home / skills / steipete / agent-scripts / nano-banana-pro

nano-banana-pro skill

/skills/nano-banana-pro

This skill generates or edits images using Nano Banana Pro, preserving user prompts and input images while delivering final PNGs.

npx playbooks add skill steipete/agent-scripts --skill nano-banana-pro

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

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SKILL.md
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---
name: nano-banana-pro
description: Generate/edit images with Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image). Use for image create/modify requests incl. edits. Supports text-to-image + image-to-image; 1K/2K/4K; use --input-image.
---

# Nano Banana Pro Image Generation & Editing

Generate new images or edit existing ones using Google's Nano Banana Pro API (Gemini 3 Pro Image).

## Usage

Run the script using absolute path (do NOT cd to skill directory first):

**Generate new image:**
```bash
uv run ~/.codex/skills/nano-banana-pro/scripts/generate_image.py --prompt "your image description" --filename "output-name.png" [--resolution 1K|2K|4K] [--api-key KEY]
```

**Edit existing image:**
```bash
uv run ~/.codex/skills/nano-banana-pro/scripts/generate_image.py --prompt "editing instructions" --filename "output-name.png" --input-image "path/to/input.png" [--resolution 1K|2K|4K] [--api-key KEY]
```

**Important:** Always run from the user's current working directory so images are saved where the user is working, not in the skill directory.

## Default Workflow (draft → iterate → final)

Goal: fast iteration without burning time on 4K until the prompt is correct.

- Draft (1K): quick feedback loop
  - `uv run ~/.codex/skills/nano-banana-pro/scripts/generate_image.py --prompt "<draft prompt>" --filename "yyyy-mm-dd-hh-mm-ss-draft.png" --resolution 1K`
- Iterate: adjust prompt in small diffs; keep filename new per run
  - If editing: keep the same `--input-image` for every iteration until you’re happy.
- Final (4K): only when prompt is locked
  - `uv run ~/.codex/skills/nano-banana-pro/scripts/generate_image.py --prompt "<final prompt>" --filename "yyyy-mm-dd-hh-mm-ss-final.png" --resolution 4K`

## Resolution Options

The Gemini 3 Pro Image API supports three resolutions (uppercase K required):

- **1K** (default) - ~1024px resolution
- **2K** - ~2048px resolution
- **4K** - ~4096px resolution

Map user requests to API parameters:
- No mention of resolution → `1K`
- "low resolution", "1080", "1080p", "1K" → `1K`
- "2K", "2048", "normal", "medium resolution" → `2K`
- "high resolution", "high-res", "hi-res", "4K", "ultra" → `4K`

## API Key

The script checks for API key in this order:
1. `--api-key` argument (use if user provided key in chat)
2. `GEMINI_API_KEY` environment variable

If neither is available, the script exits with an error message.

## Preflight + Common Failures (fast fixes)

- Preflight:
  - `command -v uv` (must exist)
  - `test -n \"$GEMINI_API_KEY\"` (or pass `--api-key`)
  - If editing: `test -f \"path/to/input.png\"`

- Common failures:
  - `Error: No API key provided.` → set `GEMINI_API_KEY` or pass `--api-key`
  - `Error loading input image:` → wrong path / unreadable file; verify `--input-image` points to a real image
  - “quota/permission/403” style API errors → wrong key, no access, or quota exceeded; try a different key/account

## Filename Generation

Generate filenames with the pattern: `yyyy-mm-dd-hh-mm-ss-name.png`

**Format:** `{timestamp}-{descriptive-name}.png`
- Timestamp: Current date/time in format `yyyy-mm-dd-hh-mm-ss` (24-hour format)
- Name: Descriptive lowercase text with hyphens
- Keep the descriptive part concise (1-5 words typically)
- Use context from user's prompt or conversation
- If unclear, use random identifier (e.g., `x9k2`, `a7b3`)

Examples:
- Prompt "A serene Japanese garden" → `2025-11-23-14-23-05-japanese-garden.png`
- Prompt "sunset over mountains" → `2025-11-23-15-30-12-sunset-mountains.png`
- Prompt "create an image of a robot" → `2025-11-23-16-45-33-robot.png`
- Unclear context → `2025-11-23-17-12-48-x9k2.png`

## Image Editing

When the user wants to modify an existing image:
1. Check if they provide an image path or reference an image in the current directory
2. Use `--input-image` parameter with the path to the image
3. The prompt should contain editing instructions (e.g., "make the sky more dramatic", "remove the person", "change to cartoon style")
4. Common editing tasks: add/remove elements, change style, adjust colors, blur background, etc.

## Prompt Handling

**For generation:** Pass user's image description as-is to `--prompt`. Only rework if clearly insufficient.

**For editing:** Pass editing instructions in `--prompt` (e.g., "add a rainbow in the sky", "make it look like a watercolor painting")

Preserve user's creative intent in both cases.

## Prompt Templates (high hit-rate)

Use templates when the user is vague or when edits must be precise.

- Generation template:
  - “Create an image of: <subject>. Style: <style>. Composition: <camera/shot>. Lighting: <lighting>. Background: <background>. Color palette: <palette>. Avoid: <list>.”

- Editing template (preserve everything else):
  - “Change ONLY: <single change>. Keep identical: subject, composition/crop, pose, lighting, color palette, background, text, and overall style. Do not add new objects. If text exists, keep it unchanged.”

## Output

- Saves PNG to current directory (or specified path if filename includes directory)
- Script outputs the full path to the generated image
- **Do not read the image back** - just inform the user of the saved path

## Examples

**Generate new image:**
```bash
uv run ~/.codex/skills/nano-banana-pro/scripts/generate_image.py --prompt "A serene Japanese garden with cherry blossoms" --filename "2025-11-23-14-23-05-japanese-garden.png" --resolution 4K
```

**Edit existing image:**
```bash
uv run ~/.codex/skills/nano-banana-pro/scripts/generate_image.py --prompt "make the sky more dramatic with storm clouds" --filename "2025-11-23-14-25-30-dramatic-sky.png" --input-image "original-photo.jpg" --resolution 2K
```

Overview

This skill generates and edits images using Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image). It supports text-to-image and image-to-image workflows at 1K, 2K, and 4K resolutions and saves output PNGs to the user's current working directory. Use command-line options to pass prompts, input images for edits, resolution, filename, and API key.

How this skill works

The script constructs requests for the Gemini 3 Pro Image API based on the provided prompt and optional --input-image for edits. It maps plain language resolution hints to the API's 1K/2K/4K options, validates the API key (argument or GEMINI_API_KEY), and writes the resulting PNG to the current directory with a timestamped filename. The script prints the full saved path and exits; it does not attempt to display or re-open the image.

When to use it

  • Create concept art, mockups, or high-fidelity images from a text description.
  • Iteratively refine an image by running quick drafts (1K) then finalizing at 4K.
  • Apply targeted edits to an existing image (remove objects, change color/style, adjust background).
  • When you need controllable resolution mapping (1K/2K/4K) for performance or quality trade-offs.
  • When you can run command-line scripts and provide an API key or have GEMINI_API_KEY set.

Best practices

  • Start with 1K drafts for fast iteration; only run 4K once the prompt is finalized.
  • Use concise, descriptive filenames with timestamp and hyphenated name (yyyy-mm-dd-hh-mm-ss-descriptor.png).
  • When editing, keep the same --input-image across iterations until satisfied.
  • Provide clear editing instructions (e.g., “remove the person”, “make sky more dramatic”) or use the provided prompt templates for precision.
  • Always run the command from your current working directory so outputs are saved where you expect.

Example use cases

  • Generate a concept image: quick 1K draft of a product mockup, iterate, then export final 4K for presentation.
  • Edit a photograph: pass --input-image and instruct ‘blur background and boost subject saturation’.
  • Style transfer: convert a photo to watercolor or cartoon by specifying the desired style in the prompt.
  • Batch creative exploration: produce multiple timestamped variants by changing small prompt details between runs.

FAQ

How does the script find my API key?

It checks --api-key first, then the GEMINI_API_KEY environment variable. If neither is present the script exits with an error.

Which resolution should I use for iteration vs final output?

Use 1K for fast drafts and iteration, 2K for intermediate quality, and 4K only for final locked prompts to save time and API quota.

How do I edit an existing image?

Pass the path with --input-image and put editing instructions in --prompt. Keep using the same input file across iterations until you’re happy.