The family accepts text and image inputs and creates still images. That makes it relevant to both a new illustration described from scratch and a revision of an existing product photo. OpenAI provides two API choices: Flare and Sunburst. Their different priorities are a reason to compare them on your task, rather than assume one fits every job.
OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Images 2.5 on September 8, 2026. ChatGPT's drawing, commenting, and template experiences belong to that product; using an image API does not automatically reproduce those controls on another website. GPTImage.ai is a separate service. Read our release explainer for the announcement and rollout details.
Choose Flare or Sunburst for your task
GPT Image 2 uses fewer credits per image at the current rates. Flare is a starting point for everyday creation; try Sunburst for detailed reference edits. Compare results on your own task. Neither 2.5 model requires a special membership.
Use the same prompt, reference images, aspect ratio, and resolution to compare the models. The price table shows each model's current rate; names describe model variants, not subscription tiers.
Official positioning and suggested first tasks
Consideration
Flare
Sunburst
Official emphasis
Fast, high-quality everyday image creation
Quality and precise image editing
Suggested first task
Draft a poster, illustration, or simple campaign concept
Compare a demanding product edit or detailed reference asset
Tradeoff to evaluate
Does it meet the brief with acceptable waiting time?
For detailed reference edits and demanding compositions.
Current site operations
Text-to-image and reference-image editing
Current site credits
1K: 12 credits per image
2K: 18 credits per image
4K: 24 credits per image
1K: 12 credits per image
2K: 18 credits per image
4K: 24 credits per image
API model IDs
For the OpenAI API, copy the exact model ID below. The family name alone is not a verified request ID. Follow the image generation guide for setup; these identifiers do not select a model in GPTImage.ai's generator.
gpt-image-2.5-flare
gpt-image-2.5-sunburst
Moving from GPT Image 2
Save a few useful Image 2 results together with their inputs and settings. Compare a new version against those examples before changing a working process. Check difficult text, product geometry, and edits that previously needed several attempts. Keep the older result if it serves the brief better; there is no need to replace every asset.
How to create and refine an image
Start with a one-sentence brief: where the image will appear and what the viewer must notice. Then separate the requested changes from the details that must stay. For a product launch, that might mean a new scene with the original bottle shape and label. For an event poster, it might mean exact wording and generous margins.
Write a clear prompt and identify the details you want to preserve.
Sign in and choose Flare or Sunburst in the homepage generator. Add references for image editing.
Choose the aspect ratio, 1K, 2K, or 4K resolution, and background mode. Review the total credit charge.
Inspect the result before downloading or refining it. Upload a saved result as a reference for another edit.
The official prompting guide offers further examples. Keep a copy of your brief and accepted result so that each revision has a clear point of comparison.
Prompt starters for real creative tasks
These six original prompt starters are adjustable starting points, not tested results or guarantees. Suggested compositions describe the design; choose a matching option only if your tool supports it. Reference editing and transparent output also need the appropriate controls, beyond the words in the prompt.
Product launch visual
Reference needed
A clear product photo you have permission to use.
Suggested composition
Portrait, ideally 3:4 where supported; space above and right for copy.
Use my uploaded product photo to create a clean launch visual. Place the product in the lower-left area of a warm, minimal studio scene, leaving clear space above and to the right for copy. Preserve the product's shape, colors, materials, and existing label. Add soft directional lighting and a believable contact shadow. Do not invent logos, badges, packaging, or words.
What to check: Compare the outline, package wording, colors, and contact shadow with the original. Treat preservation instructions as requirements to verify.
Event poster with precise text
Reference needed
None; replace the sample information with your confirmed event details.
Suggested composition
Portrait poster with a clear title and generous margins.
Design a portrait event poster for a small botanical workshop. Use a restrained editorial layout with one hand-drawn fern illustration and generous margins. Include only these words: "LEAF & LIGHT", "Botanical Print Workshop", and "Sunday, 10 AM". Make the title dominant and the details easy to read. Use cream, dark green, and one muted orange accent. Add no extra text or logos.
What to check: Compare every word, punctuation mark, and time against the prompt. Check contrast and margins. For a later time change, request that one change and compare the illustration and other wording again.
Transparent design asset
Reference needed
None; requires a tool with transparent-background output and PNG or WebP download.
Suggested composition
Centered subject with space around all edges.
Create a single sculpted paper hummingbird with layered teal and coral feathers, shown in a three-quarter view. Center it with generous clear space and a clean, readable silhouette. Keep the entire background transparent. Do not draw a solid background, checkerboard pattern, lettering, border, or ground plane. The asset should work when placed over either a light or a dark design.
What to check: Select transparent output separately. Inspect the saved file's alpha channel and feather edges over light and dark backgrounds.
Character reference sheet
Reference needed
None for this original character; an optional reference must be yours to use.
Suggested composition
Landscape canvas with three clearly separated views.
Create an original character reference sheet for a friendly adult explorer with short curly hair, a mustard field jacket, dark trousers, and a compact blue backpack. Show front, side, and back views on one neutral canvas, keeping the same clothing, proportions, and accessories in every view. Use a clear stylized illustration style with even lighting. Include no labels, dialogue, or decorative borders.
What to check: Compare the hairstyle, jacket, backpack straps, and body proportions across views. Resolve mismatches before using the sheet as a reference.
Room redesign from a reference photo
Reference needed
A room photo you have permission to upload.
Suggested composition
Keep the reference camera angle and framing.
Use the uploaded room photo as the structural reference. Keep the camera position, windows, doors, wall openings, and floor plan. Redesign only the furniture and movable decor in a calm reading-room style with light wood, linen, and warm neutral colors. Maintain realistic proportions and clear walking space. Do not add windows, remove walls, or change the room's architecture.
What to check: Compare openings, wall positions, perspective, and furniture scale. Use the image as a design concept, not a measured renovation plan.
Cover image prepared for later animation
Reference needed
None. Any later video generation is a separate operation.
Suggested composition
Vertical, ideally 9:16 where supported; keep room for camera movement.
Create a vertical cinematic cover image of an original miniature lighthouse on a rocky island at blue hour. Keep the lighthouse fully visible near the center, with open sky above and calm water in the foreground. Use a soft warm beacon, subtle mist, and clear depth separation. Avoid text, logos, extreme perspective, and cropped edges. Leave visual room for a gentle camera push-in later.
What to check: Inspect the silhouette, uncropped edges, and space around the subject. A suitable still does not guarantee that a later video will preserve every detail.
Reference images, output settings, and transparent PNGs
A reference can guide the subject, composition, or style. Say which role it serves, particularly when using several images. Keep required label wording in your written brief as well. A reference helps communicate intent; it does not lock a face, logo, or product into unchanged pixels.
Upload up to 16 JPG, PNG, or WebP references, up to 30 MB each. Prompts support up to 20,000 characters. The site exposes aspect ratio, resolution, and background mode, not a separate quality or file-format selector.
Output controls on GPTImage.ai
Task
Setting to check
On GPTImage.ai
Reference editing
Upload references and describe the requested changes
Available in the generator; review the limits below.
Output size
1K, 2K, or 4K with a supported aspect ratio
Available in the generator; review the limits below.
Background
Auto, transparent, or opaque
Available in the generator; review the limits below.
Model comparison
Keep the prompt, references, ratio, and resolution the same
Available in the generator; review the limits below.
The 27:16, 16:27, 9:8, and 8:9 ratios support 1K only. Other listed ratios support 2K and 4K. Check the actual dimensions of the downloaded image.
Transparent mode requests an output with transparency; it is not a guaranteed cutout service. Ask for an isolated subject without scenery or shadows, especially at 2K or 4K. Check the downloaded alpha channel. A PNG file alone does not prove transparency.
Credits, trial access, and downloads
The table above uses the site's current per-image credit settings. Image 2 and Image 2.5 have different rates. Compare plans and model-specific capacity on the pricing page.
First Google registrations receive 20 welcome credits; email registrations start with zero. The number of images depends on the model and resolution. Generations funded by credits have no visible GPTImage.ai watermark.
GPTImage.ai credits are separate from ChatGPT subscriptions and direct OpenAI API billing. Image-to-video is a separate operation with its own credit charge.
Check the result before you use it
Open the saved image at full size, then preview it at its intended display size. For posters, compare the text character by character, including dates and punctuation. For products, put the reference beside the result and inspect package geometry, logos, colors, and reflections. For portraits or character sheets, compare facial features, proportions, and accessories.
After each edit, compare both the requested change and areas you meant to preserve. More precise editing does not guarantee that every pixel outside a target area stays fixed. For transparent assets, switch between light and dark backgrounds to reveal halos or missing edges. Confirm the downloaded dimensions and file format before placing the asset in a layout.
Supply verified text and data for charts or informational graphics, then check every value after generation. A convincing picture is not evidence that its facts are correct. Complex requests can take longer, and a newer model may not match your style preference. Use material you are entitled to upload and review the site's terms of service before commercial use.
Turn a finished image into a short video
Once the still works, consider a small motion: a slow product-camera move, changing light on a poster, or drifting mist in an illustration. GPTImage.ai's image-to-video workflow is a separate service with its own controls and credit charge. GPT Image 2.5 itself outputs images, not MP4 video.
Use a finished image you have permission to animate. Keep movement modest when recognizable product details or text must survive, and inspect the video for distortion. For a transparent asset, prepare a background composition before uploading it if the video tool requires an opaque image. Check that workflow's input requirements and quote before submitting; an image-generation allowance does not include a video.
Frequently asked questions
Is GPT Image 2.5 available on GPTImage.ai?
Flare and Sunburst are available in the homepage generator for text-to-image and reference-image editing. Sign in, select a model, and review the credit charge before submitting.
What is the difference between Flare and Sunburst?
OpenAI emphasizes everyday speed for Flare and demanding quality and editing precision for Sunburst. Use the model comparison to choose a first candidate, then judge your own inputs. Neither model is guaranteed to win on every style or task.
Can I try it for free, and do I need to sign in?
First Google registrations receive 20 welcome credits. Email registration starts with 0 credits. Sign in and select a model to see the cost before generating.
Do I need a ChatGPT subscription or my own API key?
You need a GPTImage.ai account and enough site credits. You do not need your own API key or a ChatGPT subscription to use this site's generator.
Can I edit a photo without changing the main subject?
You can ask for a specific edit and name the features to preserve. Still compare the result with the reference, especially faces, packaging, and text. Reference editing does not guarantee unchanged pixels, and a mask or selection brush is available only where the chosen interface supports it.
Can I download transparent PNGs or high-resolution images?
The site offers 1K, 2K, and 4K and a transparent background option. Transparency is a request, not guaranteed background removal. Avoid conflicting scene instructions and inspect the downloaded file's alpha channel.
Can GPT Image 2.5 generate videos?
No. Its documented output is still images. You can use an appropriate finished image as input to a separate video service, including GPTImage.ai's image-to-video workflow. That operation has separate capabilities, input requirements, and charges; it is not native 2.5 video output.
What if generation fails or the result is not right?
Keep the error message and check the tool's task status before retrying. A technical failure and an image you dislike are different situations. Review GPTImage.ai's refund policy for purchases; do not assume an unsatisfactory result or every failed request guarantees a refund.
Sources and updates
This guide draws on official documentation and the site's published pricing. It is not a scored benchmark. The prompt starters have not been tested on these models.
