fal.ai Image Generation & Editing Skill

Professional AI-powered image workflows using fal.ai's state-of-the-art models including FLUX, Recraft V3, Imagen4, and more.

Three Modes of Operation

1. Text-to-Image (fal-text-to-image)

Generate images from scratch using text prompts

2. Image Remix (fal-image-remix)

Transform existing images while preserving composition

3. Image Edit (fal-image-edit)

Targeted inpainting and masked editing

When to Use This Skill

Trigger when user:

• Requests image generation from text descriptions
• Wants to transform/remix existing images with AI
• Needs to edit specific regions of images (inpainting)
• Wants to create images with specific styles (vector, realistic, typography)
• Needs high-resolution professional images (up to 2K)
• Wants to use a reference image for style transfer
• Mentions specific models like FLUX, Recraft, or Imagen
• Asks for logo, poster, or brand-style image generation
• Needs object removal or targeted modifications

Quick Start

Text-to-Image: Generate from Scratch

bash
# Basic generation
uv run python fal-text-to-image "A cyberpunk city at sunset with neon lights"

# With specific model
uv run python fal-text-to-image -m flux-pro/v1.1-ultra "Professional headshot"

# With style reference
uv run python fal-text-to-image -i reference.jpg "Mountain landscape" -m flux-2/lora/edit

Image Remix: Transform Existing Images

bash
# Transform style while preserving composition
uv run python fal-image-remix input.jpg "Transform into oil painting"

# With strength control (0.0=original, 1.0=full transformation)
uv run python fal-image-remix photo.jpg "Anime style character" --strength 0.6

# Premium quality remix
uv run python fal-image-remix -m flux-1.1-pro image.jpg "Professional portrait"

Image Edit: Targeted Modifications

bash
# Edit with mask image (white=edit area, black=preserve)
uv run python fal-image-edit input.jpg mask.png "Replace with flowers"

# Auto-generate mask from text
uv run python fal-image-edit input.jpg --mask-prompt "sky" "Make it sunset"

# Remove objects
uv run python fal-image-edit photo.jpg mask.png "Remove object" --strength 1.0

# General editing (no mask)
uv run python fal-image-edit photo.jpg "Enhance lighting and colors"

Model Selection Guide

The script intelligently selects the best model based on task context:

flux-pro/v1.1-ultra (Default for High-Res)

• Best for: Professional photography, high-resolution outputs (up to 2K)
• Strengths: Photo realism, professional quality
• Use when: User needs publication-ready images
• Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-pro/v1.1-ultra

recraft/v3/text-to-image (SOTA Quality)

• Best for: Typography, vector art, brand-style images, long text
• Strengths: Industry-leading benchmark scores, precise text rendering
• Use when: Creating logos, posters, or text-heavy designs
• Endpoint: fal-ai/recraft/v3/text-to-image

flux-2 (Best Balance)

• Best for: General-purpose image generation
• Strengths: Enhanced realism, crisp text, native editing
• Use when: Standard image generation needs
• Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-2

flux-2/lora (Custom Styles)

• Best for: Domain-specific styles, fine-tuned variations
• Strengths: Custom style adaptation
• Use when: User wants specific artistic styles
• Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-2/lora

flux-2/lora/edit (Style Transfer)

• Best for: Image-to-image editing with style references
• Strengths: Specialized style transfer
• Use when: User provides reference image with -i flag
• Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-2/lora/edit

imagen4/preview (Google Quality)

• Best for: High-quality general images
• Strengths: Google's highest quality model
• Use when: User specifically requests Imagen or Google models
• Endpoint: fal-ai/imagen4/preview

stable-diffusion-v35-large (Typography & Style)

• Best for: Complex prompts, typography, style control
• Strengths: Advanced prompt understanding, resource efficiency
• Use when: Complex multi-element compositions
• Endpoint: fal-ai/stable-diffusion-v35-large

ideogram/v2 (Typography Specialist)

• Best for: Posters, logos, text-heavy designs
• Strengths: Exceptional typography, realistic outputs
• Use when: Text accuracy is critical
• Endpoint: fal-ai/ideogram/v2

bria/text-to-image/3.2 (Commercial Safe)

• Best for: Commercial projects requiring licensed training data
• Strengths: Safe for commercial use, excellent text rendering
• Use when: Legal/licensing concerns matter
• Endpoint: fal-ai/bria/text-to-image/3.2

Command-Line Interface

bash
uv run python fal-text-to-image [OPTIONS] PROMPT

Arguments:
  PROMPT                    Text description of the image to generate

Options:
  -m, --model TEXT         Model to use (see model list above)
  -i, --image TEXT         Path or URL to reference image for style transfer
  -o, --output TEXT        Output filename (default: generated_image.png)
  -s, --size TEXT          Image size (e.g., "1024x1024", "landscape_16_9")
  --seed INTEGER           Random seed for reproducibility
  --steps INTEGER          Number of inference steps (model-dependent)
  --guidance FLOAT         Guidance scale (higher = more prompt adherence)
  --help                   Show this message and exit

Authentication Setup

Before first use, set your fal.ai API key:

bash
export FAL_KEY="your-api-key-here"

Or create a .env file in the skill directory:

env
FAL_KEY=your-api-key-here

Get your API key from: https://fal.ai/dashboard/keys

Advanced Examples

High-Resolution Professional Photo

bash
uv run python fal-text-to-image \
  -m flux-pro/v1.1-ultra \
  "Professional headshot of a business executive in modern office" \
  -s 2048x2048

Logo/Typography Design

bash
uv run python fal-text-to-image \
  -m recraft/v3/text-to-image \
  "Modern tech startup logo with text 'AI Labs' in minimalist style"

Style Transfer from Reference

bash
uv run python fal-text-to-image \
  -m flux-2/lora/edit \
  -i artistic_style.jpg \
  "Portrait of a woman in a garden"

Reproducible Generation

bash
uv run python fal-text-to-image \
  -m flux-2 \
  --seed 42 \
  "Futuristic cityscape with flying cars"

Model Selection Logic

The script automatically selects the best model when -m is not specified:

1. If -i provided: Uses flux-2/lora/edit for style transfer
2. If prompt contains typography keywords (logo, text, poster, sign): Uses recraft/v3/text-to-image
3. If prompt suggests high-res needs (professional, portrait, headshot): Uses flux-pro/v1.1-ultra
4. If prompt mentions vector/brand: Uses recraft/v3/text-to-image
5. Default: Uses flux-2 for general purpose

Output Format

Generated images are saved with metadata:

• Filename includes timestamp and model name
• EXIF data stores prompt, model, and parameters
• Console displays generation time and cost estimate

Troubleshooting

| Problem | Solution | |---------|----------| | FAL_KEY not set | Export FAL_KEY environment variable or create .env file | | Model not found | Check model name against supported list | | Image reference fails | Ensure image path/URL is accessible | | Generation timeout | Some models take longer; wait or try faster model | | Rate limit error | Check fal.ai dashboard for usage limits |

Cost Optimization

• Free tier: FLUX.2 offers 100 free requests (expires Dec 25, 2025)
• Pay per use: FLUX Pro charges per megapixel
• Budget option: Use flux-2 or stable-diffusion-v35-large for general use
• Premium: Use flux-pro/v1.1-ultra only when high-res is required

Image Remix: Model Selection Guide

Available models for image-to-image remixing:

flux-2/dev (Default, Free)

• Best for: General remixing, style transfer, fast iteration
• Strengths: Balanced quality/speed, 100 free requests
• Use when: Standard remixing needs
• Endpoint: fal-ai/flux/dev/image-to-image

flux-pro (Premium Quality)

• Best for: Professional remixing, high-quality outputs
• Strengths: Superior quality, realistic transformations
• Use when: Professional or publication-ready remixes
• Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-pro

flux-1.1-pro (Ultra Premium)

• Best for: Highest quality remixing with maximum detail
• Strengths: Ultra-high quality, exceptional detail preservation
• Use when: Premium projects requiring best possible output
• Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-pro/v1.1

recraft/v3 (Vector/Illustration)

• Best for: Vector style, brand imagery, illustration remixing
• Strengths: Clean vector outputs, brand-style transformations
• Use when: Converting to illustration or vector style
• Endpoint: fal-ai/recraft/v3/text-to-image

stable-diffusion-v35 (Artistic)

• Best for: Artistic styles, painting effects, creative remixing
• Strengths: Strong artistic style application
• Use when: Artistic or stylized transformations
• Endpoint: fal-ai/stable-diffusion-v35-large

Image Remix: Command-Line Interface

bash
uv run python fal-image-remix [OPTIONS] INPUT_IMAGE PROMPT

Arguments:
  INPUT_IMAGE               Path or URL to source image
  PROMPT                    How to transform the image

Options:
  -m, --model TEXT         Model to use (auto-selected if not specified)
  -o, --output TEXT        Output filename (default: remixed_TIMESTAMP.png)
  -s, --strength FLOAT     Transformation strength 0.0-1.0 (default: 0.75)
                           0.0 = preserve original, 1.0 = full transformation
  --guidance FLOAT         Guidance scale (default: 7.5)
  --seed INTEGER           Random seed for reproducibility
  --steps INTEGER          Number of inference steps
  --help                   Show help

Remix Strength Guide

The --strength parameter controls transformation intensity:

| Strength | Effect | Use Case | |----------|--------|----------| | 0.3-0.5 | Subtle changes | Minor color adjustments, lighting tweaks | | 0.5-0.7 | Moderate changes | Style hints while preserving details | | 0.7-0.85 | Strong changes | Clear style transfer, significant transformation | | 0.85-1.0 | Maximum changes | Complete style overhaul, dramatic transformation |

Remix Examples

bash
# Subtle artistic style (low strength)
uv run python fal-image-remix photo.jpg "Oil painting style" --strength 0.4

# Balanced transformation (default)
uv run python fal-image-remix input.jpg "Cyberpunk neon aesthetic"

# Strong transformation (high strength)
uv run python fal-image-remix portrait.jpg "Anime character" --strength 0.9

# Vector conversion
uv run python fal-image-remix -m recraft/v3 logo.png "Clean vector illustration"

# Premium quality remix
uv run python fal-image-remix -m flux-1.1-pro photo.jpg "Professional studio portrait"

Image Edit: Model Selection Guide

Available models for targeted editing and inpainting:

flux-2/redux (General Editing)

• Best for: General image editing without masks
• Strengths: Fast, balanced, good for overall adjustments
• Use when: No specific region targeting needed
• Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-2/redux

flux-2/fill (Inpainting, Default)

• Best for: Masked region editing, object removal, filling
• Strengths: Seamless inpainting, natural blending
• Use when: Editing specific masked regions
• Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-2/fill

flux-pro-v11/fill (Premium Inpainting)

• Best for: Professional inpainting with highest quality
• Strengths: Superior quality, professional results
• Use when: Premium quality inpainting required
• Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-pro-v11/fill

stable-diffusion-v35/inpainting (Artistic Inpainting)

• Best for: Artistic edits, creative inpainting
• Strengths: Strong artistic control, detailed generation
• Use when: Artistic or stylized edits
• Endpoint: fal-ai/stable-diffusion-v35-large/inpainting

ideogram/v2/edit (Realistic Editing)

• Best for: Realistic modifications, precise edits
• Strengths: High realism, precise control
• Use when: Realistic edits required
• Endpoint: fal-ai/ideogram/v2/edit

recraft/v3/svg (Vector Editing)

• Best for: Vector style edits, clean illustrations
• Strengths: Clean vector outputs, illustration style
• Use when: Vector or illustration edits
• Endpoint: fal-ai/recraft/v3/svg

Image Edit: Command-Line Interface

bash
uv run python fal-image-edit [OPTIONS] INPUT_IMAGE [MASK_IMAGE] PROMPT

Arguments:
  INPUT_IMAGE               Path or URL to source image
  MASK_IMAGE                Path or URL to mask (white=edit, black=preserve) [optional]
  PROMPT                    How to edit the masked region

Options:
  -m, --model TEXT         Model to use (auto-selected if not specified)
  -o, --output TEXT        Output filename (default: edited_TIMESTAMP.png)
  --mask-prompt TEXT       Generate mask from text (no mask image needed)
  -s, --strength FLOAT     Edit strength 0.0-1.0 (default: 0.95)
  --guidance FLOAT         Guidance scale (default: 7.5)
  --seed INTEGER           Random seed for reproducibility
  --steps INTEGER          Number of inference steps
  --help                   Show help

Edit Strength Guide

The --strength parameter controls edit intensity:

| Strength | Effect | Use Case | |----------|--------|----------| | 0.5-0.7 | Subtle edits | Minor touch-ups, color adjustments | | 0.7-0.9 | Moderate edits | Clear modifications while blending naturally | | 0.9-1.0 | Strong edits | Complete replacement, object removal |

Creating Mask Images

Mask images define edit regions:

• White (255): Areas to edit/modify
• Black (0): Areas to preserve unchanged
• Gray: Partial blending (proportional to brightness)

Create masks using:

• Image editors (GIMP, Photoshop, Krita)
• Paint tools (select and fill with white/black)
• Text-based prompts (--mask-prompt flag)

Edit Examples

bash
# Edit with mask image
uv run python fal-image-edit photo.jpg mask.png "Replace with beautiful garden"

# Auto-generate mask from text
uv run python fal-image-edit landscape.jpg --mask-prompt "sky" "Make it sunset with clouds"

# Remove objects
uv run python fal-image-edit photo.jpg object_mask.png "Remove completely" --strength 1.0

# Seamless object insertion
uv run python fal-image-edit room.jpg region_mask.png "Add modern sofa" --strength 0.85

# General editing (no mask)
uv run python fal-image-edit -m flux-2/redux photo.jpg "Enhance lighting and saturation"

# Premium quality inpainting
uv run python fal-image-edit -m flux-pro-v11/fill image.jpg mask.png "Professional portrait background"

# Artistic modification
uv run python fal-image-edit -m stable-diffusion-v35/inpainting photo.jpg mask.png "Van Gogh style"

File Structure

fal-text-to-image/
├── SKILL.md                    # This file
├── README.md                   # Quick reference
├── pyproject.toml              # Dependencies (uv)
├── fal-text-to-image           # Text-to-image generation script
├── fal-image-remix             # Image-to-image remixing script
├── fal-image-edit              # Image editing/inpainting script
├── references/
│   └── model-comparison.md     # Detailed model benchmarks
└── outputs/                    # Generated images (created on first run)

Dependencies

Managed via uv:

• fal-client: Official fal.ai Python SDK
• python-dotenv: Environment variable management
• pillow: Image handling and EXIF metadata
• click: CLI interface

Best Practices

General

1. Model Selection: Let scripts auto-select unless you have specific needs
2. Prompt Engineering: Be specific and descriptive for better outputs
3. Cost Awareness: Monitor usage on fal.ai dashboard
4. Reproducibility: Use --seed for consistent results during iteration

Text-to-Image

1. Reference Images: Use high-quality references for best style transfer results
2. Size Selection: Match aspect ratio to intended use (square, landscape, portrait)
3. Model Choice: Use recraft/v3 for typography, flux-pro for professional photography

Image Remix

1. Strength Tuning: Start with default (0.75), adjust based on desired transformation
2. Source Quality: Higher quality source images produce better remixes
3. Iteration: Use --seed to iterate on same generation with different prompts
4. Balance: Lower strength preserves more detail, higher creates more dramatic changes

Image Edit

1. Mask Quality: Clean, well-defined masks produce better results
2. Mask Creation: Use image editors for precise control, --mask-prompt for quick tests
3. Blending: Use gray tones in masks for smooth transitions
4. Edit Strength: Use 0.95+ for object removal, 0.7-0.9 for modifications
5. Test First: Try --mask-prompt before creating detailed masks
6. Multiple Edits: Edit in stages rather than all at once for complex modifications

Resources

• fal.ai Documentation: https://docs.fal.ai/
• Model Playground: https://fal.ai/explore/search
• API Keys: https://fal.ai/dashboard/keys
• Pricing: https://fal.ai/pricing

Workflow Examples

Complete Image Creation Pipeline

bash
# 1. Generate base image
uv run python fal-text-to-image -m flux-2 "Modern office space, minimalist" -o base.png

# 2. Remix to different style
uv run python fal-image-remix base.png "Cyberpunk aesthetic with neon" -o styled.png

# 3. Edit specific region
uv run python fal-image-edit styled.png --mask-prompt "desk" "Add holographic display"

Iterative Refinement

bash
# Generate with seed for reproducibility
uv run python fal-text-to-image "Mountain landscape" --seed 42 -o v1.png

# Remix with same seed, different style
uv run python fal-image-remix v1.png "Oil painting style" --seed 42 -o v2.png

# Fine-tune with editing
uv run python fal-image-edit v2.png --mask-prompt "sky" "Golden hour lighting" --seed 42

Object Removal and Replacement

bash
# 1. Remove unwanted object
uv run python fal-image-edit photo.jpg object_mask.png "Remove" --strength 1.0 -o removed.png

# 2. Fill with new content
uv run python fal-image-edit removed.png region_mask.png "Beautiful flowers" --strength 0.9

Troubleshooting

| Problem | Solution | Tool | |---------|----------|------| | FAL_KEY not set | Export FAL_KEY or create .env file | All | | Model not found | Check model name in documentation | All | | Image upload fails | Check file exists and is readable | Remix, Edit | | Mask not working | Verify mask is grayscale PNG (white=edit) | Edit | | Transformation too strong | Reduce --strength value | Remix, Edit | | Transformation too weak | Increase --strength value | Remix, Edit | | Mask-prompt not precise | Create manual mask in image editor | Edit | | Generation timeout | Try faster model or wait longer | All | | Rate limit error | Check fal.ai dashboard usage limits | All |

Limitations

General

• Requires active fal.ai API key
• Subject to fal.ai rate limits and quotas
• Internet connection required
• Some models have usage costs (check pricing)

Text-to-Image

• Image reference features limited to specific models
• Typography quality varies by model

Image Remix

• Source image quality affects output quality
• Extreme strength values may introduce artifacts
• Some styles work better with specific models

Image Edit

• Mask quality critical for seamless results
• Auto-generated masks (--mask-prompt) less precise than manual masks
• Complex edits may require multiple passes
• Some models don't support all editing features