cover-image
Cover Image Generator
Generate elegant cover images for articles with 5-dimensional customization. Supports Chinese text rendering.
Usage
# Auto-select dimensions based on content
/cover-image path/to/article.md
# Quick mode: skip confirmation
/cover-image article.md --quick
# Specify dimensions
/cover-image article.md --type conceptual --palette warm --rendering flat-vector
# WeChat Official Account cover
/cover-image article.md --aspect 2.35:1
# Specify provider
/cover-image article.md --provider qwen
# Use style preset
/cover-image article.md --style tech-dark
# Large font for better visibility
/cover-image article.md --font-size large
# Generate multiple options
/cover-image article.md --n 3
# With reference images (Google/OpenAI only)
/cover-image article.md --ref style-ref.png
# Direct content input
/cover-image --palette mono --aspect 1:1 --quick
[paste content]
Options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
--type <name> |
hero, conceptual, typography, metaphor, scene, minimal |
--palette <name> |
warm, elegant, cool, dark, earth, vivid, pastel, mono, retro |
--rendering <name> |
flat-vector, hand-drawn, painterly, digital, pixel, chalk |
--text <level> |
none, title-only, title-subtitle, text-rich |
--mood <level> |
subtle, balanced, bold |
--font <name> |
clean, handwritten, serif, display |
--font-size <size> |
small, medium (default), large, xlarge |
--aspect <ratio> |
16:9 (default), 2.35:1 (公众号封面), 4:3, 3:2, 1:1, 3:4 |
--provider <name> |
qwen (default), openai, google |
--style <preset> |
tech-dark, tech-clean, lifestyle-warm, business-elegant, announcement-bold, minimal-zen, creative-playful, retro-vintage |
--lang <code> |
Title language (en, zh, ja, etc.) |
--no-title |
Alias for --text none |
--n <count> |
Number of images to generate (1-4) |
--quick |
Skip confirmation, use auto-selection |
--ref <files...> |
Reference images for style/composition guidance |
Providers
| Provider | Model | Text Rendering | Chinese Support | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
qwen |
qwen-image-plus | Excellent | Native Chinese | 0.2 CNY/image |
openai |
gpt-image-1 | Good | Limited | ~$0.04/image |
google |
gemini-2.0-flash-exp | Good | Limited | Free tier available |
Provider Selection Logic
--providerspecified -> use it- Chinese title detected -> auto-select
qwen - Reference images provided -> use
googleoropenai - Default ->
qwen
Qwen-Image (Default)
Best for Chinese text rendering. Native support for Chinese characters.
API Endpoint: https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/api/v1/services/aigc/text2image/image-synthesis
Environment Variable: DASHSCOPE_API_KEY
Supported Sizes: 1664*928, 1024*1024, 928*1664, 1472*1104, 1104*1472
OpenAI
Good for English text and creative designs.
Environment Variable: OPENAI_API_KEY
Supported Sizes: 1024x1024, 1536x1024, 1024x1536
Good for multimodal generation with reference images.
Environment Variable: GOOGLE_API_KEY
Supported Sizes: Various aspect ratios supported
Five Dimensions
| Dimension | Values | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Type | hero, conceptual, typography, metaphor, scene, minimal | auto |
| Palette | warm, elegant, cool, dark, earth, vivid, pastel, mono, retro | auto |
| Rendering | flat-vector, hand-drawn, painterly, digital, pixel, chalk | auto |
| Text | none, title-only, title-subtitle, text-rich | title-only |
| Mood | subtle, balanced, bold | balanced |
| Font | clean, handwritten, serif, display | clean |
Auto-selection rules: references/auto-selection.md
Galleries
Types: hero, conceptual, typography, metaphor, scene, minimal -> Details: references/types.md
Palettes: warm, elegant, cool, dark, earth, vivid, pastel, mono, retro -> Details: references/palettes/
Renderings: flat-vector, hand-drawn, painterly, digital, pixel, chalk -> Details: references/renderings/
Text Levels: none (pure visual) | title-only (default) | title-subtitle | text-rich (with tags) -> Details: references/dimensions/text.md
Mood Levels: subtle (low contrast) | balanced (default) | bold (high contrast) -> Details: references/dimensions/mood.md
Fonts: clean (sans-serif) | handwritten | serif | display (bold decorative) -> Details: references/dimensions/font.md
File Structure
Output directory per default_output_dir preference:
same-dir:{article-dir}/imgs-subdir:{article-dir}/imgs/independent(default):cover-image/{topic-slug}/
<output-dir>/
├── source-{slug}.{ext} # Source files
├── refs/ # Reference images (if provided)
│ ├── ref-01-{slug}.{ext}
│ └── ref-01-{slug}.md # Description file
├── prompts/cover.md # Generation prompt
└── cover.png # Output image
Slug: 2-4 words, kebab-case. Conflict: append -YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS
Workflow
Progress Checklist
Cover Image Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Analyze content + save refs + determine output dir
- [ ] Step 2: Confirm options (6 dimensions + provider) unless --quick
- [ ] Step 3: Create prompt
- [ ] Step 4: Generate image
- [ ] Step 5: Resize for platform (if needed)
- [ ] Step 6: Completion report
Step 1: Analyze Content
- Save reference images (if provided) -> references/workflow/reference-images.md
- Save source content (if pasted, save to
source.md) - Analyze content: topic, tone, keywords, visual metaphors
- Deep analyze references: Extract specific, concrete elements
- Detect language: Compare source, user input
- Determine output directory: Per File Structure rules
- Auto-select provider: Based on language and references
Step 2: Confirm Options
Full confirmation flow: references/workflow/confirm-options.md
| Condition | Skipped | Still Asked |
|---|---|---|
--quick |
6 dimensions + provider | Aspect ratio (unless --aspect) |
All 6 + --aspect + --provider specified |
All | None |
Step 3: Create Prompt
Save to prompts/cover.md. Template: references/workflow/prompt-template.md
CRITICAL - References in Frontmatter:
- Files saved to
refs/-> Add to frontmatterreferenceslist - Style extracted verbally (no file) -> Omit
references, describe in body - Before writing -> Verify:
test -f refs/ref-NN-{slug}.{ext}
Reference elements in body MUST be detailed, prefixed with "MUST"/"REQUIRED", with integration approach.
Step 4: Generate Image
- Backup existing
cover.pngif regenerating - Select provider based on language and options
- Process references from prompt frontmatter:
directusage -> pass reference images directly (google/openai only)style/palette-> extract traits, append to prompt
- Generate via provider API:
- Qwen: POST to dashscope API, poll for result
- OpenAI: Use ImageGen tool or API
- Google: Use ImageGen tool with reference images
- On failure: auto-retry once
Step 5: Resize for Platform
Resize generated image to target platform size:
| Platform | Target Size | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 公众号封面 | 900x383 | 2.35:1 |
| 博客/视频 | 1920x1080 | 16:9 |
| 小红书 | 1080x1080 | 1:1 |
| 手机海报 | 1080x1440 | 3:4 |
Step 6: Completion Report
Cover Generated!
Provider: [provider]
Topic: [topic]
Type: [type] | Palette: [palette] | Rendering: [rendering]
Text: [text] | Mood: [mood] | Font: [font] | Aspect: [ratio]
Title: [title or "visual only"]
Language: [lang]
References: [N images or "extracted style" or "none"]
Location: [directory path]
Files:
- source-{slug}.{ext}
- prompts/cover.md
- cover.png
- cover-{platform}.png (if resized)
Composition Principles
- Whitespace: 40-60% breathing room
- Visual anchor: Main element centered or offset left
- Characters: Simplified silhouettes; NO realistic humans
- Title: Use exact title from user/source; never invent
Aspect Ratios
| Ratio | Platform | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
2.35:1 |
微信公众号封面 | 公众号首图,900x383px |
16:9 |
通用宽屏 | 博客、视频封面 |
1:1 |
社交媒体 | 微博、小红书、Instagram |
4:3 |
经典比例 | 演示文稿、传统媒体 |
3:2 |
摄影标准 | 照片风格封面 |
3:4 |
竖版 | 手机端、海报 |
Environment Variables
| Variable | Required For | Get From |
|---|---|---|
DASHSCOPE_API_KEY |
Qwen (default) | https://bailian.console.aliyun.com |
OPENAI_API_KEY |
OpenAI | https://platform.openai.com |
GOOGLE_API_KEY |
https://aistudio.google.com |
References
Dimensions: text.md | mood.md | font.md Palettes: references/palettes/ Renderings: references/renderings/ Types: references/types.md Style Presets: references/style-presets.md Auto-Selection: references/auto-selection.md Visual Elements: references/visual-elements.md Workflow: confirm-options.md | prompt-template.md | reference-images.md | qwen-api.md