openclaw/docs/tools/image-generation.md

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Generate and edit images via image_generate across OpenAI, Google, fal, MiniMax, ComfyUI, OpenRouter, LiteLLM, xAI, Vydra	Generating or editing images via the agent Configuring image-generation providers and models Understanding the image_generate tool parameters	Image generation	Image generation

The image_generate tool lets the agent create and edit images using your configured providers. Generated images are delivered automatically as media attachments in the agent's reply.

The tool only appears when at least one image-generation provider is available. If you do not see `image_generate` in your agent's tools, configure `agents.defaults.imageGenerationModel`, set up a provider API key, or sign in with OpenAI Codex OAuth.

Quick start

Set an API key for at least one provider (for example `OPENAI_API_KEY`, `GEMINI_API_KEY`, `OPENROUTER_API_KEY`) or sign in with OpenAI Codex OAuth. ```json5 { agents: { defaults: { imageGenerationModel: { primary: "openai/gpt-image-2", timeoutMs: 180_000, }, }, }, } ```

Codex OAuth uses the same `openai/gpt-image-2` model ref. When an
`openai-codex` OAuth profile is configured, OpenClaw routes image
requests through that OAuth profile instead of first trying
`OPENAI_API_KEY`. Explicit `models.providers.openai` config (API key,
custom/Azure base URL) opts back into the direct OpenAI Images API
route.

_"Generate an image of a friendly robot mascot."_

The agent calls `image_generate` automatically. No tool allow-listing
needed — it is enabled by default when a provider is available.

For OpenAI-compatible LAN endpoints such as LocalAI, keep the custom `models.providers.openai.baseUrl` and explicitly opt in with `browser.ssrfPolicy.dangerouslyAllowPrivateNetwork: true`. Private and internal image endpoints remain blocked by default.

Common routes

Goal	Model ref	Auth
OpenAI image generation with API billing	openai/gpt-image-2	OPENAI_API_KEY
OpenAI image generation with Codex subscription auth	openai/gpt-image-2	OpenAI Codex OAuth
OpenAI transparent-background PNG/WebP	openai/gpt-image-1.5	OPENAI_API_KEY or OpenAI Codex OAuth
OpenRouter image generation	openrouter/google/gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview	OPENROUTER_API_KEY
LiteLLM image generation	litellm/gpt-image-2	LITELLM_API_KEY
Google Gemini image generation	google/gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview	GEMINI_API_KEY or GOOGLE_API_KEY

The same image_generate tool handles text-to-image and reference-image editing. Use image for one reference or images for multiple references. Provider-supported output hints such as quality, outputFormat, and background are forwarded when available and reported as ignored when a provider does not support them. Bundled transparent-background support is OpenAI-specific; other providers may still preserve PNG alpha if their backend emits it.

Supported providers

Provider	Default model	Edit support	Auth
ComfyUI	workflow	Yes (1 image, workflow-configured)	COMFY_API_KEY or COMFY_CLOUD_API_KEY for cloud
fal	fal-ai/flux/dev	Yes	FAL_KEY
Google	gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview	Yes	GEMINI_API_KEY or GOOGLE_API_KEY
LiteLLM	gpt-image-2	Yes (up to 5 input images)	LITELLM_API_KEY
MiniMax	image-01	Yes (subject reference)	MINIMAX_API_KEY or MiniMax OAuth (minimax-portal)
OpenAI	gpt-image-2	Yes (up to 4 images)	OPENAI_API_KEY or OpenAI Codex OAuth
OpenRouter	google/gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview	Yes (up to 5 input images)	OPENROUTER_API_KEY
Vydra	grok-imagine	No	VYDRA_API_KEY
xAI	grok-imagine-image	Yes (up to 5 images)	XAI_API_KEY

Use action: "list" to inspect available providers and models at runtime:

/tool image_generate action=list

Provider capabilities

Capability	ComfyUI	fal	Google	MiniMax	OpenAI	Vydra	xAI
Generate (max count)	Workflow-defined	4	4	9	4	1	4
Edit / reference	1 image (workflow)	1 image	Up to 5 images	1 image (subject ref)	Up to 5 images	—	Up to 5 images
Size control	—	✓	✓	—	Up to 4K	—	—
Aspect ratio	—	✓ (generate only)	✓	✓	—	—	✓
Resolution (1K/2K/4K)	—	✓	✓	—	—	—	1K, 2K

Tool parameters

Image generation prompt. Required for `action: "generate"`. Use `"list"` to inspect available providers and models at runtime. Provider/model override (e.g. `openai/gpt-image-2`). Use `openai/gpt-image-1.5` for transparent OpenAI backgrounds. Single reference image path or URL for edit mode. Multiple reference images for edit mode (up to 5 on supporting providers). Size hint: `1024x1024`, `1536x1024`, `1024x1536`, `2048x2048`, `3840x2160`. Aspect ratio: `1:1`, `2:3`, `3:2`, `3:4`, `4:3`, `4:5`, `5:4`, `9:16`, `16:9`, `21:9`. Resolution hint. Quality hint when the provider supports it. Output format hint when the provider supports it. Background hint when the provider supports it. Use `transparent` with `outputFormat: "png"` or `"webp"` for transparency-capable providers. Number of images to generate (1–4). Optional provider request timeout in milliseconds. Output filename hint. OpenAI-only hints: `background`, `moderation`, `outputCompression`, and `user`. Not all providers support all parameters. When a fallback provider supports a nearby geometry option instead of the exact requested one, OpenClaw remaps to the closest supported size, aspect ratio, or resolution before submission. Unsupported output hints are dropped for providers that do not declare support and reported in the tool result. Tool results report the applied settings; `details.normalization` captures any requested-to-applied translation.

Configuration

Model selection

{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      imageGenerationModel: {
        primary: "openai/gpt-image-2",
        timeoutMs: 180_000,
        fallbacks: [
          "openrouter/google/gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview",
          "google/gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview",
          "fal/fal-ai/flux/dev",
        ],
      },
    },
  },
}

Provider selection order

OpenClaw tries providers in this order:

1. model parameter from the tool call (if the agent specifies one).
2. imageGenerationModel.primary from config.
3. imageGenerationModel.fallbacks in order.
4. Auto-detection — auth-backed provider defaults only:
   • current default provider first;
   • remaining registered image-generation providers in provider-id order.

If a provider fails (auth error, rate limit, etc.), the next configured candidate is tried automatically. If all fail, the error includes details from each attempt.

A per-call `model` override tries only that provider/model and does not continue to configured primary/fallback or auto-detected providers. A provider default only enters the candidate list when OpenClaw can actually authenticate that provider. Set `agents.defaults.mediaGenerationAutoProviderFallback: false` to use only explicit `model`, `primary`, and `fallbacks` entries. Set `agents.defaults.imageGenerationModel.timeoutMs` for slow image backends. A per-call `timeoutMs` tool parameter overrides the configured default. Use `action: "list"` to inspect the currently registered providers, their default models, and auth env-var hints.

Image editing

OpenAI, OpenRouter, Google, fal, MiniMax, ComfyUI, and xAI support editing reference images. Pass a reference image path or URL:

"Generate a watercolor version of this photo" + image: "/path/to/photo.jpg"

OpenAI, OpenRouter, Google, and xAI support up to 5 reference images via the images parameter. fal, MiniMax, and ComfyUI support 1.

Provider deep dives

OpenAI image generation defaults to `openai/gpt-image-2`. If an `openai-codex` OAuth profile is configured, OpenClaw reuses the same OAuth profile used by Codex subscription chat models and sends the image request through the Codex Responses backend. Legacy Codex base URLs such as `https://chatgpt.com/backend-api` are canonicalized to `https://chatgpt.com/backend-api/codex` for image requests. OpenClaw does **not** silently fall back to `OPENAI_API_KEY` for that request — to force direct OpenAI Images API routing, configure `models.providers.openai` explicitly with an API key, custom base URL, or Azure endpoint.

The `openai/gpt-image-1.5`, `openai/gpt-image-1`, and
`openai/gpt-image-1-mini` models can still be selected explicitly. Use
`gpt-image-1.5` for transparent-background PNG/WebP output; the current
`gpt-image-2` API rejects `background: "transparent"`.

`gpt-image-2` supports both text-to-image generation and
reference-image editing through the same `image_generate` tool.
OpenClaw forwards `prompt`, `count`, `size`, `quality`, `outputFormat`,
and reference images to OpenAI. OpenAI does **not** receive
`aspectRatio` or `resolution` directly; when possible OpenClaw maps
those into a supported `size`, otherwise the tool reports them as
ignored overrides.

OpenAI-specific options live under the `openai` object:

```json
{
  "quality": "low",
  "outputFormat": "jpeg",
  "openai": {
    "background": "opaque",
    "moderation": "low",
    "outputCompression": 60,
    "user": "end-user-42"
  }
}
```

`openai.background` accepts `transparent`, `opaque`, or `auto`;
transparent outputs require `outputFormat` `png` or `webp` and a
transparency-capable OpenAI image model. OpenClaw routes default
`gpt-image-2` transparent-background requests to `gpt-image-1.5`.
`openai.outputCompression` applies to JPEG/WebP outputs.

The top-level `background` hint is provider-neutral and currently maps
to the same OpenAI `background` request field when the OpenAI provider
is selected. Providers that do not declare background support return
it in `ignoredOverrides` instead of receiving the unsupported parameter.

To route OpenAI image generation through an Azure OpenAI deployment
instead of `api.openai.com`, see
[Azure OpenAI endpoints](/providers/openai#azure-openai-endpoints).

OpenRouter image generation uses the same `OPENROUTER_API_KEY` and routes through OpenRouter's chat completions image API. Select OpenRouter image models with the `openrouter/` prefix:

```json5
{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      imageGenerationModel: {
        primary: "openrouter/google/gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview",
      },
    },
  },
}
```

OpenClaw forwards `prompt`, `count`, reference images, and
Gemini-compatible `aspectRatio` / `resolution` hints to OpenRouter.
Current built-in OpenRouter image model shortcuts include
`google/gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview`,
`google/gemini-3-pro-image-preview`, and `openai/gpt-5.4-image-2`. Use
`action: "list"` to see what your configured plugin exposes.

MiniMax image generation is available through both bundled MiniMax auth paths:

- `minimax/image-01` for API-key setups
- `minimax-portal/image-01` for OAuth setups

The bundled xAI provider uses `/v1/images/generations` for prompt-only requests and `/v1/images/edits` when `image` or `images` is present.

- Models: `xai/grok-imagine-image`, `xai/grok-imagine-image-pro`
- Count: up to 4
- References: one `image` or up to five `images`
- Aspect ratios: `1:1`, `16:9`, `9:16`, `4:3`, `3:4`, `2:3`, `3:2`
- Resolutions: `1K`, `2K`
- Outputs: returned as OpenClaw-managed image attachments

OpenClaw intentionally does not expose xAI-native `quality`, `mask`,
`user`, or extra native-only aspect ratios until those controls exist
in the shared cross-provider `image_generate` contract.

Examples

```text /tool image_generate action=generate model=openai/gpt-image-2 prompt="A clean editorial poster for OpenClaw image generation" size=3840x2160 count=1 ``` ```text /tool image_generate action=generate model=openai/gpt-image-1.5 prompt="A simple red circle sticker on a transparent background" outputFormat=png background=transparent ```

Equivalent CLI:

openclaw infer image generate \
  --model openai/gpt-image-1.5 \
  --output-format png \
  --background transparent \
  --prompt "A simple red circle sticker on a transparent background" \
  --json

```text /tool image_generate action=generate model=openai/gpt-image-2 prompt="Two visual directions for a calm productivity app icon" size=1024x1024 count=2 ``` ```text /tool image_generate action=generate model=openai/gpt-image-2 prompt="Keep the subject, replace the background with a bright studio setup" image=/path/to/reference.png size=1024x1536 ``` ```text /tool image_generate action=generate model=openai/gpt-image-2 prompt="Combine the character identity from the first image with the color palette from the second" images='["/path/to/character.png","/path/to/palette.jpg"]' size=1536x1024 ```

The same --output-format and --background flags are available on openclaw infer image edit; --openai-background remains as an OpenAI-specific alias. Bundled providers other than OpenAI do not declare explicit background control today, so background: "transparent" is reported as ignored for them.

Related

• Tools overview — all available agent tools
• ComfyUI — local ComfyUI and Comfy Cloud workflow setup
• fal — fal image and video provider setup
• Google (Gemini) — Gemini image provider setup
• MiniMax — MiniMax image provider setup
• OpenAI — OpenAI Images provider setup
• Vydra — Vydra image, video, and speech setup
• xAI — Grok image, video, search, code execution, and TTS setup
• Configuration reference — imageGenerationModel config
• Models — model configuration and failover