Image Generation Brief skill for Claude and Codex

Image Generation Brief as an AI skill. It asks for Purpose, Subject, Style and 3 more, then does the rest. Free to install in Claude or Codex.

Install it once and Claude or Codex runs it for you. When your request matches, your AI loads the skill, asks for anything it is missing, and works through the template itself. Prefer to fill it in by hand? See the full prompt template.

Download the skill (.zip) · View SKILL.md

When it is used

Use when an image generator needs a detailed brief with subject, style, composition, lighting, exclusions and sizes for a specific use. Do not use for editing an existing photo or writing marketing copy. Related topics: creative, design.

What it will ask you for

• Purpose (free text, e.g. "Where the image will be used")
• Subject (longer free text)
• Style (choose one: Photorealistic, Illustration, 3D render, Watercolour, Flat vector, Cinematic still)
• Mood and colour (free text, e.g. "calm with muted greens")
• Must avoid (longer free text)
• Output sizes (choose any: Square, Portrait, Landscape, Wide banner)

How it works

1. Define the subject and its action in concrete terms before any style words are added.
2. Specify composition, lighting source and direction, and palette, leaving room for copy where needed.
3. Name one style with two or three supporting descriptors and write exclusions separately.
4. Adapt the composition note for each requested output size so key elements survive the crop.
5. Add two single-change variations and write the final brief as a paragraph plus a labelled breakdown.

What you get

A one-paragraph generator brief, a labelled breakdown of subject, composition, lighting, palette and exclusions, per-size composition notes, and two controlled variations.

What it watches out for

• Stacking a dozen style adjectives that fight each other, producing muddy results.
• Asking for long text rendered inside the image, which generators misspell.
• Cropping a portrait composition to a wide banner, which cuts off the subject.

How to install

Claude.ai and the Claude desktop app

1. Download the skill .zip.
2. Open Settings, then Capabilities, and find Skills.
3. Choose Upload skill and select the .zip.
4. Ask Claude for help with the task. It loads the skill when your request matches.

Claude Code

1. Download the skill .zip.
2. Unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ (or .claude/skills/ inside a project).
3. Start a new session. Claude Code loads the skill when your request matches.

Codex

1. Download the skill .zip.
2. Unzip it into ~/.agents/skills/ (or .agents/skills/ inside a project).
3. Codex picks it up on its own. Type $ and the skill name to use it, or just ask for the task.

Cursor

1. Download the Cursor rule (.mdc).
2. Save it in .cursor/rules/ inside your project.
3. Cursor's agent applies the rule when your request matches its description.

AGENTS.md (Codex, Cursor, and other coding agents)

1. Copy the AGENTS.md section.
2. Paste it into AGENTS.md at the root of your repository, creating the file if needed.
3. Coding agents that read AGENTS.md follow it when your request fits.