> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://thecontentforge.gitbook.io/thecontentforge-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://thecontentforge.gitbook.io/thecontentforge-docs/feature-guides/image-forge.md). # Image Forge Image Forge is the visual creation workspace in TheContentForge. Use it to generate images, design thumbnails, resize assets, upscale images, edit visuals on a canvas, and save finished outputs back to your workspace. It is designed for creators who need production-ready marketing visuals without leaving TheContentForge. Image Forge is in Beta. You will see a Beta badge in the app. Features are stable and ready to use, but expect ongoing refinements. ## Where to find it Open Content > Image Forge. The direct route is `/image-forge`. Existing Image Forge projects open at `/image-forge/:projectId`. ## Who can use it Image Forge is available to signed-in users on active content workspaces. It appears in the Content section when the workspace has access to visual creation tools. Some AI-powered tools may depend on workspace plan limits or available capacity. If a tool you need is unavailable, contact support. ## What Image Forge can create Use Image Forge for: * Social images and post graphics. * YouTube thumbnails and video covers. * X thread cards and headers. * LinkedIn and Instagram graphics. * TikTok, Reels, and vertical covers. * Transparent-background product or brand assets. * Resized campaign variants. * Upscaled source images. * Edited assets from the Asset Library. ## Landing page The Image Forge landing page gives you four primary workflows and quick access to existing work. ### Blank Canvas Start from a preset or custom canvas size, choose a background, and open a new editable project. Use Blank Canvas when: * You want full control over layout. * You are designing from scratch. * You need a specific custom size. * You want to build a reusable design template. ### Thumbnail Studio Generate a thumbnail concept from a title, prompt, platform, style, host image, and optional caption. Use Thumbnail Studio when: * You need a fast thumbnail draft. * You want AI to propose a visual direction. * You are creating video covers or campaign hero visuals. * You want an editable project after generation. Thumbnail Studio creates an Image Forge project and sends the generation job to the background queue. When the job finishes, you can open and edit the result. ### Resize Image Resize an Asset Library image into a new format or platform size. Resize controls can include: * Target width and height. * Social presets. * Fit mode. * Zoom and pan. * Rotation. * Flip controls. * Background color. * Output format. * Quality. Use Resize Image when you need platform-specific variants from an existing asset. ### Upscale Image Upscale an Asset Library image and save the higher-resolution output. Upscale controls can include: * Source image. * Scale. * Upscale mode. * Output format. * Job status. * Before and after review. Use Upscale Image when a source image is too small for a campaign, export, thumbnail, or presentation. ## Projects and AI Gallery The landing page also shows recent Image Forge projects and AI-generated assets. From the gallery you can: * Open an existing project. * Download a finished asset. * Favorite useful outputs. * Compare generated options. * Remix a prior result when remixing is available. ## Canvas presets Image Forge includes common marketing and social formats: * Square: 1080 x 1080. * Landscape: 1920 x 1080. * Portrait: 1080 x 1920. * X Image: 1600 x 900. * X Thread Card: 1080 x 1350. * X Header: 1500 x 500. * LinkedIn Image: 1200 x 627. * Instagram Post: 1080 x 1080. * Instagram Story: 1080 x 1920. * TikTok Cover: 1080 x 1920. * Reels Cover: 1080 x 1920. * YouTube Thumbnail: 1280 x 720. You can also enter a custom width and height. When custom preset saving is available, save personal or workspace presets for repeated formats. ## Blank Canvas workflow 1. Open Content > Image Forge. 2. Choose Blank Canvas. 3. Select a preset or enter custom dimensions. 4. Choose the background. 5. Save the preset if you will reuse the size. 6. Create the project. 7. Design in the editor. 8. Save or export the finished asset. ## Thumbnail Studio workflow 1. Open Content > Image Forge. 2. Choose Thumbnail Studio. 3. Enter the title or visual prompt. 4. Choose the platform or target format. 5. Add a host image or reference asset when helpful. 6. Add caption text if the thumbnail needs visible copy. 7. Choose a style direction. 8. Generate the thumbnail. 9. Open the generated project in the editor. 10. Refine text, layers, colors, and layout. 11. Save to Asset Library or export the final file. Thumbnail results are starting points. Always review text, brand fit, face crops, platform safe areas, and visual hierarchy before publishing. ## Resize Image workflow 1. Open Content > Image Forge. 2. Choose Resize Image. 3. Select a source image from the Asset Library. 4. Pick a preset or enter target dimensions. 5. Choose the fit mode. 6. Adjust zoom, pan, rotation, or flip. 7. Set the background and output format. 8. Resize and save. 9. Download the output or open it as an editable project. Use this workflow to create campaign packs, cross-platform variants, and exact-size uploads. ## Upscale Image workflow 1. Open Content > Image Forge. 2. Choose Upscale Image. 3. Select the source image. 4. Choose scale, mode, and output format. 5. Start the upscale job. 6. Review the before and after result. 7. Save, download, or open the result as a project. Upscaling works best on clear source images. If the source is blurry, compressed, or heavily cropped, review the result carefully before using it in final creative. ## Editor overview The Image Forge editor has four main areas: * Top bar: project name, undo, redo, save, recovery, send, and export controls. * Left toolbar: creation, selection, brush, crop, import, and image-editing tools. * Canvas: the editable design surface. * Right inspector: Create, Style, Edit, and Layers tabs. ## Top bar Use the top bar to manage the project itself. Common controls include: * Rename or review the project title. * Undo and redo. * Save the project. * Recover a local draft when recovery is available. * Send or export the finished work. * Open export options. If the app cannot save to the workspace immediately, Image Forge may keep a local recovery draft. Use recovery when you return to a project after a connection issue. ## Left toolbar The left toolbar contains fast canvas tools. Tools can include: * Select and move. * Text. * Shapes and lines. * Image import. * PSD import. * SVG import. * Magic wand erase. * Eraser. * Background eraser. * Brush. * Paint bucket. * Eyedropper. * Crop. * Zoom and canvas navigation. Tool availability can vary by workspace access and the selected layer type. ## Canvas The canvas is where you arrange the final visual. Use the canvas to: * Drag and resize layers. * Select text, images, shapes, and imported objects. * Crop or reposition images. * Check transparent areas with the checkerboard background. * Align elements visually before exporting. For platform graphics, keep important text and faces away from the edges so they are not cropped by social apps. ## Create tab Use Create when you want to add new content to the design. Create tools can include: * Templates. * Save as template. * Text. * Images. * SVG import. * PSD import. * AI background generation. * Icons. * QR codes. * Marketing elements. * Workflow recipes. Recipes help automate common design tasks such as background cleanup, thumbnail variants, social resize packs, and export packs when those workflows are enabled. The QR option here is a Quick Static QR insert: a self-contained QR code baked straight into your design. It always encodes the same destination and needs no separate account or link. For editable or dynamic QR codes, short links, scan analytics, and campaign tracking, use the dedicated tools instead. See [QR Manager](/thecontentforge-docs/feature-guides/image-forge/qr-manager.md) and [Link Manager & Short Links](/thecontentforge-docs/feature-guides/image-forge/link-manager.md). ## Style tab Use Style to control the look of the selected layer or design. Style controls can include: * Color palettes. * Saved colors. * Recent colors. * Swatches. * Gradients. * Typography. * Fill color. * Stroke or outline. * Shadow. * Blur. * Filter presets. Use saved colors and palettes to keep campaign visuals consistent. ## Edit tab Use Edit to adjust geometry, image quality, and layer behavior. Edit controls can include: * Position. * Dimensions. * Arrange. * Align. * Flip. * Rotate. * Fit to canvas. * Image adjustments. * Histogram review. * Filters. * Remove background. * 2x upscale. * Magic wand erase. * Matte and defringe cleanup. * Edge cleanup. * AI brush tools. AI brush modes can include inpaint, erase, restore, and preserve. Use them for focused image edits where you need to change only part of an asset. ## Layers tab Use Layers to manage stacking order and visibility. Layer controls can include: * Select a layer. * Rename a layer. * Show or hide a layer. * Lock or unlock a layer. * Move a layer forward or backward. * Delete a layer. Name important layers before a project becomes complex. Clear layer names make team handoff and later edits much easier. ## Saving Use Save to store the editable Image Forge project in the workspace. Use Save to Asset Library when you want the rendered visual to become a reusable workspace asset. Save often when a project contains many layers, imported files, or AI-generated edits. ## Exporting Image Forge can export common web and marketing formats. Export options can include: * PNG. * Transparent PNG. * WebP. * Transparent WebP. * JPG. * SVG. Use transparent formats for logos, cutouts, overlays, and reusable design elements. Use JPG for final opaque images where smaller file size matters. Use PNG or WebP when you need crisp detail. ## Asset Library integration Image Forge and the Asset Library work together. You can: * Start from an Asset Library image. * Save generated images to the Asset Library. * Save finished exports as assets. * Reuse Image Forge outputs in Content Forge, Video Forge, publishing workflows, and future Image Forge projects. ## AI jobs Some Image Forge actions run as background jobs. This can include: * Thumbnail generation. * AI background generation. * Upscaling. * Background removal. * AI brush edits. * Certain export or recipe workflows. Background jobs may take time depending on queue activity and image complexity. If a job fails, retry with a simpler prompt, smaller source image, or fewer simultaneous changes. ## Best practices * Start with the final platform size when you know it. * Keep text large enough to read on mobile. * Use high-contrast foreground and background colors. * Save reusable formats as presets or templates. * Use layers intentionally instead of flattening too early. * Export one transparent version when you are creating reusable brand assets. * Review AI-generated images for text errors, awkward crops, brand fit, and factual accuracy. * Save final campaign assets to the Asset Library so the rest of the workspace can reuse them. ## Troubleshooting ### I cannot see Image Forge Confirm you are in an active content workspace. If you still cannot see it, contact support. ### A generation is taking longer than expected Some image jobs run in the background. Leave the project open or return to the gallery later. If the job does not finish, retry with a simpler prompt or contact support. ### My export has a background Use a transparent export format such as Transparent PNG or Transparent WebP. Also check that the canvas background and bottom layers are transparent. ### My uploaded image looks soft Use Upscale Image before placing it into a larger design. If the source file is already blurry, upscale results may still need manual review. ### I lost recent edits Open the project again and check for recovery. Image Forge may preserve local drafts when a save cannot complete. ## Related pages * [Asset Library](/thecontentforge-docs/feature-guides/asset-library.md) * [Content Forge](/thecontentforge-docs/feature-guides/content-studio.md) * [Video Forge](/thecontentforge-docs/feature-guides/video-studio.md) * [Publishing](/thecontentforge-docs/feature-guides/publishing.md) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. 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