prompting.md.

Generate

photorealistic-natural

Use case: photorealistic-natural
Primary request: candid photo of an elderly sailor on a small fishing boat adjusting a net
Scene/backdrop: coastal water with soft haze
Subject: weathered skin with wrinkles and sun texture
Style/medium: photorealistic candid photo
Composition/framing: medium close-up, eye-level
Lighting/mood: soft coastal daylight, shallow depth of field, subtle film grain
Materials/textures: real skin texture, worn fabric, salt-worn wood
Constraints: natural color balance; no heavy retouching; no glamorization; no watermark
Avoid: studio polish; staged look

product-mockup

Use case: product-mockup
Primary request: premium product photo of a matte black shampoo bottle with a minimal label
Scene/backdrop: clean studio gradient from light gray to white
Subject: single bottle centered with subtle reflection
Style/medium: premium product photography
Composition/framing: centered, slight three-quarter angle, generous padding
Lighting/mood: softbox lighting, clean highlights, controlled shadows
Materials/textures: matte plastic, crisp label printing
Constraints: no logos or trademarks; no watermark

ui-mockup

Use case: ui-mockup
Primary request: mobile app home screen for a local farmers market with vendors and daily specials
Asset type: mobile app screen
Style/medium: realistic product UI, not concept art
Composition/framing: clean vertical mobile layout with clear hierarchy
Constraints: practical layout, clear typography, no logos or trademarks, no watermark

infographic-diagram

Use case: infographic-diagram
Primary request: detailed infographic of an automatic coffee machine flow
Scene/backdrop: clean, light neutral background
Subject: bean hopper -> grinder -> brew group -> boiler -> water tank -> drip tray
Style/medium: clean vector-like infographic with clear callouts and arrows
Composition/framing: vertical poster layout, top-to-bottom flow
Text (verbatim): "Bean Hopper", "Grinder", "Brew Group", "Boiler", "Water Tank", "Drip Tray"
Constraints: clear labels, strong contrast, no logos or trademarks, no watermark

logo-brand

Use case: logo-brand
Primary request: original logo for "Field & Flour", a local bakery
Style/medium: vector logo mark; flat colors; minimal
Composition/framing: single centered logo on a plain background with generous padding
Constraints: strong silhouette, balanced negative space; original design only; no gradients unless essential; no trademarks; no watermark

illustration-story

Use case: illustration-story
Primary request: 4-panel comic about a pet left alone at home
Scene/backdrop: cozy living room across panels
Subject: pet reacting to the owner leaving, then relaxing, then returning to a composed pose
Style/medium: comic illustration with clear panels
Composition/framing: 4 equal-sized vertical panels, readable actions per panel
Constraints: no text; no logos or trademarks; no watermark

stylized-concept

Use case: stylized-concept
Primary request: cavernous hangar interior with tall support beams and drifting fog
Scene/backdrop: industrial hangar interior, deep scale, light haze
Subject: compact shuttle parked near the center
Style/medium: cinematic concept art, industrial realism
Composition/framing: wide-angle, low-angle
Lighting/mood: volumetric light rays cutting through fog
Constraints: no logos or trademarks; no watermark

historical-scene

Use case: historical-scene
Primary request: outdoor crowd scene in Bethel, New York on August 16, 1969
Scene/backdrop: open field with period-appropriate staging
Subject: crowd in period-accurate clothing, authentic environment
Style/medium: photorealistic photo
Composition/framing: wide shot, eye-level
Constraints: period-accurate details; no modern objects; no logos or trademarks; no watermark

Asset type templates (taxonomy-aligned)

Website assets template

Use case: <photorealistic-natural|stylized-concept|product-mockup|infographic-diagram|ui-mockup>
Asset type: <hero image / section illustration / blog header>
Primary request: <short description>
Scene/backdrop: <environment or abstract backdrop>
Subject: <main subject>
Style/medium: <photo/illustration/3D>
Composition/framing: <wide/centered; note usable negative space only if needed>
Lighting/mood: <soft/bright/neutral>
Color palette: <brand colors or neutral>
Constraints: <no text; no logos; no watermark; leave room for UI if needed>

Website assets example: minimal hero background

Use case: stylized-concept
Asset type: landing page hero background
Primary request: minimal abstract background with a soft gradient and subtle texture
Style/medium: matte illustration / soft-rendered abstract background
Composition/framing: wide composition with usable negative space for page copy
Lighting/mood: gentle studio glow
Color palette: restrained neutral palette
Constraints: no text; no logos; no watermark

Website assets example: feature section illustration

Use case: stylized-concept
Asset type: feature section illustration
Primary request: simple abstract shapes suggesting connection and flow
Scene/backdrop: subtle light-gray backdrop with faint texture
Style/medium: flat illustration; soft shadows; restrained contrast
Composition/framing: centered cluster; open margins for UI
Color palette: muted neutral palette
Constraints: no text; no logos; no watermark

Website assets example: blog header image

Use case: photorealistic-natural
Asset type: blog header image
Primary request: overhead desk scene with notebook, pen, and coffee cup
Scene/backdrop: warm wooden tabletop
Style/medium: photorealistic photo
Composition/framing: wide crop with clean room for page copy
Lighting/mood: soft morning light
Constraints: no text; no logos; no watermark

Game assets template

Use case: stylized-concept
Asset type: <game environment concept art / game character concept / game UI icon / tileable game texture>
Primary request: <biome/scene/character/icon/material>
Scene/backdrop: <location + set dressing> (if applicable)
Subject: <main focal element(s)>
Style/medium: <realistic/stylized>; <concept art / character render / UI icon / texture>
Composition/framing: <wide/establishing/top-down>; <camera angle>; <focal point placement>
Lighting/mood: <time of day>; <mood>; <volumetric/fog/etc>
Constraints: no logos or trademarks; no watermark

Game assets example: environment concept art

Use case: stylized-concept
Asset type: game environment concept art
Primary request: cavernous hangar interior with tall support beams and drifting fog
Scene/backdrop: industrial hangar interior, deep scale, light haze
Subject: compact shuttle parked near the center
Style/medium: cinematic concept art, industrial realism
Composition/framing: wide-angle, low-angle
Lighting/mood: volumetric light rays cutting through fog
Constraints: no logos or trademarks; no watermark

Game assets example: character concept

Use case: stylized-concept
Asset type: game character concept
Primary request: desert scout character with layered travel gear
Subject: long coat, satchel, practical travel clothing
Style/medium: character render; stylized realism
Composition/framing: neutral hero pose on a simple backdrop
Constraints: no logos or trademarks; no watermark

Game assets example: UI icon

Use case: stylized-concept
Asset type: game UI icon
Primary request: round shield icon with a subtle rune pattern
Style/medium: painted game UI icon
Composition/framing: centered icon; generous padding; clear silhouette
Constraints: no text; no background scene elements; no logos or trademarks; no watermark

Game assets example: tileable texture

Use case: stylized-concept
Asset type: tileable game texture
Primary request: worn sandstone blocks
Style/medium: seamless tileable texture; PBR-ish look
Scene/backdrop: neutral lighting reference only
Constraints: seamless edges; no obvious focal elements; no text; no logos or trademarks; no watermark

Wireframe template

Use case: ui-mockup
Asset type: website wireframe
Primary request: <page or flow to sketch>
Style/medium: low-fi grayscale wireframe
Composition/framing: <landscape or portrait to match expected device>
Subject: <sections in order; grid/columns; key labels>
Constraints: no color; no logos; no real photos; no watermark

Wireframe example: homepage (desktop)

Use case: ui-mockup
Asset type: website wireframe
Primary request: SaaS homepage layout with clear hierarchy
Style/medium: low-fi grayscale wireframe
Subject: top nav; hero with headline and CTA; three feature cards; testimonial strip; pricing preview; footer
Composition/framing: landscape desktop layout
Constraints: label major blocks; no color; no logos; no real photos; no watermark

Wireframe example: pricing page

Use case: ui-mockup
Asset type: website wireframe
Primary request: pricing page layout with comparison table
Style/medium: low-fi grayscale wireframe
Subject: header; plan toggle; 3 pricing cards; comparison table; FAQ accordion; footer
Composition/framing: desktop or tablet layout
Constraints: label key areas; no color; no logos; no real photos; no watermark

Wireframe example: mobile onboarding flow

Use case: ui-mockup
Asset type: mobile onboarding wireframe
Primary request: three-screen mobile onboarding flow
Style/medium: low-fi grayscale wireframe
Subject: screen 1 headline and CTA; screen 2 feature bullets; screen 3 form fields and CTA
Composition/framing: portrait mobile layout
Constraints: label screens and blocks; no color; no logos; no real photos; no watermark

Logo template

Use case: logo-brand
Asset type: logo concept
Primary request: <brand idea or symbol concept>
Style/medium: vector logo mark; flat colors; minimal
Composition/framing: centered mark; clear silhouette; generous margin
Color palette: <1-2 colors; high contrast>
Text (verbatim): "<exact name>" (only if needed)
Constraints: no gradients; no mockups; no 3D; no watermark

Logo example: abstract symbol mark

Use case: logo-brand
Asset type: logo concept
Primary request: geometric leaf symbol suggesting sustainability and growth
Style/medium: vector logo mark; flat colors; minimal
Composition/framing: centered mark; clear silhouette
Color palette: deep green and off-white
Constraints: no text unless requested; no gradients; no mockups; no 3D; no watermark

Logo example: monogram mark

Use case: logo-brand
Asset type: logo concept
Primary request: interlocking monogram of the letters "AV"
Style/medium: vector logo mark; flat colors; minimal
Composition/framing: centered mark; balanced spacing
Color palette: black on white
Constraints: no gradients; no mockups; no 3D; no watermark

Logo example: wordmark

Use case: logo-brand
Asset type: logo concept
Primary request: clean wordmark for a modern studio
Style/medium: vector wordmark; flat colors; minimal
Text (verbatim): "Studio North"
Composition/framing: centered text; even letter spacing
Constraints: no gradients; no mockups; no 3D; no watermark

Edit

text-localization

Use case: text-localization
Input images: Image 1: original infographic
Primary request: replace "Bean Hopper", "Grinder", "Brew Group", "Boiler", "Water Tank", and "Drip Tray" with "Tolva", "Molino", "Grupo de infusión", "Caldera", "Depósito de agua", and "Bandeja de goteo"
Constraints: change only the text; preserve layout, typography, spacing, and hierarchy; no extra words; do not alter logos or imagery

identity-preserve

Use case: identity-preserve
Input images: Image 1: person photo; Image 2..N: clothing references
Primary request: replace only the clothing with the provided garments
Constraints: preserve face, body shape, pose, hair, expression, and identity; match lighting and shadows; keep the background unchanged; no accessories or text

precise-object-edit

Use case: precise-object-edit
Input images: Image 1: room photo
Primary request: replace only the white chairs with wooden chairs
Constraints: preserve camera angle, room lighting, floor shadows, and surrounding objects; keep all other aspects unchanged

lighting-weather

Use case: lighting-weather
Input images: Image 1: original photo
Primary request: make it look like a winter evening with gentle snowfall
Constraints: preserve subject identity, geometry, camera angle, and composition; change only lighting, atmosphere, and weather

background-extraction

Use case: background-extraction
Input images: Image 1: product photo
Primary request: isolate the product on a clean transparent background
Constraints: crisp silhouette; no halos or fringing; preserve label text exactly; no restyling

style-transfer

Use case: style-transfer
Input images: Image 1: style reference
Primary request: apply Image 1's visual style to a man riding a motorcycle on a plain white backdrop
Constraints: preserve palette, texture, and brushwork; no extra elements

compositing

Use case: compositing
Input images: Image 1: base scene; Image 2: subject to insert
Primary request: place the subject from Image 2 next to the person in Image 1
Constraints: match lighting, perspective, and scale; keep the base framing unchanged; no extra elements

sketch-to-render

Use case: sketch-to-render
Input images: Image 1: drawing
Primary request: turn the drawing into a photorealistic image
Constraints: preserve layout, proportions, and perspective; choose realistic materials and lighting; do not add new elements or text