feat: add blog post about llm402.ai image generation

Author: rolznz

frontend/blog-posts/2026-04-10-ai-image-generation-l402-lightning.md

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+---
+title: AI Image Generation, Paid Per Pixel with Lightning
+description: llm402.ai now supports image generation via L402 — generate FLUX or GPT-5 images for as little as 21 sats, no account or API key needed.
+date: 2026-04-10
+tags: [bitcoin, lightning, "402", l402, ai, images, flux]
+image: /blog/images/2026-04-10-ai-image-generation-l402-lightning.jpg
+imageAlt: A glowing cyan neon vending machine with AI-generated image thumbnails in each slot, golden lightning bolt coins floating toward it on a dark navy background.
+---
+
+llm402.ai just added image generation to its L402-gated API, which means your agent can now generate images for as little as 21 sats — no account, no API key, no prepaid balance. Just a lightning wallet and a prompt.
+
+## What llm402.ai Offers
+
+[llm402.ai](https://llm402.ai) is an OpenAI-compatible API gateway where every request is gated by an L402 payment. Instead of signing up and loading credits, your agent makes a request, receives a `402 Payment Required` with a lightning invoice, pays it, and retries — all automatically.
+
+Image generation lands at the standard `/v1/images/generations` endpoint with a range of models:
+
+| Model          | Price    |
+| -------------- | -------- |
+| FLUX.1-schnell | 21 sats  |
+| FLUX.2-pro     | 63 sats  |
+| FLUX.2-max     | 147 sats |
+| Ideogram 3.0   | 126 sats |
+| GPT-5-image    | 105 sats |
+
+The cheapest option (FLUX.1-schnell at 21 sats) is fast enough for real-time workflows. The most capable option (GPT-5-image) produces dramatically more detailed output for about five times the price.
+
+## Generating an Image with One Command
+
+The [Alby payments skill](https://github.com/getAlby/payments-skill) handles L402 automatically. Install it once:
+
+```bash
+npx skills add getAlby/payments-skill
+```
+
+Then your agent can generate an image with a single call — the skill handles the 402 handshake, payment, and retry:
+
+```bash
+npx -y @getalby/cli fetch -X POST \
+  -H '{"Content-Type":"application/json"}' \
+  -b '{
+    "model": "black-forest-labs/FLUX.1-schnell",
+    "prompt": "A vending machine dispensing AI-generated artwork for lightning bolt coins, each slot showing a different image style, pixel art",
+    "width": 1200,
+    "height": 630
+  }' \
+  https://llm402.ai/v1/images/generations
+```
+
+The image comes back as a base64-encoded data URI in the response body. No separate download step, no polling — just a synchronous result.
+
+## 21 Sats vs 105 Sats: A Real Comparison
+
+We ran the exact same prompt through both FLUX.1-schnell and GPT-5-image to see what the price difference actually buys you.
+
+**Prompt:** *"A vending machine dispensing AI-generated artwork for lightning bolt coins, each slot showing a different image style, pixel art"*
+
+### FLUX.1-schnell — 21 sats
+
+![A pixel art vending machine with lightning bolt coin slots, each slot displaying a different style of AI-generated artwork, generated by FLUX.1-schnell](/blog/images/llm402-vending-machine.jpg)
+
+Fast, abstract, painterly. Captures the concept loosely — a vending machine shape with colourful circular slots. Generated in under 5 seconds.
+
+### GPT-5-image — 105 sats
+
+![A detailed pixel art AI-ART DISPENSER vending machine with Insert Coin and Generate buttons, various pixel art thumbnails in the slots and lightning bolt coins scattered at the base, generated by GPT-5-image](/blog/images/llm402-gpt5-vending-machine.png)
+
+Coherent, detailed, on-theme. The machine has an "AI-ART DISPENSER" sign, "INSERT COIN" and "GENERATE" buttons, distinct pixel art thumbnails in each slot, and lightning bolt coins at the base. Generated in around 60 seconds.
+
+The 5× price difference maps directly onto the quality gap. For a quick thumbnail or draft, FLUX.1-schnell is more than adequate. For anything that ends up in front of a user, GPT-5-image earns its cost.
+
+## How It Works Under the Hood
+
+The L402 flow is straightforward:
+
+1. **Initial request** — agent POSTs to `/v1/images/generations`
+2. **402 response** — server replies with a `WWW-Authenticate: L402` header containing a macaroon and a BOLT11 lightning invoice
+3. **Payment** — agent pays the invoice using its NWC-connected wallet
+4. **Authenticated retry** — agent re-sends the request with `Authorization: L402 <macaroon>:<preimage>`
+5. **Image returned** — server verifies payment and returns the generated image
+
+The Alby payments skill wraps steps 2–4 into a single function call, so agents don't need to implement the protocol manually.
+
+## Using It in a TypeScript Agent
+
+```typescript
+import { fetch402 } from "@getalby/payments-skill";
+
+const response = await fetch402("https://llm402.ai/v1/images/generations", {
+  method: "POST",
+  headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+  body: JSON.stringify({
+    model: "black-forest-labs/FLUX.1-schnell",
+    prompt: "your prompt here",
+    width: 1024,
+    height: 1024,
+  }),
+});
+
+const { data } = await response.json();
+const imageUrl = data[0].url; // base64 data URI
+```
+
+Switch `model` to `openai/gpt-5-image` for higher quality — same code, different cost.
+
+## Conclusion
+
+L402 image generation on llm402.ai is a clean example of what pay-per-use AI infrastructure looks like in practice: no accounts, no rate limits tied to subscription tiers, no credit management. Your agent pays exactly what the image costs and moves on.
+
+The model choice is a straightforward trade-off: 21 sats for speed, 105 sats for quality. Both work with the same one-line command.
+
+---
+
+## Get started
+
+Need a Lightning wallet for your agent? Create one in one command — no sign-up, no KYC:
+
+```bash
+curl -X POST https://lncurl.lol
+```
+
+You'll get back a Nostr Wallet Connect URI. Fund it with a few sats and your agent can pay for APIs, services, and tools autonomously.
+
+Or give your agent the lncurl skill directly: <https://lncurl.lol/SKILL.md>

frontend/public/blog-manifest.json

@@ -1,4 +1,23 @@
 [
+  {
+    "slug": "2026-04-10-ai-image-generation-l402-lightning",
+    "title": "AI Image Generation, Paid Per Pixel with Lightning",
+    "description": "llm402.ai now supports image generation via L402 — generate FLUX or GPT-5 images for as little as 21 sats, no account or API key needed.",
+    "date": "2026-04-10",
+    "isoDate": "2026-04-10T00:00:00Z",
+    "displayDate": "April 10, 2026",
+    "tags": [
+      "bitcoin",
+      "lightning",
+      "402",
+      "l402",
+      "ai",
+      "images",
+      "flux"
+    ],
+    "image": "/blog/images/2026-04-10-ai-image-generation-l402-lightning.jpg",
+    "imageAlt": "A glowing cyan neon vending machine with AI-generated image thumbnails in each slot, golden lightning bolt coins floating toward it on a dark navy background."
+  },
   {
     "slug": "2026-04-09-smoke-test-l402-integration",
     "title": "Smoke-Test Your L402 Integration in One Request",