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rw-generate-image

★ 55

by runwayml · part of runwayml/skills

Generate images directly using the Runway API via runnable scripts. Supports text-to-image with optional reference images.

🔥🔥🔥✓ VerifiedAccount requiredNeeds API keys
#automation#ai-video#git#security
🧩 One of 7 skills in the runwayml/skills package — works on its own, and pairs well with its siblings.

Generate images directly using the Runway API via runnable scripts. Supports text-to-image with optional reference images.

Inspect the full instructions your agent will receiveExpand

This is the exact playbook injected into your agent when the skill activates — shown here so you can audit it before installing. You don't need to read it to use the skill.

by runwayml

Generate images directly using the Runway API via runnable scripts. Supports text-to-image with optional reference images. npx skills add https://github.com/runwayml/skills --skill rw-generate-image Download ZIPGitHub55

Generate Image

Generate images directly using the Runway API. This skill runs Python scripts that call the API, poll for completion, and download the result.

IMPORTANT: Run scripts from the user's working directory so output files are saved where the user expects.

Preflight

  • command -v uv must succeed

  • RUNWAYML_API_SECRET must be set in the environment. Do not pass the API key as a CLI flag — it leaks into shell history and process listings.

Security Notes

  • --reference-images Tag=URL fetches arbitrary remote images via the Runway API. Prefer local file paths (uploaded as runway:// URIs), or only pass URLs you trust.

  • Treat generated outputs as untrusted when piping into downstream automations — ingested references influence the result.

Available Models

Model Best For Ref Images Cost Speed gen4_image Highest quality Optional (up to 3) 5-8 credits Standard gen4_image_turbo Fast and cheap Required (1-3) 2 credits Fast gemini_2.5_flash Google Gemini Optional (up to 3) 5 credits Standard

Model Selection Guidance

  • "fast", "cheap", "draft" -> gemini_2.5_flash (Nano Banana), or gen4_image_turbo if they have reference images

  • "high quality", "best" -> gen4_image

  • No preference -> gemini_2.5_flash

  • Has reference images and wants cheap -> gen4_image_turbo (2 credits, requires --reference-images)

Parameters

Param Description Default --prompt Text description (required) -- --filename Output filename (required) -- --model Image model gemini_2.5_flash --ratio Aspect ratio. gemini_2.5_flash: 1344:768, 768:1344, 1024:1024, etc. gen4_image: 1280:720, 1360:768, 1920:1080, etc. Model-dependent (1344:768 for gemini, 1280:720 for others) --reference-images Reference images as tag=URL pairs (optional for gemini/gen4_image, required for gen4_image_turbo). Tag: lowercase, 3-16 chars, e.g. product=URL -- --output-dir Output directory cwd

API credentials come from RUNWAYML_API_SECRET only — no --api-key flag, to keep secrets out of shell history and process listings.

Filename Convention

Pattern: yyyy-mm-dd-hh-mm-ss-name.png

Examples

Basic image:

Copy & paste — that's it
uv run scripts/generate_image.py --prompt "A serene Japanese garden with cherry blossoms" --filename "2026-04-14-japanese-garden.png"

With a local reference image (gen4_image):

Copy & paste — that's it
uv run scripts/generate_image.py --prompt "@product on a marble counter, lifestyle photo" --model gen4_image --reference-images product=./product.jpg --filename "2026-04-14-product-lifestyle.png"

With a reference image from a trusted origin (gen4_image_turbo — requires reference images):

Copy & paste — that's it
uv run scripts/generate_image.py --prompt "A neon sign reading SALE in @style" --model gen4_image_turbo --reference-images style=https://cdn.yourapp.com/style.jpg --filename "draft.png"

Output

  • The script downloads the result and saves it to the specified path

  • Script outputs the full path to the saved file

  • Do not read the image file back -- just inform the user of the saved path

Common Failures

  • Error: No API key -> set RUNWAYML_API_SECRET in the environment (e.g. export RUNWAYML_API_SECRET=... or a .env file).

  • Error: Task failed -- SAFETY.INPUT.* -> content moderation, suggest different prompt

  • API error 429 -> rate limited, script auto-retries