Image Editing

Edit images using natural language instructions without re-uploading or specifying complex parameters.

Editing Methods

1. Continue Editing (Conversational)

Edit the last image in your session without specifying which one:

[After generating an image]
Add some clouds in the sky
Make it more dramatic
Remove the person on the left

This is the most natural way to iterate on images.

2. Edit by ID

Edit a specific image by its database ID:

Edit image #42: Add a rainbow in the background

Useful when you want to edit an older image, not the most recent one.

3. Upload and Edit

Upload an image from a URL and edit it:

Upload this image: https://example.com/photo.jpg
Now add a sunset filter

Two-step process:

1. upload_image_for_editing - Downloads and stores the image
2. edit_uploaded_image - Applies your edits

What You Can Edit

Add Elements

Add a rainbow in the sky
Add some birds flying
Add a person walking in the distance
Add reflections in the water

Remove Elements

Remove the car from the scene
Remove the text/watermark
Remove the people in the background
Remove the clouds

Change Properties

Make the sky darker
Make it look like sunset
Change the grass to autumn colors
Make it more vibrant

Style Transfer

Make it look like a watercolor painting
Apply a vintage film look
Convert to black and white
Make it look like anime

Lighting Adjustments

Add dramatic lighting
Make it golden hour lighting
Add rim lighting to the subject
Create a backlit silhouette effect

Edit Limitations

What Editing Can't Do

• Change composition: Can't zoom in/out or reframe
• Change aspect ratio: Significant changes may cause issues
• Reposition subjects: Major movement of elements
• Change perspective: Can't rotate the viewpoint

For these changes, generate a new image instead.

Edit Workflow

Continue editing, fetch by ID, or upload - with Gemini cache optimization

Edit Lineage

Every edit creates a new image linked to its parent:

Version history with branching from any point

Benefits:

• Version history: See how an image evolved
• Non-destructive: Original always preserved
• Branching: Create variations from any point

Best Practices

Be Specific

❌ "Make it better" ✅ "Increase the contrast and add warmer tones"

❌ "Add something interesting" ✅ "Add a hot air balloon in the distance"

Work Incrementally

Instead of:

Add clouds, birds, a rainbow, make it sunset, and add lens flare

Do:

Add dramatic clouds in the sky
→ [Review result]
Add some birds flying in formation
→ [Review result]
Add warm sunset colors to the sky
→ [Review result]

Use Negative Prompts

Add a mystical fog effect
Avoid: completely obscuring the subject, too dark

Describe Context

Add reflections of the mountains in the lake water

Better than:

Add reflections

Editing Examples

Portrait Enhancement

Original: A portrait photo
Edit 1: Soften the background blur
Edit 2: Add subtle rim lighting
Edit 3: Enhance the eye catchlights
Edit 4: Add a gentle warm color grade

Landscape Transformation

Original: A daytime mountain scene
Edit 1: Change to sunset lighting
Edit 2: Add dramatic clouds
Edit 3: Add mist in the valleys
Edit 4: Add a reflection lake in the foreground

Product Shot Refinement

Original: Product on white background
Edit 1: Add soft shadows
Edit 2: Add subtle reflection
Edit 3: Add depth by blurring background slightly
Edit 4: Add professional lighting highlights

Session State

The session tracks your editing context:

Field	Purpose
last_image_id	Most recent image for continue_editing
total_images	Count of images in session
total_edits	Count of edit operations

When you use continue_editing, it automatically uses last_image_id.

Gemini File Caching

For faster edits, Go Bananas! caches images in Gemini's Files API:

Scenario	Behavior
Edit within 48 hours	Uses cached file (fast)
Edit after 48 hours	Re-uploads from R2 (slower)
Edit uploaded image	Creates new cache entry

You don't need to manage this - it's automatic.

API Details

Continue Editing

{
  "tool": "continue_editing",
  "params": {
    "prompt": "Add clouds in the sky",
    "negative_prompt": "cartoon, unrealistic"
  }
}

Edit by ID

{
  "tool": "edit_image",
  "params": {
    "image_id": 42,
    "prompt": "Make it sunset lighting"
  }
}

Upload for Editing

{
  "tool": "upload_image_for_editing",
  "params": {
    "image_url": "https://example.com/photo.jpg"
  }
}

Then:

{
  "tool": "edit_uploaded_image",
  "params": {
    "image_id": 123,
    "edit_prompt": "Add a vintage filter"
  }
}

Next Steps

• Create consistent characters →
• Use style presets →
• View editing MCP tools →