This skill covers multi-step creative pipelines that deliver a complete outcome with the current gen-ai CLI command set.
Core patterns
Use these rules for every workflow:
- Check pricing first. Use
gen-ai pricing <model>and multiply by job count/duration before large runs. - Validate batches. Use
gen-ai batch run <manifest.json> --dry-run. - Start cheap, upgrade finals. Draft with cheaper model families; rerender only approved finals with premium models.
- Lock identity with references. Pass
-i hero.webp,--video clip.mp4, or--audio line.mp3whenever consistency matters. - Fold brand guidance into prompts. If a repo has
brand.md, read it and include the relevant constraints directly in prompts. - Keep batch output local first. Use
-o <output-dir>and share or upload the approved files after review. - Resume failed batches with the subcommand. Use
gen-ai batch resume <output-dir>. - Use JSON for exact filenames. For one-off generations, use
--json --no-input | jq -r '.url' | xargs curl -L -o <file>.
Workflow 1 — Blog-to-visuals
Input: a blog draft. Output: hero + 3 inline illustrations + OG image.
DRAFT="post.md"
OUT="assets"
mkdir -p "$OUT"
TITLE=$(grep -m1 '^#' "$DRAFT" | sed 's/^# //')
BRAND="$(cat brand.md 2>/dev/null || true)"
INTRO="$(sed -n '1,80p' "$DRAFT")"
gen-ai generate -m flux-2-pro \
-p "$BRAND
Editorial 16:9 hero for: $TITLE. Context: $INTRO" \
--ar 16:9 --json --no-input | jq -r '.url' | xargs curl -L -o "$OUT/hero.webp"
for i in 1 2 3; do
gen-ai generate -m recraft-v4 \
-p "$BRAND
Inline illustration $i for: $TITLE. Use a clear editorial visual metaphor from the draft." \
--ar 1:1 --json --no-input | jq -r '.url' | xargs curl -L -o "$OUT/inline-$i.webp"
done
gen-ai generate -m ideogram-v3 \
-p "$BRAND
Editorial poster, headline reads: \"$TITLE\", dark background, high contrast type" \
--ar 1200x630 --json --no-input | jq -r '.url' | xargs curl -L -o "$OUT/og.webp"
Workflow 2 — Campaign asset kit
Input: one brief. Output: email header + IG tiles + LP hero + ad variants.
cat > campaign.json <<EOF
{
"jobs": [
{
"id": "email-header",
"model": "flux-2-pro",
"prompt": "$BRAND $BRIEF — email header",
"aspectRatio": "3:1"
},
{
"id": "ig-01",
"model": "recraft-v4",
"prompt": "$BRAND $BRIEF — square social tile",
"aspectRatio": "1:1"
},
{
"id": "lp-hero",
"model": "flux-2-pro",
"prompt": "$BRAND $BRIEF — landing page hero",
"aspectRatio": "16:9"
},
{
"id": "ad-vertical",
"model": "recraft-v4",
"prompt": "$BRAND $BRIEF — paid social ad",
"aspectRatio": "9:16"
}
]
}
EOF
gen-ai pricing flux-2-pro
gen-ai pricing recraft-v4
gen-ai batch run campaign.json --dry-run
gen-ai batch run campaign.json -c 4 -o ./campaign-output
Workflow 3 — Catalog reshoot
Input: SKU CSV and raw product photos. Output: styled catalog images.
Have the agent convert the CSV into a manifest with one job per SKU:
{
"defaults": { "model": "recraft-replace-bg" },
"jobs": [
{
"id": "sku-001",
"imageUrls": ["raw/sku-001.png"],
"prompt": "brand-safe lifestyle studio scene, preserve product shape and label"
}
]
}
Then run:
gen-ai batch run catalog.json --dry-run
gen-ai batch run catalog.json -c 6 -o ./styled
If providers fail intermittently:
gen-ai batch resume ./styled -c 3
Workflow 4 — OG image service
Input: any URL. Output: branded 1200x630 OG preview.
#!/bin/bash
URL="$1"
TITLE=$(curl -sL "$URL" | pup 'title text{}' | head -1)
BRAND="$(cat brand.md 2>/dev/null || true)"
gen-ai generate -m ideogram-v3 \
-p "$BRAND
Editorial poster, headline reads: \"$TITLE\", dark #121212, magenta #FF47FF accent" \
--ar 1200x630 --json --no-input | jq -r '.url'
For production, cache per URL in KV with a 24h TTL.
Workflow 5 — Launch kit
Input: product idea. Output: hero + social variants + reel with soundtrack.
PRODUCT="ceramic espresso cup, matte charcoal finish, brand palette magenta + cyan"
gen-ai generate -m flux-2-pro -p "$PRODUCT — magazine editorial" --ar 16:9 \
--json --no-input | jq -r '.url' | xargs curl -L -o hero.webp
gen-ai generate -m recraft-v4 -i hero.webp \
-p "$PRODUCT — square social variant" --count 4 --ar 1:1 --download ./socials
gen-ai generate -m kling-motion-control-v3 -i hero.webp --duration 5 \
--json --no-input | jq -r '.url' | xargs curl -L -o reel.mp4
gen-ai extend --video reel.mp4 --times 2 --ar 16:9 --download ./extended
# Replace <extended-video>.mp4 with the downloaded file name from ./extended.
gen-ai video-audio -m kling-v2a --video ./extended/<extended-video>.mp4 \
-p "confident warm synth bed, 120bpm, uplifting. intro builds, drop at :10." \
--json --no-input | jq -r '.url' | xargs curl -L -o launch-reel-with-sound.mp4
If the brief requires separate music stems, generate minimax-music separately and mix later in the user's editor or any available local media tool.
Workflow 6 — Headshot studio
gen-ai upscale -m topaz-upscale-image -i selfie.jpg --scale 2 --json --no-input \
| jq -r '.url' | xargs curl -L -o selfie-hd.png
gen-ai generate -m ideogram-character -i selfie-hd.png \
-p "linkedin headshot, id photo, editorial portrait, casual outdoor" \
--count 4 --ar 1:1 --download ./headshots
Workflow 7 — Localize campaign
Create a manifest with one job per market:
{
"jobs": [
{
"id": "de-hero",
"model": "qwen-image-edit-plus",
"imageUrls": ["hero.webp"],
"prompt": "Localize the visual for Germany; preserve brand palette and product"
},
{
"id": "ja-hero",
"model": "qwen-image-edit-plus",
"imageUrls": ["hero.webp"],
"prompt": "Localize the visual for Japan; preserve brand palette and product"
}
]
}
gen-ai batch run localize.json -c 4 -o ./localized
Workflow 8 — Seasonal refresh
cat > holiday.json <<EOF
{
"defaults": { "model": "qwen-image-edit-plus" },
"jobs": [
{
"id": "sku-001-holiday",
"imageUrls": ["sku-001.png"],
"prompt": "$BRAND holiday 2026 — warm festive props, soft snow, warm tungsten"
},
{
"id": "sku-002-holiday",
"imageUrls": ["sku-002.png"],
"prompt": "$BRAND holiday 2026 — same treatment"
}
]
}
EOF
gen-ai batch run holiday.json --dry-run
gen-ai batch run holiday.json -c 5 -o ./holiday
Workflow 9 — Pitch mockups
cat > pitch.json <<EOF
{
"defaults": { "model": "recraft-v4" },
"jobs": [
{
"id": "pitch-hero",
"prompt": "$(cat clients/acme/brand.md) pitch hero — editorial, $CLIENT launch concept",
"aspectRatio": "16:9"
},
{
"id": "pitch-tile",
"prompt": "$(cat clients/acme/brand.md) product tile",
"aspectRatio": "1:1"
},
{
"id": "pitch-quote",
"prompt": "$(cat clients/acme/brand.md) quote slide, large editorial type",
"aspectRatio": "16:9"
}
]
}
EOF
gen-ai batch run pitch.json -c 4 -o ./pitch
Workflow 10 — Ad variant factory
For a small variant set, use --count:
gen-ai generate -m recraft-v4 -i hero.webp \
-p "paid social variant, preserve palette and product identity" \
--count 8 --ar 1:1 --download ./ad-variants
For 50+ variants, have the agent write a manifest with one explicit job per aspect, audience, and copy angle, then run:
gen-ai batch run variants.json -c 6 -o ./variants
jq '.jobs[] | {id, status, url}' ./variants/results.json > variants-summary.json
Workflow 11 — Press batch
gen-ai batch run press.json -c 4 -o ./press-upscaled
Apply watermarks after download with whatever tool is available: a deck/editor overlay, ImageMagick, or ffmpeg if already installed. If no local media tools are available, keep the watermark in the prompt/design or hand off the source files.
For agents
- Choose the closest workflow and adapt it to the user’s exact files.
- Use only supported CLI commands in generated instructions.
- Generate manifests as
{ "jobs": [...] }. - Use
gen-ai batch run,gen-ai batch resume,gen-ai models,gen-ai pricing, andgen-ai validateas the stable automation primitives. - Keep brand constraints inside prompts until the CLI ships a first-class policy gate.
- Read
results.jsonfor batch traceability instead of inventing audit/export commands.