diff --git a/docs/.i18n/glossary.zh-CN.json b/docs/.i18n/glossary.zh-CN.json
index 36e44b6d909..d1b1f3f3058 100644
--- a/docs/.i18n/glossary.zh-CN.json
+++ b/docs/.i18n/glossary.zh-CN.json
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@
     "source": "Quick Start",
     "target": "快速开始"
   },
+  {
+    "source": "Capability Cookbook",
+    "target": "能力扩展手册"
+  },
   {
     "source": "Setup Wizard Reference",
     "target": "设置向导参考"
diff --git a/docs/concepts/models.md b/docs/concepts/models.md
index f3b7797eedb..88cf928568e 100644
--- a/docs/concepts/models.md
+++ b/docs/concepts/models.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ Related:
 
 - `agents.defaults.models` is the allowlist/catalog of models OpenClaw can use (plus aliases).
 - `agents.defaults.imageModel` is used **only when** the primary model can’t accept images.
+- `agents.defaults.imageGenerationModel` is used by the shared image-generation capability.
 - Per-agent defaults can override `agents.defaults.model` via `agents.list[].model` plus bindings (see [/concepts/multi-agent](/concepts/multi-agent)).
 
 ## Quick model policy
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ subscription** (OAuth) and **Anthropic** (API key or `claude setup-token`).
 
 - `agents.defaults.model.primary` and `agents.defaults.model.fallbacks`
 - `agents.defaults.imageModel.primary` and `agents.defaults.imageModel.fallbacks`
+- `agents.defaults.imageGenerationModel.primary` and `agents.defaults.imageGenerationModel.fallbacks`
 - `agents.defaults.models` (allowlist + aliases + provider params)
 - `models.providers` (custom providers written into `models.json`)
 
diff --git a/docs/gateway/configuration-reference.md b/docs/gateway/configuration-reference.md
index 235d4a18a7b..910b6db2b62 100644
--- a/docs/gateway/configuration-reference.md
+++ b/docs/gateway/configuration-reference.md
@@ -875,6 +875,9 @@ Time format in system prompt. Default: `auto` (OS preference).
         primary: "openrouter/qwen/qwen-2.5-vl-72b-instruct:free",
         fallbacks: ["openrouter/google/gemini-2.0-flash-vision:free"],
       },
+      imageGenerationModel: {
+        primary: "openai/gpt-image-1",
+      },
       pdfModel: {
         primary: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6",
         fallbacks: ["openai/gpt-5-mini"],
@@ -899,6 +902,8 @@ Time format in system prompt. Default: `auto` (OS preference).
 - `imageModel`: accepts either a string (`"provider/model"`) or an object (`{ primary, fallbacks }`).
   - Used by the `image` tool path as its vision-model config.
   - Also used as fallback routing when the selected/default model cannot accept image input.
+- `imageGenerationModel`: accepts either a string (`"provider/model"`) or an object (`{ primary, fallbacks }`).
+  - Used by the shared image-generation capability and any future tool/plugin surface that generates images.
 - `pdfModel`: accepts either a string (`"provider/model"`) or an object (`{ primary, fallbacks }`).
   - Used by the `pdf` tool for model routing.
   - If omitted, the PDF tool falls back to `imageModel`, then to best-effort provider defaults.
diff --git a/docs/tools/capability-cookbook.md b/docs/tools/capability-cookbook.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..345c7b1ebd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/tools/capability-cookbook.md
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+---
+summary: "Cookbook for adding a new shared capability to OpenClaw"
+read_when:
+  - Adding a new core capability and plugin seam
+  - Deciding whether code belongs in core, a vendor plugin, or a feature plugin
+  - Wiring a new runtime helper for channels or tools
+title: "Capability Cookbook"
+---
+
+# Capability Cookbook
+
+Use this when OpenClaw needs a new domain such as image generation, video
+generation, or some future vendor-backed feature area.
+
+The rule:
+
+- plugin = ownership boundary
+- capability = shared core contract
+
+That means you should not start by wiring a vendor directly into a channel or a
+tool. Start by defining the capability.
+
+## When to create a capability
+
+Create a new capability when all of these are true:
+
+1. more than one vendor could plausibly implement it
+2. channels, tools, or feature plugins should consume it without caring about
+   the vendor
+3. core needs to own fallback, policy, config, or delivery behavior
+
+If the work is vendor-only and no shared contract exists yet, stop and define
+the contract first.
+
+## The standard sequence
+
+1. Define the typed core contract.
+2. Add plugin registration for that contract.
+3. Add a shared runtime helper.
+4. Wire one real vendor plugin as proof.
+5. Move feature/channel consumers onto the runtime helper.
+6. Add contract tests.
+7. Document the operator-facing config and ownership model.
+
+## What goes where
+
+Core:
+
+- request/response types
+- provider registry + resolution
+- fallback behavior
+- config schema and labels/help
+- runtime helper surface
+
+Vendor plugin:
+
+- vendor API calls
+- vendor auth handling
+- vendor-specific request normalization
+- registration of the capability implementation
+
+Feature/channel plugin:
+
+- calls `api.runtime.*` or the matching `plugin-sdk/*-runtime` helper
+- never calls a vendor implementation directly
+
+## File checklist
+
+For a new capability, expect to touch these areas:
+
+- `src/<capability>/types.ts`
+- `src/<capability>/...registry/runtime.ts`
+- `src/plugins/types.ts`
+- `src/plugins/registry.ts`
+- `src/plugins/captured-registration.ts`
+- `src/plugins/contracts/registry.ts`
+- `src/plugins/runtime/types-core.ts`
+- `src/plugins/runtime/index.ts`
+- `src/plugin-sdk/<capability>.ts`
+- `src/plugin-sdk/<capability>-runtime.ts`
+- one or more `extensions/<vendor>/...`
+- config/docs/tests
+
+## Example: image generation
+
+Image generation follows the standard shape:
+
+1. core defines `ImageGenerationProvider`
+2. core exposes `registerImageGenerationProvider(...)`
+3. core exposes `runtime.imageGeneration.generate(...)`
+4. the `openai` plugin registers an OpenAI-backed implementation
+5. future vendors can register the same contract without changing channels/tools
+
+The config key is separate from vision-analysis routing:
+
+- `agents.defaults.imageModel` = analyze images
+- `agents.defaults.imageGenerationModel` = generate images
+
+Keep those separate so fallback and policy remain explicit.
+
+## Review checklist
+
+Before shipping a new capability, verify:
+
+- no channel/tool imports vendor code directly
+- the runtime helper is the shared path
+- at least one contract test asserts bundled ownership
+- config docs name the new model/config key
+- plugin docs explain the ownership boundary
+
+If a PR skips the capability layer and hardcodes vendor behavior into a
+channel/tool, send it back and define the contract first.
diff --git a/docs/tools/plugin.md b/docs/tools/plugin.md
index db074c011d9..77ff383feb6 100644
--- a/docs/tools/plugin.md
+++ b/docs/tools/plugin.md
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ That means:
 Examples:
 
 - the bundled `openai` plugin owns OpenAI model-provider behavior and OpenAI
-  speech + media-understanding behavior
+  speech + media-understanding + image-generation behavior
 - the bundled `elevenlabs` plugin owns ElevenLabs speech behavior
 - the bundled `microsoft` plugin owns Microsoft speech behavior
 - the bundled `google`, `minimax`, `mistral`, `moonshot`, and `zai` plugins own
@@ -257,6 +257,9 @@ If OpenClaw adds a new domain later, such as video generation, use the same
 sequence again: define the core capability first, then let vendor plugins
 register implementations against it.
 
+Need a concrete rollout checklist? See
+[Capability Cookbook](/tools/capability-cookbook).
+
 ## Compatible bundles
 
 OpenClaw also recognizes two compatible external bundle layouts: