Image Generation

Iris can generate images from text descriptions using OpenAI's GPT Image model. Ask for artwork, illustrations, diagrams, or any visual content.

Features

• Text-to-Image: Generate images from natural language
• Multiple Sizes: Square, landscape, or portrait
• High Quality: Uses GPT Image with high quality settings
• Inline Display: Images appear directly in chat
• Persistent Storage: Images are saved and accessible later

Setup

Image generation requires an OpenAI API key. Verify your .env includes:

OPENAI_API_KEY=your-openai-key

That's it -image generation is automatically available. The generate_image tool uses the same API key configured for embeddings.

Usage

Simply ask Iris to create an image:

You: "Create an image of a sunset over mountains"

Iris: [generates and displays image]

"Here's a sunset over mountains. Would you like me to adjust anything?"

Being Specific

The more detail you provide, the better the results:

You: "Generate a watercolor painting of a cozy coffee shop with warm lighting, wooden furniture, plants on the windowsill, and a cat sleeping on a chair"

Style Guidance

Specify artistic styles to get the look you want:

Style	Example prompt
Minimalist	"A minimalist line art portrait of a woman with flowing hair"
Pixel art	"A pixel art scene of a forest at night with fireflies"
Photorealistic	"A photorealistic image of a modern kitchen with marble countertops"
Watercolor	"A watercolor painting of a sailboat at sunset"
Oil painting	"An oil painting of a mountain landscape in the style of the Hudson River School"
Digital art	"Digital art of a futuristic cityscape with neon lights"

Available Sizes

Size	Orientation	Use Case
1024x1024	Square	General purpose, icons, avatars
1536x1024	Landscape	Scenes, backgrounds, banners
1024x1536	Portrait	Characters, posters, mobile wallpapers

If you don't specify a size, Iris defaults to 1024x1024. You can request a size naturally:

"Create a landscape banner of a beach scene" → Uses 1536x1024 "Generate a portrait-oriented poster design" → Uses 1024x1536

How It Works

1. Request: Iris interprets your request and formulates a detailed prompt
2. Generation: The prompt is sent to GPT Image via OpenAI's API
3. Download: The generated image is downloaded from OpenAI's temporary URL
4. Storage: The image is saved locally as an attachment linked to the conversation
5. Display: The image appears inline in the chat

Storage Details

Generated images are stored as attachments with:

• Path: Saved in local storage (configurable via Laravel's filesystem)
• Type: Marked as generated (vs upload for user-uploaded images)
• Description: The prompt used to generate the image
• Conversation link: Associated with the message that requested it

Prompt Enhancement

Iris often enhances your prompts for better results:

You: "Draw a cat"

Becomes: "A photorealistic image of a domestic cat with soft fur, sitting in natural lighting, detailed eyes, high quality"

You can override this by being very specific or asking for exactly what you described:

"Generate exactly this: a simple sketch of a cat, no details, just basic outlines"

Limitations and Constraints

Content Policy

OpenAI's content policy applies. Requests that violate the policy will be rejected:

• No realistic images of public figures
• No violent, adult, or harmful content
• No content that could be used for deception

If a request is rejected, Iris will explain why and suggest alternatives.

Quality Considerations

• Text in images: GPT Image can include text, but it may be imperfect. For text-heavy designs, consider post-processing.
• Specific details: Very specific requests (exact layouts, precise proportions) may not render exactly as described.
• Consistency: Multiple requests for "the same" thing will produce variations. There's no way to get identical outputs.

Rate Limits and Costs

Image generation uses OpenAI API credits:

Tier	Images per minute	Cost per image
Free tier	Very limited	-
Pay-as-you-go	Higher limits	~$0.04-0.08 depending on size

Check your OpenAI dashboard for current pricing and usage. If you hit rate limits, Iris will report the error.

Troubleshooting

"OpenAI API key not configured": Add OPENAI_API_KEY to your .env file.

"Content policy violation": The prompt was rejected by OpenAI's safety filters. Rephrase your request.

Image not appearing: Check that the storage disk is configured correctly and writable. Images are stored using Laravel's default disk.

Slow generation: Image generation typically takes 5-15 seconds. Very complex prompts may take longer.

Disabling Image Generation

If you don't need image generation, disable the tool:

// config/iris-custom.php
return [
    'disabled_tools' => [
        App\Tools\GenerateImageTool::class,
    ],
];