AI Image Generation: Which Model to Choose

AI Image Generation: Every Model Explained

Neural networks now paint faster than any human artist. The question is: which network, in which mode, for which job? One nails cinematic photorealism, another delivers concept art, a third specializes in polished anime.

Below you'll find 13 models side by side — each section includes a live example picked to showcase that model's killer feature. Everything runs on Clipia with one shared credit balance — see pricing.

Two modes: T2I and I2I

Text-to-Image (T2I)

Write a description, the model renders an image from scratch. The more precise your prompt, the more predictable the result.

Image-to-Image (I2I)

Upload a source photo, the model modifies it: style transfer, editing, background swap, detail refinement. Supported by: GPT Image 1.5, FLUX Kontext, Grok Imagine, Higgsfield Soul.

The 13 models

Midjourney V7 — the artistic benchmark

The reference for anything where aesthetics matter. 1000+ styles, 2K output, three speed tiers (Turbo/Fast/Relaxed). The stylize, chaos, weird parameters let you dial in the vibe.

Strongest in fashion, fantasy and architecture. Not the right tool for in-image typography.
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/midjourney-v7-fashion.jpg" prompt="Avant-garde fashion editorial portrait of a Korean model wearing an architectural pleated cream gown, sharp geometric shadows sculpting her face, brutalist concrete backdrop, Vogue Paris aesthetic, high contrast, 35mm film grain, cinematic color grading" model="Midjourney V7"}
Model: Midjourney V7 — editorial fashion portrait with a distinct mood.

Credits: from 8 • Try it →

FLUX 2 Pro — prompt accuracy and in-image text

Does exactly what you wrote. Best prompt adherence of any generator. 2K, ~10 seconds. Excellent at typography inside the image — banners, posters, labels.
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/flux-2-pro-coffee-poster.jpg" prompt="Minimalist coffee shop poster design with large handwritten headline "MORNING RITUAL — Single Origin Ethiopia, brewed since 2019", cream paper background, botanical ink illustrations of coffee cherries and leaves, refined editorial print layout, crisp typography, high-end specialty cafe branding" model="FLUX 2 Pro"}
Model: FLUX 2 Pro — the headline renders cleanly, print composition holds together.

Credits: from 3 • Try it →

GPT Image 1.5 (OpenAI) — typography and editing champion

Three things set it apart:

In-image text — best in class. Long sentences, Cyrillic, special characters.

Up to 16 reference images — merges elements from every source.

Transparent backgrounds (RGBA PNG) — the only model that natively outputs this.

Two modes: Medium (faster) and High (max detail).
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/gpt-image-infographic.png" prompt="Clean modern infographic poster with large Russian headline "Как работает AI-генерация", four numbered steps "1. Промпт", "2. Модель", "3. Пиксели", "4. Результат", each with a flat minimal icon, soft pastel palette (mint, peach, lavender), generous whitespace, editorial magazine layout, ultra readable typography" model="GPT Image 1.5"}
Model: GPT Image 1.5 — one of the few that renders long Cyrillic phrases confidently.

Credits: 2–8 • Try it →

Imagen 4 (Google) — photographic detail

Three tiers: Ultra (max quality), Standard (balanced), Fast (quick iterations). Photorealism, correct anatomy, believable material textures.
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/imagen4-fisherman.jpg" prompt="Extreme close-up photograph of an elderly Portuguese fisherman's weathered face, deep wrinkles mapping decades at sea, salt spray droplets clinging to his grey beard, the ocean reflected in his piercing blue eyes, overcast diffused natural light, shallow depth of field, National Geographic portrait photography" model="Imagen 4 Ultra"}
Model: Imagen 4 Ultra — skin, eyes and materials land close to documentary photography.

Credits: 2–5 • Try it →

SeedDream 5.0 Lite — speed and multimodality

3K, multimodal AI, fast inference. Handles complex multi-part prompts.
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/seedream-5-lite-ramen.jpg" prompt="Cyberpunk ramen chef behind a glass counter in a neon-lit Tokyo alley at 3am, thick steam rising from bowls, a holographic menu floating above the counter, rain puddle reflections on pavement below, three customers queueing under transparent umbrellas, wide cinematic composition, Blade Runner color palette, intricate layered details" model="SeedDream 5.0 Lite"}
Model: SeedDream 5.0 Lite — holds the multi-layer scene together without collapsing detail.

Credits: from 3 • Try it →

Seedream 4.5 — 4K and multi-image fusion

4K output, multi-image fusion: merge several source images into a single composition.
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/seedream-4-5-landscape.jpg" prompt="Aerial 4K photograph of an Icelandic black sand beach at sunrise, turquoise glacier chunks scattered across the volcanic sand, soft pink sky reflected in wet tidal patches, lone wooden shipwreck in the distance, zero people, documentary landscape photography, National Geographic style, razor-sharp detail" model="Seedream 4.5"}
Model: Seedream 4.5 — 4K output preserves grain, highlights and horizon cleanly.

Credits: from 3 • Try it →

Nano Banana 2 — hyperrealism from 3 credits

Fast hyperrealism, 4K, Image Search. The cheapest entry point — ideal for prompt iteration.
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/nano-banana-2-musician.jpg" prompt="Candid street photography of a young female street musician playing violin in a Parisian metro station, motion-blurred commuters passing by on either side, warm tungsten platform lighting, Leica 35mm look, grainy photojournalism aesthetic, sense of movement and solitude" model="Nano Banana 2"}
Model: Nano Banana 2 — quick reportage style, motion blur reads well.

Credits: from 3 • Try it →

Nano Banana Pro — premium hyperrealism

Upgraded detail and light handling. When you need hyperrealism at studio-shoot quality.
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/nano-banana-pro-watch.jpg" prompt="Ultra high-end studio product photograph of a luxury mechanical skeleton watch resting on black Italian velvet, macro lens view revealing exposed gears and ruby bearings, sapphire crystal catching a sharp rim-light reflection, shallow depth of field, commercial photography for Hodinkee, razor-detailed materials" model="Nano Banana Pro"}
Model: Nano Banana Pro — studio product shot with believable light play on metal and glass.

Credits: from 5 • Try it →

Z-Image (Alibaba) — iteration speed

Ultra-fast photorealistic model for validating ideas.
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/z-image-corgi-chef.jpg" prompt="A corgi wearing a tiny white chef hat, kneading dough on a flour-dusted wooden table in a rustic Italian kitchen, warm afternoon sunlight streaming through a window, hanging copper pots in the background, cheerful mood, high-quality stock photo style" model="Z-Image"}
Model: Z-Image — test the idea in seconds for 1 credit.

Credits: from 1

Grok Imagine (xAI) — 6 images per request

T2I and I2I. Six variants per run — pick the best one.
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/grok-imagine-scifi-cover.jpg" prompt="Transform this into a retro-futurist 1970s science fiction paperback book cover illustration, burnt orange and deep teal palette, thick painterly linework, Moebius-inspired style, pulp magazine composition, alien crystal flora and two moons in the sky" model="Grok Imagine"}
Model: Grok Imagine (I2I) — reinterpreting a reference in a retro style in one shot.

Credits: from 2

FLUX Kontext — smart editing

Keeps subject identity while changing the environment. Background swap without losing style.
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/flux-kontext-edit.jpg" prompt="Keep the central subject and composition identical, but transform the setting into a snowy Moscow winter scene at blue hour, soft falling snowflakes, subtle warm window glow in the background, preserve all facial features and materials, photorealistic result" model="FLUX Kontext Max"}
Model: FLUX Kontext Max — environment swap while subject identity stays intact.

Credits: from 4

Midjourney Niji 6 — anime and illustration

Midjourney's specialized flavor for anime, manga and Japanese illustration. Accurate character proportions, dynamic poses.
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/niji-6-anime.jpg" prompt="Anime girl with silver hair, amber eyes and cat ears, sitting on a Tokyo rooftop at golden-hour sunset, cherry blossom petals drifting across the frame, distant city skyline bathed in warm light, Studio Ghibli inspired art direction, soft pastel palette, wistful atmosphere, detailed linework" model="Midjourney Niji 6"}
Model: Midjourney Niji 6 — canonical anime style without the usual AI jitter.

Credits: from 8

Higgsfield Soul — style transfer

Art style transfer with preserved subject identity.
:::example{src="https://media.clipia.ai/blog/image-generation-model-guide/higgsfield-soul-vangogh.jpg" prompt="Reinterpret the reference portrait in the post-impressionist style of Vincent Van Gogh: thick visible impasto brushstrokes, swirling turbulent sky behind the subject, vivid complementary colors, expressive linework following the form, preserve the subject identity and pose" model="Higgsfield Soul"}
Model: Higgsfield Soul (I2I) — Van Gogh style applied while preserving the subject's features.

Comparison table

Model | Max resolution | In-image text | I2I | Speed | Credits from | Best for
Midjourney V7 | 2K | Weak | No | Medium | 8 | Art, fashion, fantasy
FLUX 2 Pro | 2K | Excellent | No | ~10 sec | 3 | Precise prompts, design
GPT Image 1.5 | — | Best | Yes (16 ref.) | Medium | 2 | Infographics, e-commerce
Imagen 4 | — | Good | No | 3 tiers | 2 | Photorealism
SeedDream 5.0 Lite | 3K | Good | No | Fast | 3 | Complex scenes
Seedream 4.5 | 4K | Good | No | Medium | 3 | High resolution
Nano Banana 2 | 4K | Fair | No | Fast | 3 | Fast hyperrealism
Nano Banana Pro | 4K | Good | No | Medium | 5 | Premium hyperrealism
Z-Image | — | Fair | No | Very fast | 1 | Quick tests
Grok Imagine | — | Good | Yes | Medium | 2 | 6 variants
FLUX Kontext | — | Good | Yes | Medium | 4 | Editing
Niji 6 | 2K | Weak | No | Medium | 8 | Anime
Higgsfield Soul | — | No | Yes | Medium | 3 | Style transfer

Which model should I pick

Photorealism → Nano Banana 2 or Imagen 4 Ultra

Art, stylization → Midjourney V7

In-image text → GPT Image 1.5 or FLUX 2 Pro

Photo editing → GPT Image 1.5 (I2I) or FLUX Kontext

Transparent background → GPT Image 1.5

Max resolution → Seedream 4.5 or Nano Banana 2 (4K)

Anime → Midjourney Niji 6

Style transfer → Higgsfield Soul

Prompt testing → Z-Image (from 1 credit) or Nano Banana 2 (from 3)

Product photography → Nano Banana Pro or Imagen 4

Generation parameters

Format — square (1:1), portrait (9:16), landscape (16:9). Pick to match your platform.

Quality — GPT Image: Medium for drafts, High for finals.

Seed — locks randomness. Same prompt + same seed ≈ same result. Great for image series.

Tips

Style first — put it at the start of the prompt (first words carry more weight)

Use negative prompts for portraits

Iterate on Z-Image or Nano Banana 2, finalize on a top-tier model

Specify lighting and lens type for photorealism

Start generating images →

Put These Models to Work

Knowing which model fits which job is half the battle. For specific use cases — photo revival, product shots, YouTube thumbnails, art portraits — browse our 10 AI generation ideas with ready-to-use prompts. Each idea names the optimal model and includes a copy-ready prompt.

FAQ

How much does image generation cost?

1 to 8 credits per image. Z-Image from 1. Nano Banana 2 and Imagen 4 Fast from 2–3. Midjourney V7 is 8.

What's the maximum resolution?

4K — Seedream 4.5 and Nano Banana 2. Midjourney and FLUX — up to 2K. SeedDream 5.0 Lite — 3K.

Can I edit an existing photo?

Yes, I2I mode: GPT Image 1.5 (up to 16 references), FLUX Kontext, Grok Imagine, Higgsfield Soul.

How do I add text to an image?

GPT Image 1.5 is the best for text (Cyrillic, long phrases). Runner-up — FLUX 2 Pro.

Transparent background?

Only GPT Image 1.5 outputs RGBA PNG with a transparent background. Add "transparent background" to your prompt.