Vertex Media Generation

Overview

Build image and video generation features using Google Vertex AI through the Vercel AI SDK. Covers Imagen models for image generation and editing (inpainting, outpainting, background swap) and Veo models for video generation with optional audio. Uses the @ai-sdk/google-vertex provider with the unified ai SDK.

Instructions

Step 1: Set up the project

npm install ai @ai-sdk/google-vertex
gcloud auth application-default login

Use the default provider instance (reads GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT from env), or create a custom one:

import { vertex } from '@ai-sdk/google-vertex';
// Or: import { createVertex } from '@ai-sdk/google-vertex';
// const vertex = createVertex({ project: 'my-gcp-project', location: 'us-central1' });

Step 2: Generate images with Imagen

Use generateImage from the ai package with a Vertex image model:

import { vertex } from '@ai-sdk/google-vertex';
import { generateImage } from 'ai';

const { image } = await generateImage({
  model: vertex.image('imagen-4.0-generate-001'),
  prompt: 'A futuristic cityscape at sunset',
  aspectRatio: '16:9',
});

Imagen does NOT support the size parameter. Use aspectRatio instead. Supported ratios: 1:1, 3:4, 4:3, 9:16, 16:9.

Available Imagen models:

Model	Speed	Quality
imagen-4.0-ultra-generate-001	Slow	Highest
imagen-4.0-generate-001	Medium	High
imagen-4.0-fast-generate-001	Fast	Good
imagen-3.0-generate-002	Medium	High
imagen-3.0-fast-generate-001	Fast	Good

Configure generation with provider options:

const { image } = await generateImage({
  model: vertex.image('imagen-4.0-generate-001'),
  prompt: 'Professional headshot portrait',
  aspectRatio: '1:1',
  providerOptions: {
    vertex: {
      negativePrompt: 'blurry, low-quality, distorted',
      personGeneration: 'allow_adult',
      safetySetting: 'block_medium_and_above',
      addWatermark: true,
    },
  },
});

Provider options: negativePrompt (exclude elements), personGeneration (allow_adult | allow_all | dont_allow), safetySetting (block_low_and_above | block_medium_and_above | block_only_high | block_none), addWatermark (boolean, default true), storageUri (GCS path).

Step 3: Edit images with Imagen

Use imagen-3.0-capability-001 for inpainting, outpainting, and background swap. Provide the source image and a mask (white pixels = area to edit):

import { generateImage } from 'ai';
import fs from 'fs';

const sourceImage = fs.readFileSync('./photo.png');
const mask = fs.readFileSync('./mask.png');

const { images } = await generateImage({
  model: vertex.image('imagen-3.0-capability-001'),
  prompt: {
    text: 'Add a golden retriever sitting on the grass',
    images: [sourceImage],
    mask,
  },
  providerOptions: {
    vertex: {
      edit: {
        mode: 'EDIT_MODE_INPAINT_INSERTION',
        maskMode: 'MASK_MODE_USER_PROVIDED',
        baseSteps: 50,
        maskDilation: 0.01,
      },
    },
  },
});

Edit modes: EDIT_MODE_INPAINT_INSERTION (add objects), EDIT_MODE_INPAINT_REMOVAL (remove objects), EDIT_MODE_OUTPAINT (extend canvas), EDIT_MODE_BGSWAP (replace background), EDIT_MODE_PRODUCT_IMAGE (product photography), EDIT_MODE_CONTROLLED_EDITING (style transfer). The baseSteps parameter (35-75) controls quality: higher values produce better results but take longer.

Step 4: Generate videos with Veo

Use experimental_generateVideo for video generation. Video generation is asynchronous and may take several minutes:

import { vertex } from '@ai-sdk/google-vertex';
import { experimental_generateVideo as generateVideo } from 'ai';

const { video } = await generateVideo({
  model: vertex.video('veo-3.1-generate-001'),
  prompt: 'Aerial drone shot of a coral reef with tropical fish',
  aspectRatio: '16:9',
  resolution: '1920x1080',
  duration: 8,
});

Available Veo models:

Model	Audio
veo-3.1-generate-001	Yes
veo-3.1-fast-generate-001	Yes
veo-3.0-generate-001	Yes
veo-3.0-fast-generate-001	Yes
veo-2.0-generate-001	No

Configure with provider options:

const { video } = await generateVideo({
  model: vertex.video('veo-3.1-generate-001'),
  prompt: 'Time-lapse of a flower blooming',
  aspectRatio: '16:9',
  providerOptions: {
    vertex: {
      generateAudio: true,
      personGeneration: 'allow_adult',
      negativePrompt: 'blurry, shaky, low-resolution',
      pollIntervalMs: 5000,
      pollTimeoutMs: 600000,
    },
  },
});

Provider options: generateAudio (boolean), personGeneration, negativePrompt, gcsOutputDirectory (GCS URI), referenceImages (style guidance), pollIntervalMs (check interval), pollTimeoutMs (max wait, default 10 min for long videos).

Examples

Example 1: Product photography pipeline

User request: "Generate product photos for an e-commerce listing of a ceramic mug"

Actions taken:

import { vertex } from '@ai-sdk/google-vertex';
import { generateImage } from 'ai';
import fs from 'fs';

const backgrounds = [
  'Minimalist white marble countertop with soft natural lighting',
  'Cozy breakfast table with morning sunlight and croissants',
  'Modern office desk with laptop and notebook, shallow depth of field',
];

for (const [i, scene] of backgrounds.entries()) {
  const { image } = await generateImage({
    model: vertex.image('imagen-4.0-generate-001'),
    prompt: `Professional product photo of a handmade ceramic coffee mug, earth-tone glaze, ${scene}`,
    aspectRatio: '1:1',
    providerOptions: {
      vertex: {
        negativePrompt: 'text, watermark, logo, blurry, oversaturated',
        addWatermark: false,
      },
    },
  });

  fs.writeFileSync(`mug-scene-${i + 1}.png`, Buffer.from(image.base64, 'base64'));
  console.log(`Saved mug-scene-${i + 1}.png`);
}

Expected output: Three 1:1 product images saved as PNG files, each showing the mug in a different setting.

Example 2: Video ad generation with audio

User request: "Create a short video ad for a hiking app launch"

Actions taken:

import { vertex } from '@ai-sdk/google-vertex';
import { experimental_generateVideo as generateVideo } from 'ai';
import fs from 'fs';

const { video } = await generateVideo({
  model: vertex.video('veo-3.1-generate-001'),
  prompt: `Cinematic drone shot following a solo hiker ascending a mountain trail
at golden hour. Camera starts low behind the hiker and rises to reveal a
panoramic vista of snow-capped peaks. Style: epic, aspirational, warm color
grading. Text overlay space at the top third of the frame.`,
  aspectRatio: '9:16',
  resolution: '1080x1920',
  duration: 8,
  providerOptions: {
    vertex: {
      generateAudio: true,
      negativePrompt: 'shaky camera, low quality, overexposed, urban elements',
      pollTimeoutMs: 600000,
    },
  },
});

fs.writeFileSync('hiking-app-ad.mp4', Buffer.from(video.base64, 'base64'));
console.log('Saved hiking-app-ad.mp4');

Expected output: An 8-second vertical video with generated audio, saved as MP4.

Example 3: Image editing — background swap

User request: "Replace the background of this product photo with a beach scene"

Actions taken:

import { vertex } from '@ai-sdk/google-vertex';
import { generateImage } from 'ai';
import fs from 'fs';

const sourceImage = fs.readFileSync('./product-original.png');
const mask = fs.readFileSync('./background-mask.png');

const { images } = await generateImage({
  model: vertex.image('imagen-3.0-capability-001'),
  prompt: {
    text: 'Sandy tropical beach at sunset with palm trees and calm ocean waves',
    images: [sourceImage],
    mask,
  },
  providerOptions: {
    vertex: {
      edit: {
        mode: 'EDIT_MODE_BGSWAP',
        maskMode: 'MASK_MODE_USER_PROVIDED',
        baseSteps: 60,
      },
    },
  },
});

fs.writeFileSync('product-beach-bg.png', Buffer.from(images[0].base64, 'base64'));
console.log('Saved product-beach-bg.png');

Expected output: The original product preserved with a new beach background.

Guidelines

• Always use aspectRatio instead of size for Imagen models — size is not supported.
• Use imagen-4.0-generate-001 as the default for new image generation. Use imagen-3.0-capability-001 only for editing operations.
• Set pollTimeoutMs to at least 600000 (10 min) for Veo video generation — it can take several minutes, especially for higher resolutions or longer durations.
• Use negativePrompt to refine outputs: list specific artifacts to avoid (blurry, distorted, watermark) rather than vague terms.
• For production pipelines, specify storageUri (images) or gcsOutputDirectory (videos) to write directly to Cloud Storage instead of handling base64 in memory.
• Video generation with Veo is experimental (experimental_generateVideo). The API may change between SDK versions.
• Models with fast in the name trade quality for speed — use them for drafts and iteration, switch to standard models for final output.
• personGeneration defaults to blocking people. Set to allow_adult or allow_all when generating content that intentionally includes people.
• GCP billing applies to all Vertex AI media generation. Imagen ultra and Veo 3.1 cost more than their standard/fast counterparts.