> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.trynito.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Image Input

> Attach a picture with --file and let an vision-capable model read it: describe a screenshot, transcribe a receipt, or read a chart from your terminal or editor.

Image input lets a model see. You attach a picture to your prompt and a model that supports vision reads it and answers. This is how you ask "what is in this screenshot," "transcribe this receipt," or "what does this chart show." This page covers how to attach an image, the model requirement, and how documents differ from images.

## Attaching an Image

Attach a picture with `--file` pointing at the image, and choose a model that supports images. `--file` is repeatable, so you can attach several pictures in one prompt.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Claude Code">
    ```text theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"},"languages":{"custom":["typescript","python","curl"]}}
    /nito:ask --model <vision-capable-model> --file chart.png What does this chart show?
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Codex">
    ```text theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"},"languages":{"custom":["typescript","python","curl"]}}
    $nito:ask --model <vision-capable-model> --file chart.png What does this chart show?
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

You can run the same thing from your terminal with `nito ask`. See [Ask and Fusion from the terminal](/cli/ask-and-fusion-from-terminal).

To attach more than one image, repeat `--file`:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Claude Code">
    ```text theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"},"languages":{"custom":["typescript","python","curl"]}}
    /nito:ask --model <vision-capable-model> --file before.png --file after.png What changed between these two screenshots?
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Codex">
    ```text theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"},"languages":{"custom":["typescript","python","curl"]}}
    $nito:ask --model <vision-capable-model> --file before.png --file after.png What changed between these two screenshots?
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Images Require an Vision-Capable Model

Not every model can read images. Images require a vision-capable model, and Nito checks this for you. If you attach an image to a model that cannot accept images, Nito refuses with a clear message rather than guessing, for example:

```text theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"},"languages":{"custom":["typescript","python","curl"]}}
model "<id>" cannot accept image attachments; choose an vision-capable model or retry without the image
```

This is a feature: Nito will not silently send your image to the wrong model or drop it. To find a model that works, browse the catalog and pick one whose capabilities include vision:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Claude Code">
    ```text theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"},"languages":{"custom":["typescript","python","curl"]}}
    /nito:models
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Codex">
    ```text theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"},"languages":{"custom":["typescript","python","curl"]}}
    $nito:models
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Real vision-capable model IDs (for example an `anthropic/claude-...` vision model) appear in the catalog, but prefer describing what you need ("an vision-capable model") and let the `models` list confirm the current options. See [Choosing a model](/commands/choosing-a-model).

## Images Versus Documents

An image is a picture that a vision model looks at. A PDF or office document is not an image: it is parsed to text first, so it works with any model, not just a vision one. If your file is a document rather than a picture, use the document path instead.

* See [PDF and document input](/features/multimodal/pdf-input) for attaching documents.
* See [File parser](/features/server-side-tools/file-parser) for how documents are turned into text.

## Related Resources

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Multimodal Overview" icon="square-code" href="/features/multimodal">
    What Nito accepts beyond text.
  </Card>

  <Card title="PDF and Document Input" icon="file-pdf" href="/features/multimodal/pdf-input">
    Attach a PDF or office file and work with it using any model.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Choosing a Model" icon="gears" href="/commands/choosing-a-model">
    Browse the catalog and pick a model with the capabilities you need.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>