create-image-gpt-image-fal

Purpose

Generate one image via fal.ai's OpenAI gpt-image endpoints. Two model families are supported through a single --model flag:

• gpt-image-1 (default) — fal-ai/gpt-image-1. The FAL fallback for Higgsfield's gpt_image_2. Fixed output sizes only. Used by:
  • video-orchestrator/lock-character Phase 0 (anchor portrait) and Phase 1 (angle keyframes via /edit)
  • video-orchestrator/create-clips Phase 1 for photoreal scenes
  • the orchestrator's generate_with_fallback.py router on Higgsfield failure
• gpt-image-2 — openai/gpt-image-2. The newer model; accepts custom output sizes (any multiple of 16, up to 3840px) and renders dense text/layouts well. Used for designed sheets such as ad storyboards (create-storyboard-sheets-fal).

The default stays gpt-image-1 so existing callers and the lock-character anchor-parity contract are unaffected. Opt into the newer model with --model gpt-image-2.

Pricing (approximate, as of 2026-05)

• gpt-image-1 — $0.04 (low), $0.08 (medium), $0.20 (high) per image. Source: fal.ai/models/fal-ai/gpt-image-1.
• gpt-image-2 — token-priced; rough per-image estimate $0.02 (low), $0.07 (medium), $0.19 (high). Source: fal.ai/models/openai/gpt-image-2.

The script defaults to medium; pass --quality high for finals.

Inputs

Required:

• --prompt — text prompt. A verbatim character descriptor block goes here for character work.
• --output — local PNG destination.

Optional:

• --model — gpt-image-1 (default) or gpt-image-2.
• --aspect-ratio — 9:16 (default), 16:9, 1:1, 2:3, 3:2. gpt-image-2 also accepts 3:4, 4:3, 4:5. Used when --image-size is not given.
• --image-size — explicit WIDTHxHEIGHT (e.g. 1728x2304). gpt-image-2 only — values are rounded to multiples of 16 and capped at 3840px. On gpt-image-1 a custom size is ignored with a warning and the aspect-ratio mapping is used instead.
• --quality — low | medium | high (default medium).
• --ref-image — local image path. Repeatable — pass --ref-image PATH --ref-image PATH to send multiple refs (e.g. identity + style). When present, routes to the model's /edit variant so the model can match the references (used for character angle gens off an anchor, and for style-anchor + identity-anchor composition). Order matters: pass identity (character) first, then style refs.
• --with-logs — stream fal queue logs.

Credentials:

• FAL_API_KEY (or FAL_KEY) in .env.

Preflight

test -n "$FAL_API_KEY" || test -n "$FAL_KEY" || { echo "Missing FAL_API_KEY / FAL_KEY in .env"; exit 1; }
python3 -c "import fal_client" || pip3 install fal_client

Workflow

# Text-to-image, default model (gpt-image-1)
python3 skills/ads/capabilities/create-image-gpt-image-fal/scripts/generate.py \
  --prompt "..." \
  --output /path/to/anchor.png \
  --aspect-ratio 9:16 \
  --quality medium
 
# Edit-from-reference (anchor -> angle), default model
python3 .../generate.py \
  --prompt "..." \
  --output /path/to/angle-3q-left.png \
  --ref-image /path/to/anchor.png \
  --aspect-ratio 9:16
 
# gpt-image-2 with a custom output size (e.g. a designed storyboard sheet)
python3 .../generate.py \
  --prompt "..." \
  --output /path/to/storyboard.png \
  --model gpt-image-2 \
  --image-size 1728x2304 \
  --quality high

The script:

1. Loads the FAL key via fal_helpers.load_fal_key().
2. Resolves the model family (--model) and output size (--image-size if given and supported, else the aspect-ratio mapping).
3. If one or more --ref-image flags are set, uploads each to fal storage and routes to the model's /edit variant with image_urls=[url1, url2, ...]. Otherwise routes to the /text-to-image variant.
4. Calls fal_client.subscribe(model, payload) via fal_helpers.subscribe.
5. Downloads the first result image to --output.
6. Writes <output>.meta.json with gateway, model id, model_family, request, and cost.

Output

• <output_path> — PNG (≥ 1 KB).
• <output_path>.meta.json — request + result metadata + cost, including model_family (gpt-image-1 or gpt-image-2).

Quality Checks

• Output file exists and is > 1 KB.
• For character anchors: visually inspect against the descriptor block (hair, shirt color, age).
• meta.json includes gateway: "fal", the resolved model id, model_family, image_size, and quality.
• For gpt-image-2 custom sizes: confirm the output dimensions match the requested WIDTHxHEIGHT.
• No readable text in the prompt that should appear in the image. AI image models mangle short brand text, URLs, code tokens, captions, and wordmarks even with explicit prompting. Examples observed: "ffmpeg" → "ffmmg"; "klarify" → "clarify"; "therapists" → "therapits". Use PIL or ffmpeg drawtext for any overlay containing readable text. Reserve image gen for purely visual content (characters, scenes, backgrounds). Repeats LEARNINGS L4.

Failure Modes

Cross-provider parity note

When this atom generates a character anchor (lock-character Phase 0), the anchor approved here MUST be pinned for all downstream angle gens, and the same --model must be used for those angle gens. Mixing model families (or mixing FAL-gpt-image with Higgsfield-gpt_image_2) introduces aesthetic drift. The orchestrator's generate_with_fallback.py inherits gateway/model_family from the anchor's .meta.json for subsequent calls.

References

• fal.ai/models/fal-ai/gpt-image-1
• fal.ai/models/openai/gpt-image-2
• Sibling Higgsfield path: mcp__higgsfield__generate_image with model="gpt_image_2"
• Shared helpers: scripts/fal_helpers.py (vendored alongside generate.py — self-contained)
• Storyboard-sheet consumer: create-storyboard-sheets-fal (video flow, in the separate ads-video repo)