Imagegen

Use-case taxonomy (exact slugs)

Classify each request into one of these buckets and keep the slug consistent across prompts and references.

Generate:

• photorealistic-natural — candid/editorial lifestyle scenes with real texture and natural lighting.
• product-mockup — product/packaging shots, catalog imagery, merch concepts.
• ui-mockup — app/web interface mockups that look shippable.
• infographic-diagram — diagrams/infographics with structured layout and text.
• logo-brand — logo/mark exploration, vector-friendly.
• illustration-story — comics, children’s book art, narrative scenes.
• stylized-concept — style-driven concept art, 3D/stylized renders.
• historical-scene — period-accurate/world-knowledge scenes.

Edit:

• text-localization — translate/replace in-image text, preserve layout.
• identity-preserve — try-on, person-in-scene; lock face/body/pose.
• precise-object-edit — remove/replace a specific element (incl. interior swaps).
• lighting-weather — time-of-day/season/atmosphere changes only.
• background-extraction — transparent background / clean cutout.
• style-transfer — apply reference style while changing subject/scene.
• compositing — multi-image insert/merge with matched lighting/perspective.
• sketch-to-render — drawing/line art to photoreal render.

Quick clarification (augmentation vs invention):

• If the user says “a hero image for a landing page”, you may add layout/composition constraints that are implied by that use (e.g., “generous negative space on the right for headline text”).
• Do not introduce new creative elements the user didn’t ask for (e.g., adding a mascot, changing the subject, inventing brand names/logos).

Template (include only relevant lines):

Use case: <taxonomy slug>
Asset type: <where the asset will be used>
Primary request: <user's main prompt>
Scene/background: <environment>
Subject: <main subject>
Style/medium: <photo/illustration/3D/etc>
Composition/framing: <wide/close/top-down; placement>
Lighting/mood: <lighting + mood>
Color palette: <palette notes>
Materials/textures: <surface details>
Quality: <low/medium/high/auto>
Input fidelity (edits): <low/high>
Text (verbatim): "<exact text>"
Constraints: <must keep/must avoid>
Avoid: <negative constraints>

Augmentation rules:

• Keep it short; add only details the user already implied or provided elsewhere.
• Always classify the request into a taxonomy slug above and tailor constraints/composition/quality to that bucket. Use the slug to find the matching example in references/sample-prompts.md.
• If the user gives a broad request (e.g., "Generate images for this website"), use judgment to propose tasteful, context-appropriate assets and map each to a taxonomy slug.
• For edits, explicitly list invariants ("change only X; keep Y unchanged").
• If any critical detail is missing and blocks success, ask a question; otherwise proceed.

Examples

Generation example (hero image)

Use case: stylized-concept
Asset type: landing page hero
Primary request: a minimal hero image of a ceramic coffee mug
Style/medium: clean product photography
Composition/framing: centered product, generous negative space on the right
Lighting/mood: soft studio lighting
Constraints: no logos, no text, no watermark

Edit example (invariants)

Use case: precise-object-edit
Asset type: product photo background replacement
Primary request: replace the background with a warm sunset gradient
Constraints: change only the background; keep the product and its edges unchanged; no text; no watermark

Prompting best practices (short list)

• Structure prompt as scene -> subject -> details -> constraints.
• Include intended use (ad, UI mock, infographic) to set the mode and polish level.
• Use camera/composition language for photorealism.
• Quote exact text and specify typography + placement.
• For tricky words, spell them letter-by-letter and require verbatim rendering.
• For multi-image inputs, reference images by index and describe how to combine them.
• For edits, repeat invariants every iteration to reduce drift.
• Iterate with single-change follow-ups.
• For latency-sensitive runs, start with quality=low; use quality=high for text-heavy or detail-critical outputs.
• For strict edits (identity/layout lock), consider input_fidelity=high.
• If results feel “tacky”, add a brief “Avoid:” line (stock-photo vibe; cheesy lens flare; oversaturated neon; harsh bloom; oversharpening; clutter) and specify restraint (“editorial”, “premium”, “subtle”).

More principles: references/prompting.md. Copy/paste specs: references/sample-prompts.md.

Guidance by asset type

Asset-type templates (website assets, game assets, wireframes, logo) are consolidated in references/sample-prompts.md.

CLI + environment notes

• CLI commands + examples: references/cli.md
• API parameter quick reference: references/image-api.md
• If network approvals / sandbox settings are getting in the way: references/codex-network.md

Reference map

• references/cli.md: how to run image generation/edits/batches via scripts/image_gen.py (commands, flags, recipes).
• references/image-api.md: what knobs exist at the API level (parameters, sizes, quality, background, edit-only fields).
• references/prompting.md: prompting principles (structure, constraints/invariants, iteration patterns).
• references/sample-prompts.md: copy/paste prompt recipes (generate + edit workflows; examples only).
• references/codex-network.md: environment/sandbox/network-approval troubleshooting.