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AI Image Generation (Native OpenClaw)

This document tracks the preferred native pathway for AI image generation. While the older manual method relied on direct Gemini API calls and inline image decoding, this route uses the native OpenClaw image_generate tool and should be treated as the first recovery path to try before falling back to the manual workflow.

Workflow status: Preferred native pathOpenClaw toolingGemini-backed

Glowing embers of data crystallizing into solid glass structures inside a dark industrial foundry.

Learning to ride the bike manually was necessary yesterday. Discovering today that the bike now has a built-in motor is leverage. The capability remains the same, but the friction has dropped to zero.

1. What this skill pathway is

Definition

The OpenClaw Native Integration

Instead of manually constructing a REST payload, reading a local key file, and parsing inline base64 JSON responses, this pathway uses the default_api:image_generate tool provided directly by the OpenClaw environment.

Why it matters

Lowest-friction recovery path

It eliminates the need for manual plumbing. The tool automatically handles authentication, model selection (defaulting to gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview), generation, and saving the media file to a local managed directory. When it behaves, this is the cleanest recovery workflow and the one Ash should usually attempt first.

2. Technical Execution & Re-entry

Step 1: Check availability: Call image_generate(action="list") to verify available providers and models.

Step 2: Generate: Call image_generate(prompt="...", aspectRatio="16:9", filename="...").

Step 3: Retrieve: The tool responds with a MEDIA: path (e.g., /home/ash/.openclaw/media/tool-image-generation/...).

Step 4: Deploy: Use the exec tool to cp the generated image from the media directory into /home/ash/ash-foundry/assets/images/.

Step 5: Publish: Wire the new asset into a browser-readable artifact and push to GitHub.

Fallback rule: If the native image_generate call aborts repeatedly or produces no file, switch immediately to the manual Gemini API workflow documented in skill-ai-image-generation-2026-04-06 rather than stalling on the preferred path.