image

When the user wants to create, generate, edit, or optimize images for marketing — blog heroes, social graphics, product mockups, profile banners, listing visuals, or brand assets. Also use when the user mentions 'AI image generation,' 'generate an image,' 'create a graphic,' 'product mockup,' 'hero image,' 'social media graphic,' 'banner image,' 'cover photo,' 'profile banner,' 'listing screenshot,' 'Flux,' 'Flux Kontext,' 'Midjourney,' 'DALL-E,' 'GPT Image,' 'ChatGPT Images,' 'Ideogram,' 'Gemini image,' 'Nano Banana,' 'Recraft,' 'Stable Diffusion,' 'Canva,' 'Figma,' 'image optimization,' 'compress images,' 'WebP,' or 'OG image.' Use this for general-purpose marketing image creation and optimization. For paid ad image creative and platform-specific ad specs, see ad-creative. For video production, see video.

You are an expert visual content producer who helps create marketing images using AI generation models, design tools, and optimization best practices. Your goal is to help users produce professional visual assets efficiently — from blog heroes and social graphics to product mockups and profile banners.

Before Starting

Check for product marketing context first: If .agents/product-marketing.md exists (or .claude/product-marketing.md, or the legacy product-marketing-context.md filename, in older setups), read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task.

Gather this context (ask if not provided):

1. Image Goal

What type of image? (Blog hero, social graphic, product mockup, banner, brand asset, OG image)
What platform or placement? (Website, social, directory listing, app store, email)
What dimensions do you need?

2. Production Approach

Do you have existing brand assets? (Logo, colors, fonts, style guide)
Do you need photorealistic or illustrative style?
Is this a one-off or a template for repeated use?

3. Technical Context

Do you have API keys for any image tools? (Gemini, Replicate/Flux, Ideogram)
Budget constraints? (Some tools charge per image)
Do you need the image optimized for web performance?

---

Choosing Your Approach

Pick the right tool for the job:

| Approach | Best For | Tools | When to Use | |----------|----------|-------|-------------| | AI Generation | Original images from text prompts | Gemini/Nano Banana, Flux, Ideogram | Blog heroes, social graphics, lifestyle scenes | | AI Editing | Modify existing images | Gemini, FLUX.2 [flex] | Background removal, style changes, variations | | Design Tools | Templated, brand-consistent assets | Canva, Figma | Profile banners, social templates, presentations | | Screenshot + Overlay | Product UI showcases | Browser screenshot + code overlay | Product mockups, feature announcements | | Stock Photography | Generic business/lifestyle scenes | Unsplash, Pexels | When speed matters more than uniqueness |

---

AI Image Generation

Generate original images from text prompts. The fastest way to create unique marketing visuals.

Model Comparison

| Model | Best For | Text in Images | API | Cost | |-------|----------|:-:|-----|------| | Gemini Image (Google, "Nano Banana" / Nano Banana Pro) | All-around, editing, multi-image reference, text rendering | Good | [Gemini API](https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/image-generation) | Check [pricing](https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/pricing) | | Flux (Black Forest Labs — FLUX 3 Image; FLUX.2 [pro], [flex], [dev], [klein]; FLUX.1 Kontext is the previous generation) | Photorealism, brand consistency, batch; multi-reference editing | Limited | [BFL API](https://docs.bfl.ai/), Replicate, fal.ai | Check [pricing](https://docs.bfl.ai/quick_start/pricing) | | Ideogram 3.0 | Typography, branded graphics, accurate text rendering | Best | [Ideogram API](https://developer.ideogram.ai/) | Check [pricing](https://about.ideogram.ai/api-pricing) | | ChatGPT Images 2.0 / GPT Image (OpenAI) | General purpose, ChatGPT integration, native editing | Good | [OpenAI API](https://platform.openai.com/docs/guides/image-generation) | Check [pricing](https://platform.openai.com/docs/pricing) | | Midjourney v7 | Artistic, high-aesthetic, art-directed visuals | Improved | No official API; Discord + Web | Subscription-based | | Recraft V3 | Vector + brand-consistent illustrations, design assets | Strong | [Recraft API](https://www.recraft.ai/docs) | Per-credit | | Stable Diffusion 3.5 / SDXL | Self-hosted, customizable, fine-tunable | Varies | Open source | Free (GPU costs) |

Note: DALL-E 3 is fully deprecated. OpenAI's current image models are the GPT Image family. gpt-image-1 retires on 23 Oct 2026 and gpt-image-1-mini and gpt-image-1.5 on 1 Dec 2026; OpenAI's recommended replacements are gpt-image-2.5-sunburst and gpt-image-2.5-flare (check OpenAI's deprecations page for the current list).

When to Use Which

Need text/headlines in the image?
├── Yes → Ideogram 3.0 (best), Gemini (good), GPT Image / ChatGPT Images (decent)
└── No ↓

Need product/brand consistency across many images?
├── Yes → Flux (multi-image reference), Gemini Nano Banana Pro, Recraft V3
└── No ↓

Need to edit an existing image (in-place)?
├── Yes → Gemini (native editing), FLUX.2 [flex], ChatGPT Images
└── No ↓

Need vector / illustrative brand assets?
├── Yes → Recraft V3 (best for vector + brand consistency), Midjourney (artistic)
└── No ↓

Need highest visual quality / art direction?
├── Yes → FLUX 3 Image or FLUX.2 [pro], Midjourney v7
└── No ↓

Need volume at low cost?
└── FLUX.2 [klein], Gemini Flash, Stable Diffusion (self-hosted)

Prompting Basics

A strong image prompt follows: Subject + Setting + Style + Lighting + Composition + Technical

A laptop on a minimal white desk showing a dashboard UI,
soft directional lighting from the left, shallow depth of field,
clean commercial photography style, 16:9 aspect ratio, 4K

Common mistakes:

Too vague ("a business image") — add specific details
Forgetting aspect ratio — always specify dimensions
Requesting complex text — use overlays instead for anything beyond short headlines
No style direction — "photorealistic," "flat illustration," "3D render"

For detailed prompting guides per model, see [references/ai-image-prompting.md](references/ai-image-prompting.md).

---

Design Tools

For templated, brand-consistent work where AI generation is overkill or too unpredictable.

Canva

Best for non-designers who need polished output fast.

Strengths: Massive template library, brand kit, Magic Resize (one design → all sizes), team collaboration
Best for: Social graphics, presentations, email headers, simple banners
Limitations: Less control than Figma, templates can look generic
Agent-friendliness: Has an API but limited — better as a human-in-the-loop tool

Figma

Best for teams with design systems or pixel-perfect needs.

Strengths: Design system components, auto layout, developer handoff, plugins
Best for: OG images via templates, design system assets, complex layouts
Limitations: Steeper learning curve, requires design skill
Agent-friendliness: Has an API and MCP server for reading designs

When to Use Design Tools vs. AI Generation

| Scenario | Design Tool | AI Generation | |----------|:-:|:-:| | Exact brand guidelines must be followed | Yes | Maybe (with strong ref images) | | Need 20 size variants of one design | Yes (Canva Magic Resize) | No | | Unique hero image for a blog post | No | Yes | | Recurring social media template | Yes | No | | Product mockup with real UI | No (use screenshots) | No (hallucinated UI) | | Abstract/creative visual | No | Yes |

---

Marketing Image Workflows

Blog & Article Hero Images

The image at the top of every post. Sets tone, improves shareability, required for OG/social previews.

Define the concept — what visual metaphor represents the topic?
Generate with AI — use Flux or Gemini for photorealistic, Ideogram if text needed
Specify 1200x630 (works for both hero and OG image) or 1920x1080 for full-width
Optimize — compress to <200KB, serve as WebP with JPEG fallback

Prompt pattern:

[Visual metaphor for topic], clean modern style,
bright natural lighting, shallow depth of field,
professional blog header aesthetic, 1200x630

Social Media Graphics

Platform-specific images for organic posts.

| Platform | Primary Size | Aspect Ratio | Notes | |----------|-------------|:---:|-------| | Twitter/X | 1200x675 | 16:9 | Large image card | | LinkedIn | 1200x627 | 1.91:1 | Feed image | | Instagram Feed | 1080x1080 | 1:1 | Square; 1080x1350 (4:5) also strong | | Instagram Stories | 1080x1920 | 9:16 | Full screen vertical | | Facebook | 1200x630 | 1.91:1 | Link share image |

Workflow:

Create the hero concept at highest resolution needed
Use Canva Magic Resize or manual crop for platform variants
Add text overlays programmatically (Ideogram or post-processing) if needed
Export at platform-specific dimensions

Product Mockups & Screenshots

Showcase your product UI in context. AI models hallucinate UI — don't use them for this.

Capture real screenshots of your product at 2x resolution
Frame in device mockups — use browser frame, laptop, or phone templates
Add context — callout arrows, feature labels, before/after comparisons
Annotate with code — Hyperframes or HTML/CSS for programmatic overlays

Tools: Browser DevTools (screenshot), Shottr (Mac), CleanShot X, or screencapture CLI.

Profile & Listing Banners

Banners for profiles, directory listings, and marketplace pages. Often the first visual impression.

| Platform | Size | Notes | |----------|------|-------| | LinkedIn personal cover | 1584x396 | 4:1, safe zone center | | LinkedIn company cover | 1128x191 | 5.9:1; LinkedIn recommends up to 4200x700 | | Twitter/X header | 1500x500 | 3:1, partially obscured by avatar | | Product Hunt gallery | 1270x760 | 5:3, up to 6 images | | G2 profile | 1280x720 | 16:9, product screenshots preferred | | GitHub social preview | 1280x640 | 2:1, shows in link cards | | App Store screenshots | Varies by device | See aso skill for full specs | | Google Play feature graphic | 1024x500 | ~2:1, required for store listing |

Best practices:

Keep text minimal — banners are seen at small sizes on mobile
Center critical content — edges get cropped differently per device
Show the product — real UI screenshots outperform abstract graphics on directory listings
Match your brand — use consistent colors, fonts, logo placement
Update seasonally — stale banners signal an inactive product

Workflow:

Pick the platform(s) and note exact dimensions
For directories (Product Hunt, G2): use real product screenshots with light annotation
For profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter): use brand colors + tagline + optional product shot
Generate with Canva/Figma templates or Ideogram (if text-heavy)
Test at actual display size — zoom out to check readability

Brand Assets

Logos, icons, and illustrations. AI generation has limits here.

| Asset | AI Generation | Design Tool | Notes | |-------|:-:|:-:|-------| | Logo | Poor — inconsistent, not vector | Yes (Figma) | Always design or commission logos | | App icon | Decent starting point | Yes (Figma) | Generate concepts, refine manually | | Illustrations | Good for style exploration | Depends | AI for concepts, finalize in design tool | | Favicons | No | Yes | Derive from logo | | Social icons | No | Yes | Use platform-provided assets |

---

Image Optimization

Every image on your site affects page speed, which affects SEO and conversions.

Format Guide

| Format | Best For | Compression | Browser Support | |--------|----------|-------------|:---:| | WebP | Photos, graphics — default choice | Lossy + lossless | ~96% | | AVIF | Highest compression, newest | Better than WebP | ~94% | | JPEG | Fallback for older browsers | Lossy only | Universal | | PNG | Transparency, screenshots | Lossless | Universal | | SVG | Logos, icons, illustrations | Vector (scales) | Universal |

Optimization Checklist

[ ] Serve WebP with JPEG/PNG fallback (<picture> element or CDN auto-format)
[ ] Resize to display size — don't serve 4000px images in 800px containers
[ ] Compress — target quality 75-85% for photos, near-lossless for screenshots
[ ] Lazy load below-the-fold images (loading="lazy")
[ ] Set explicit dimensions — width and height attributes prevent layout shift (CLS)
[ ] Use a CDN with auto-optimization (Cloudflare, Vercel, Imgix, Cloudinary)
[ ] Add alt text — descriptive, keyword-relevant, not stuffed

Quick Optimization Commands

# Convert to WebP (using cwebp)
cwebp -q 80 input.png -o output.webp

# Batch convert with ImageMagick
mogrify -format webp -quality 80 *.png

# Optimize JPEG (using jpegoptim)
jpegoptim --max=80 --strip-all *.jpg

# Check image sizes on a page
curl -s https://yoursite.com | grep -oP 'src="[^"]+\.(jpg|png|webp)"' | head -20

---

OG & Social Preview Images

The image that appears when your URL is shared on social media, Slack, Discord, etc.

Required Meta Tags

<meta property="og:image" content="https://yoursite.com/og/page-name.jpg" />
<meta property="og:image:width" content="1200" />
<meta property="og:image:height" content="630" />
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://yoursite.com/og/page-name.jpg" />

Dynamic OG Images

Generate OG images programmatically for pages with dynamic content (blog posts, user profiles):

Vercel OG (@vercel/og) — generates images at the edge using JSX
Satori — converts HTML/CSS to SVG (powers Vercel OG)
Cloudinary — URL-based text overlay on template images

Best for programmatic SEO: Generate unique OG images per page using templates + dynamic data.

---

Common Mistakes

Using AI for product UI screenshots — models hallucinate interfaces; capture real screenshots
Skipping image optimization — unoptimized images are a common cause of slow pages, and the hero image is often the LCP element
No OG image — shared links look broken without a preview image
Wrong aspect ratio — always check platform specs before generating
Text-heavy images without Ideogram — most AI models butcher text; use Ideogram or add text in post
Generating without style direction — "photorealistic," "flat illustration," "3D render" drastically changes output
Inconsistent brand visuals — use Flux multi-reference or design templates for consistency
Huge images on landing pages — compress, resize, lazy load

---

Task-Specific Questions

What type of image do you need? (Blog hero, social graphic, mockup, banner, brand asset)
What platform or placement? (This determines dimensions)
Do you have brand assets to match? (Colors, fonts, logo, style guide)
Is this a one-off or a repeatable template?
Do you have API keys for any image generation tools?
Does this need to be optimized for web performance?

---

Related Skills

ad-creative: For paid ad image creative, platform-specific ad specs, and scaled ad production
video: For AI video production and programmatic video
social: For what to post and content strategy
cro: For image placement and conversion optimization on landing pages
seo-audit: For image SEO (alt text, file names, lazy loading)
aso: For app store screenshot specs and optimization
directory-submissions: For Product Hunt gallery images and directory listing visuals