fal.ai Text-to-Image Generation Skill

Generate production-quality images from text prompts using fal.ai's state-of-the-art text-to-image models including FLUX, Recraft V3, Imagen4, and more.

When to Use This Skill

Trigger when user:

Requests image generation from text descriptions
Wants to create images with specific styles (vector, realistic, typography)
Needs high-resolution professional images (up to 2K)
Wants to use a reference image for style transfer
Mentions specific models like FLUX, Recraft, or Imagen
Asks for logo, poster, or brand-style image generation

Quick Start

Basic Usage

uv run python fal-text-to-image "A cyberpunk city at sunset with neon lights"

With Specific Model

uv run python fal-text-to-image -m flux-pro/v1.1-ultra "Professional headshot of a business executive"

With Style Reference Image

uv run python fal-text-to-image -i reference.jpg "A mountain landscape" -m flux-2/lora/edit

Model Selection Guide

The script intelligently selects the best model based on task context:

flux-pro/v1.1-ultra (Default for High-Res)

Best for: Professional photography, high-resolution outputs (up to 2K)
Strengths: Photo realism, professional quality
Use when: User needs publication-ready images
Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-pro/v1.1-ultra

recraft/v3/text-to-image (SOTA Quality)

Best for: Typography, vector art, brand-style images, long text
Strengths: Industry-leading benchmark scores, precise text rendering
Use when: Creating logos, posters, or text-heavy designs
Endpoint: fal-ai/recraft/v3/text-to-image

flux-2 (Best Balance)

Best for: General-purpose image generation
Strengths: Enhanced realism, crisp text, native editing
Use when: Standard image generation needs
Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-2

flux-2/lora (Custom Styles)

Best for: Domain-specific styles, fine-tuned variations
Strengths: Custom style adaptation
Use when: User wants specific artistic styles
Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-2/lora

flux-2/lora/edit (Style Transfer)

Best for: Image-to-image editing with style references
Strengths: Specialized style transfer
Use when: User provides reference image with -i flag
Endpoint: fal-ai/flux-2/lora/edit

imagen4/preview (Google Quality)

Best for: High-quality general images
Strengths: Google's highest quality model
Use when: User specifically requests Imagen or Google models
Endpoint: fal-ai/imagen4/preview

stable-diffusion-v35-large (Typography & Style)

Best for: Complex prompts, typography, style control
Strengths: Advanced prompt understanding, resource efficiency
Use when: Complex multi-element compositions
Endpoint: fal-ai/stable-diffusion-v35-large

ideogram/v2 (Typography Specialist)

Best for: Posters, logos, text-heavy designs
Strengths: Exceptional typography, realistic outputs
Use when: Text accuracy is critical
Endpoint: fal-ai/ideogram/v2

bria/text-to-image/3.2 (Commercial Safe)

Best for: Commercial projects requiring licensed training data
Strengths: Safe for commercial use, excellent text rendering
Use when: Legal/licensing concerns matter
Endpoint: fal-ai/bria/text-to-image/3.2

Command-Line Interface

uv run python fal-text-to-image [OPTIONS] PROMPT

Arguments:
  PROMPT                    Text description of the image to generate

Options:
  -m, --model TEXT         Model to use (see model list above)
  -i, --image TEXT         Path or URL to reference image for style transfer
  -o, --output TEXT        Output filename (default: generated_image.png)
  -s, --size TEXT          Image size (e.g., "1024x1024", "landscape_16_9")
  --seed INTEGER           Random seed for reproducibility
  --steps INTEGER          Number of inference steps (model-dependent)
  --guidance FLOAT         Guidance scale (higher = more prompt adherence)
  --help                   Show this message and exit

Authentication Setup

Before first use, set your fal.ai API key:

export FAL_KEY="your-api-key-here"

Or create a .env file in the skill directory:

FAL_KEY=your-api-key-here

Get your API key from: https://fal.ai/dashboard/keys

Advanced Examples

High-Resolution Professional Photo

uv run python fal-text-to-image \
  -m flux-pro/v1.1-ultra \
  "Professional headshot of a business executive in modern office" \
  -s 2048x2048

Logo/Typography Design

uv run python fal-text-to-image \
  -m recraft/v3/text-to-image \
  "Modern tech startup logo with text 'AI Labs' in minimalist style"

Style Transfer from Reference

uv run python fal-text-to-image \
  -m flux-2/lora/edit \
  -i artistic_style.jpg \
  "Portrait of a woman in a garden"

Reproducible Generation

uv run python fal-text-to-image \
  -m flux-2 \
  --seed 42 \
  "Futuristic cityscape with flying cars"

Model Selection Logic

The script automatically selects the best model when -m is not specified:

If -i provided: Uses flux-2/lora/edit for style transfer
If prompt contains typography keywords (logo, text, poster, sign): Uses recraft/v3/text-to-image
If prompt suggests high-res needs (professional, portrait, headshot): Uses flux-pro/v1.1-ultra
If prompt mentions vector/brand: Uses recraft/v3/text-to-image
Default: Uses flux-2 for general purpose

Output Format

Generated images are saved with metadata:

Filename includes timestamp and model name
EXIF data stores prompt, model, and parameters
Console displays generation time and cost estimate

Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
`FAL_KEY not set`	Export FAL_KEY environment variable or create .env file
`Model not found`	Check model name against supported list
`Image reference fails`	Ensure image path/URL is accessible
`Generation timeout`	Some models take longer; wait or try faster model
`Rate limit error`	Check fal.ai dashboard for usage limits

Cost Optimization

Free tier: FLUX.2 offers 100 free requests (expires Dec 25, 2025)
Pay per use: FLUX Pro charges per megapixel
Budget option: Use flux-2 or stable-diffusion-v35-large for general use
Premium: Use flux-pro/v1.1-ultra only when high-res is required

File Structure

fal-text-to-image/
├── SKILL.md                    # This file
├── pyproject.toml              # Dependencies (uv)
├── fal-text-to-image           # Main executable script
├── references/
│   └── model-comparison.md     # Detailed model benchmarks
└── outputs/                    # Generated images (created on first run)

Dependencies

Managed via uv:

fal-client: Official fal.ai Python SDK
python-dotenv: Environment variable management
pillow: Image handling and EXIF metadata
click: CLI interface

Best Practices

Model Selection: Let the script auto-select unless you have specific needs
Reference Images: Use high-quality references for best style transfer results
Prompt Engineering: Be specific and descriptive for better outputs
Cost Awareness: Monitor usage on fal.ai dashboard
Reproducibility: Use --seed for consistent results during iteration

Resources

fal.ai Documentation: https://docs.fal.ai/
Model Playground: https://fal.ai/explore/search
API Keys: https://fal.ai/dashboard/keys
Pricing: https://fal.ai/pricing

Limitations

Requires active fal.ai API key
Subject to fal.ai rate limits and quotas
Internet connection required
Some models have usage costs (check pricing)
Image reference features limited to specific models