Getting Started

Get up and running with ImgForge in minutes.

Installation

Install as a Global Tool

The recommended way to install ImgForge is as a global .NET tool:

dotnet tool install --global ImgForge

After installation, you can use the imgforge command from anywhere:

imgforge generate --template blog --title "Hello!" --bg random --format blog

Chromium is downloaded automatically on the first run — no separate install step needed.

Run Directly from NuGet via DNX

You can also run ImgForge without installing it globally using DNX:

# Simple example
dnx -y imgforge -- generate --template blog --title "Hello World" --bg random --format blog

# YouTube thumbnail
dnx -y imgforge -- generate --template youtube --title "My Video" --bg random --format youtube

The -y flag automatically accepts any prompts. Note the -- before the arguments that should be sent to imgforge.

Quick Examples

Generate a Blog Post Open Graph Image

Create a social preview card with a random background:

imgforge generate --template blog --title "Getting Started with ImgForge" --bg random --format blog

Or use a specific background image:

imgforge generate --template blog --title "My Post Title" --bg ./cover.jpg --out og.png --format blog

Create a YouTube Thumbnail

imgforge generate --template youtube --title "How to Build Better Software" --bg random --format youtube

Generate a Blog Card with Subtitle and Headshot

imgforge generate --template blog-subtitle \
  --title "Advanced .NET Patterns" \
  --subtitle "A practical guide" \
  --bg random \
  --headshot ./photo.jpg \
  --format blog

All three built-in templates (blog, youtube, blog-subtitle) work immediately without any additional setup.

Next Steps

Usage Guide — Learn about all available options and flags
Templates — Explore built-in templates and create your own
Format Presets — Understand dimension presets for different platforms