generate-image
A Claude Code plugin for generating images using AI models on Replicate. Supports Nano Banana 2 (high quality) and FLUX Schnell (fast/cheap), with automatic background removal for transparent PNGs.
How It Works
The plugin provides two skills that instruct Claude how to generate images via the Replicate MCP server. When you ask Claude to create an image, the generate-image skill selects the right model, constructs a prompt, calls Replicate's API through MCP tools, and downloads the result. For transparent images (icons, logos, illustrations), it automatically runs a two-step pipeline: generate on white background, then remove the background.
You → "make an icon of a gold star"
→ Claude (generate-image skill)
→ Replicate MCP (Nano Banana 2)
→ Image generated
→ Replicate MCP (recraft bg removal)
→ Transparent PNG
→ Saved to your project
Prerequisites
- Claude Code installed
- Node.js v18+ with npm and npx — required by the Replicate MCP server
- macOS:
brew install node
- Ubuntu/Debian: install via NodeSource (the default
apt package is outdated)
- Or use nvm on any platform
- A Replicate account with an API token (pay-as-you-go, ~$0.003–$0.04 per image)
Installation
claude plugin install generate-image@generate-image
Then run the setup skill to configure the Replicate MCP server:
/generate-image:setup
The setup skill will:
- Check your Node.js/npm/npx installation (and help install if missing)
- Register the Replicate MCP server with Claude Code (using the absolute path to npx — prevents PATH issues)
- Walk you through creating and configuring your API token
- Verify everything works
Usage
Ask Claude to generate images naturally:
- "Generate an icon of a golden trophy for my app"
- "Create a hero image for the landing page — a mountain landscape at sunset"
- "Remove the background from logo.png"
- "Generate a set of 5 category icons matching my style guide"
- "Make a favicon for my website"
The skill handles model selection, prompt engineering, background removal, and file management automatically.
Skills
| Skill | Description |
|---|
/generate-image:generate-image | Generate images — model selection, prompt construction, bg removal, file saving |
/generate-image:setup | Detect and install prerequisites, register MCP, configure API token |
Models
| Model | Best For | Cost | Speed |
|---|
| Nano Banana 2 | Icons, illustrations, complex scenes, text in images | ~$0.04/image | ~20s |
| FLUX Schnell | Quick drafts, bulk generation | ~$0.003/image | ~0.5s |
| Background Remover (recraft) | Transparent PNGs from any image | ~$0.01/image | ~5s |
Nano Banana 2 is the default for production assets. FLUX Schnell is used when cost or speed matters more than quality.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|
| "Replicate MCP not detected" | Run /generate-image:setup — it detects and fixes the issue |
| "npx: command not found" in MCP but works in terminal | MCP subprocess PATH issue — re-register with absolute path: claude mcp add -s user replicate -- $(which npx) -y replicate-mcp@latest |
"Failed to connect" in claude mcp list | Token missing or expired — check echo $REPLICATE_API_TOKEN, regenerate at replicate.com/account/api-tokens |
| MCP tools missing after setup | Restart Claude Code — MCP servers load at session start |
| "401 Unauthorized" from Replicate | Bad API token — generate a new one at replicate.com/account/api-tokens |
| Dark halos after bg removal | Source image was on a dark background — regenerate on white |
| nvm-installed Node not found by MCP | nvm only loads in interactive shells — use full path in registration: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.x.x/bin/npx |
For detailed troubleshooting, run /generate-image:setup — it diagnoses and fixes most issues automatically.
Upgrading from Standalone Skill
If you previously used the standalone generate-image skill (installed at ~/.claude/skills/generate-image/), remove it after installing this plugin to avoid duplicate triggering:
rm -r ~/.claude/skills/generate-image/
License
MIT
3D-Stories
