---
name: meme-generation-7b78562bf823
description: Generate real meme images by picking a template and overlaying text with Pillow. Produces actual .png meme files.
version: 2.0.0
author: adanaleycio
license: MIT
platforms: [linux, macos, windows]
metadata:
  hermes:
    tags: [creative, memes, humor, images]
    related_skills: [ascii-art, generative-widgets]
    category: creative
---

# Meme Generation

Generate actual meme images from a topic. Picks a template, writes captions, and renders a real .png file with text overlay.

## When to Use

- User asks you to make or generate a meme
- User wants a meme about a specific topic, situation, or frustration
- User says "meme this" or similar

## Available Templates

The script supports **any of the ~100 popular imgflip templates** by name or ID, plus 10 curated templates with hand-tuned text positioning.

### Curated Templates (custom text placement)

| ID | Name | Fields | Best for |
|----|------|--------|----------|
| `this-is-fine` | This is Fine | top, bottom | chaos, denial |
| `drake` | Drake Hotline Bling | reject, approve | rejecting/preferring |
| `distracted-boyfriend` | Distracted Boyfriend | distraction, current, person | temptation, shifting priorities |
| `two-buttons` | Two Buttons | left, right, person | impossible choice |
| `expanding-brain` | Expanding Brain | 4 levels | escalating irony |
| `change-my-mind` | Change My Mind | statement | hot takes |
| `woman-yelling-at-cat` | Woman Yelling at Cat | woman, cat | arguments |
| `one-does-not-simply` | One Does Not Simply | top, bottom | deceptively hard things |
| `grus-plan` | Gru's Plan | step1-3, realization | plans that backfire |
| `batman-slapping-robin` | Batman Slapping Robin | robin, batman | shutting down bad ideas |

### Dynamic Templates (from imgflip API)

Any template not in the curated list can be used by name or imgflip ID. These get smart default text positioning (top/bottom for 2-field, evenly spaced for 3+). Search with:
```bash
python "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/generate_meme.py" --search "disaster"
```

## Procedure

### Mode 1: Classic Template (default)

1. Read the user's topic and identify the core dynamic (chaos, dilemma, preference, irony, etc.)
2. Pick the template that best matches. Use the "Best for" column, or search with `--search`.
3. Write short captions for each field (8-12 words max per field, shorter is better).
4. Find the skill's script directory:
   ```
   SKILL_DIR=$(dirname "$(find ~/.hermes/skills -path '*/meme-generation/SKILL.md' 2>/dev/null | head -1)")
   ```
5. Run the generator:
   ```bash
   python "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/generate_meme.py" <template_id> /tmp/meme.png "caption 1" "caption 2" ...
   ```
6. Return the image with `MEDIA:/tmp/meme.png`

### Mode 2: Custom AI Image (when image_generate is available)

Use this when no classic template fits, or when the user wants something original.

1. Write the captions first.
2. Use `image_generate` to create a scene that matches the meme concept. Do NOT include any text in the image prompt — text will be added by the script. Describe only the visual scene.
3. Find the generated image path from the image_generate result URL. Download it to a local path if needed.
4. Run the script with `--image` to overlay text, choosing a mode:
   - **Overlay** (text directly on image, white with black outline):
     ```bash
     python "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/generate_meme.py" --image /path/to/scene.png /tmp/meme.png "top text" "bottom text"
     ```
   - **Bars** (black bars above/below with white text — cleaner, always readable):
     ```bash
     python "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/generate_meme.py" --image /path/to/scene.png --bars /tmp/meme.png "top text" "bottom text"
     ```
   Use `--bars` when the image is busy/detailed and text would be hard to read on top of it.
5. **Verify with vision** (if `vision_analyze` is available): Check the result looks good:
   ```
   vision_analyze(image_url="/tmp/meme.png", question="Is the text legible and well-positioned? Does the meme work visually?")
   ```
   If the vision model flags issues (text hard to read, bad placement, etc.), try the other mode (switch between overlay and bars) or regenerate the scene.
6. Return the image with `MEDIA:/tmp/meme.png`

## Examples

**"debugging production at 2 AM":**
```bash
python generate_meme.py this-is-fine /tmp/meme.png "SERVERS ARE ON FIRE" "This is fine"
```

**"choosing between sleep and one more episode":**
```bash
python generate_meme.py drake /tmp/meme.png "Getting 8 hours of sleep" "One more episode at 3 AM"
```

**"the stages of a Monday morning":**
```bash
python generate_meme.py expanding-brain /tmp/meme.png "Setting an alarm" "Setting 5 alarms" "Sleeping through all alarms" "Working from bed"
```

## Listing Templates

To see all available templates:
```bash
python generate_meme.py --list
```

## Pitfalls

- Keep captions SHORT. Memes with long text look terrible.
- Match the number of text arguments to the template's field count.
- Pick the template that fits the joke structure, not just the topic.
- Do not generate hateful, abusive, or personally targeted content.
- The script caches template images in `scripts/.cache/` after first download.

## Verification

The output is correct if:
- A .png file was created at the output path
- Text is legible (white with black outline) on the template
- The joke lands — caption matches the template's intended structure
- File can be delivered via MEDIA: path


---
Source attribution: aniruddhaadak80
Original project: https://github.com/aniruddhaadak80/herclew/blob/080fb1e18bb9513027be097e3cb530e6c5c636cf/core-agent/optional-skills/creative/meme-generation/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Dave AI.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2025 Nous Research

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Dave AI resource metadata

Creator / publisher: aniruddhaadak80
Original project: https://github.com/aniruddhaadak80/herclew/blob/080fb1e18bb9513027be097e3cb530e6c5c636cf/core-agent/optional-skills/creative/meme-generation/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Marketing
Roles: Content Marketer, Influencer Marketer, Social Media Manager
Specialties: Frontend
Tools: Pillow
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: bf5e39904e96a176eda9f79c89d018ebc637b510d69a64432aa2145c799c124c
