AI Image Generation (fal.ai)
Generate hero images directly in WordPress using AI-powered image-to-image transformation. Select a source image from your media library, describe the look you want, and create stunning hero visuals without leaving the admin.
Setup
- Go to SyteHero → Integrations
- Find the fal.ai card
- Get an API key from fal.ai and paste it into the API Key field
- Toggle Enabled and click Save Settings
- Click Test Connection to verify your key works
Using AI Generation
The AI button appears wherever you can select a hero image:
- Product edit screen — in the SyteHero metabox, next to "Select Hero Media"
- Heroes tab — next to each slide's media selector
- Schedules tab — when adding slides that support hero images
Workflow
- Click the AI button to open the generation modal
- Select a source image — click the image area or "Change Image" to pick from your media library
- Write a prompt — describe the transformation you want (e.g., "Transform this product into a floating scene with cosmic nebula background, dramatic lighting")
- Choose a model — the dropdown shows all available image-to-image models with cost indicators
- Adjust strength — lower values keep closer to the original; higher values allow more creative freedom
- Click Generate and wait for the progress bar to complete
- Review the result — click Regenerate to try again with the same settings, or adjust and re-generate
- Click Use This Image to save the generated image to your media library and assign it to the slide
Cost Indicators
Each model shows a cost tier next to its name:
| Tier | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| $ | ~$0.01–0.02/image |
| $$ | ~$0.02–0.05/image |
| $$$ | ~$0.05–0.10/image |
| $$$$ | ~$0.10+/image |
The exact per-image price appears below the model dropdown when selected. Costs are charged by fal.ai to your fal.ai account — SyteHero does not add any markup.
Tips
- Start with a clear product photo — the AI works best with well-lit, clean source images
- Be specific in your prompts — "product floating in cosmic nebula with purple and blue tones, cinematic lighting" works better than "make it look cool"
- Use lower strength (30–50%) for subtle enhancements, higher strength (70–90%) for dramatic transformations
- Try different models — each model has its own style and strengths
AI Studio: Media Manager
The AI Studio tab (SyteHero admin → AI Studio) provides tools for managing all AI-generated images.
AI Media
Browse, inspect, and clean up every image generated by SyteHero's AI tools.
- Each card shows: thumbnail, model name, cost tier badge, two-line prompt preview, generation date, and an In Use / Unused status badge.
- Select images with the checkbox overlay to bulk-select.
- Delete Selected removes unused items (images currently referenced anywhere on your site are protected).
- Backfill — If you generated AI images before updating to this version, click Tag Pre-existing AI Images to retroactively tag them so they appear in this view.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| "AI" button doesn't appear | Verify the integration is enabled in Settings → Integrations |
| "Failed to load models" | Check your API key is valid; click Test Connection |
| Generation times out | Try a different model or simplify your prompt |
| Image quality is poor | Use a higher-quality source image; try a more expensive model tier |