Supported Image Models
Chat Video Pro supports multiple state-of-the-art AI image generation models, each optimized for different use cases, quality levels, and workflows.
Chat Video Pro includes several image models because image generation has different jobs: cinematic frames, fast drafts, product visuals, thumbnails, text-heavy designs, reference-guided edits, background removal, and upscaling.
You do not need to memorize every model. Start with what you are trying to make, then choose the model or workflow that fits the job.
If you are creating a cinematic frame that may become a video, start with Studio Cinematic Lab. It wraps image generation in camera, lens, focal length, aperture, reference, aspect ratio, and model controls so you can think like a DP instead of managing raw model settings.
Quick Recommendations
A cinematic still or source frame for video
Studio Cinematic Lab
Best guided workflow for photoreal frames, references, and video-ready stills.
A fast, high-quality general image
Nano Banana 2
Strong default for most image generation and reference-guided work.
The hardest version of a Nano Banana prompt
Nano Banana Pro
Better for complex reasoning, difficult references, or harder real-world details.
Text inside the image
GPT Image 2 or Ideogram V4 Fast
GPT Image 2 for signs and packaging; Ideogram for posters, UI mockups, and design layouts at roughly one second per generation.
Highest realism or final production stills
Flux 2 Max
Strong detail, realism, and polished image quality.
Typography, posters, UI mockups, or region-precise edits
Seedream 5.0 Pro
ByteDance Pro tier — stronger text and layouts; edit one element without wrecking the rest of the frame.
Fast social/mobile image drafts
Grok
Fast image generation with unusual mobile and panoramic formats.
Quick design drafts with readable text
Ideogram V4 Fast
Replaces Z-Image Turbo as the fast image model; matching edit path when you attach a reference.
Complex image editing with layers/masks
Canvas Editor
Better than plain prompting for controlled edits.
Transparent cutouts
Background Removal
Use the dedicated background-removal workflow.
Larger/sharper final image
Image Upscaling
Use a dedicated upscaler after the image is approved.
The Simple Rule
Choose the model based on the hardest part of the image:
It must look like a real production frame
Cinematic Lab, Nano Banana, or Flux.
It contains readable text
GPT Image 2 or Ideogram V4 Fast.
It needs a specific person, product, or look
Reference-friendly models or Cinematic Lab references.
It is a quick draft
Nano Banana 2, Grok, or Ideogram V4 Fast.
It needs precise editing
Seedream 5.0 Pro Edit, Canvas Editor, or image-to-image.
It needs a transparent background
Background Removal.
It is already good but too small
Image Upscaling.
The best model is not always the most expensive model. The best model is the one that solves the specific visual problem.
Model Guide
Nano Banana 2
Nano Banana 2 is the best default for most image generation in Chat Video Pro.
Use it for:
Cinematic images.
Character or product concepts.
Reference-guided image generation.
Fast visual exploration.
Source frames for Motion Director, Multi-Cam, AI Transitions, or Relight Scene.
Drafting multiple directions before choosing a final look.
Choose Nano Banana 2 when you want a strong first answer quickly.
Nano Banana Pro
Nano Banana Pro is the version to try when the prompt is harder.
Use it for:
Complex multi-subject scenes.
Rare locations or real-world references.
Images where the relationship between objects must make sense.
Prompts that need more careful reasoning.
Final candidates where Nano Banana 2 is close but not quite enough.
Do not use Pro for everything by default. For normal drafts, Nano Banana 2 is usually faster and more efficient.
GPT Image 2
GPT Image 2 is the model to try when prompt adherence, composition, or text matters.
Use it for:
Signs, posters, book covers, labels, packaging, UI, or readable words.
Complex compositions.
Multi-image editing and Canvas Editor workflows.
Weird or specific prompts where logic matters.
Images that need careful placement of several elements.
If an image contains text that needs to be readable, switch to GPT Image 2 early.
Flux 2 Max
Flux 2 Max is a strong choice for high-quality, realistic, final-looking images.
Use it for:
Final production stills.
High-detail images.
Photoreal texture.
Product visuals.
Polished image outputs where speed is less important.
Flux is a good comparison pass when a Nano Banana result is good but you want to test a more premium finish.
Seedream 5.0 Pro
Seedream upgrades from Lite to 5.0 Pro for text-to-image and edit. Use it when typography, posters, UI mockups, or dense layouts matter — or when you need a region-precise edit that changes one element without wrecking the rest of the frame.
Use it for:
Posters, packaging, and multi-language text layouts.
UI mockups and design comps.
Creative concepts across many aspect ratios.
Image edits that should keep the surrounding frame intact.
2K native output, with optional 4K via Crisp upscale.
Attach a reference image to switch into Seedream 5.0 Pro Edit.
Grok
Grok is useful for fast image generation and mobile-first formats.
Use it for:
Social content.
Quick drafts.
Mobile aspect ratios.
Panoramic or unusual formats.
Simple image-to-image edits.
Use Grok when speed and format flexibility matter more than maximum polish.
Ideogram V4 Fast
Ideogram V4 Fast replaces Z-Image Turbo as the fast image model. It is built for text-in-image and design output at roughly one second per generation, with a matching edit path when you attach a reference.
Use it for:
Quick posters, logos, and layout tests.
Readable text in drafts without waiting on a heavier model.
Fast concept checks before a GPT Image 2 or Seedream Pro polish pass.
Image-to-image restyles that need to keep text and layout fidelity.
Move to GPT Image 2, Seedream 5.0 Pro, Nano Banana, or Flux once the direction is worth polishing.
Which Workflow Should I Use?
Model choice matters, but workflow choice comes first.
Create a normal image from a prompt
Text-to-Image
Edit an existing image with a prompt
Image-to-Image
Build a cinematic still for video work
Studio Cinematic Lab
Make a controlled layered edit
Canvas Editor
Remove the background
Background Removal
Increase resolution
Image Upscaling
Create YouTube thumbnail concepts
Thumbnail Mode
Animate a still image
Image-to-Video or Studio Motion Director
If you are making an image that will become video, think ahead. A clean, well-framed still is easier to animate, relight, transition, or use for Multi-Cam later.
Image Generation vs. Cinematic Lab
Use normal Image Generation when you want direct model control or a quick one-off image.
Use Cinematic Lab when the image is part of a production workflow.
You need a quick image in chat.
You are building a cinematic frame.
You already know which model to use.
You want camera, lens, focal length, and aperture controls.
The image is a simple asset or draft.
The still may become a Motion Director, Multi-Cam, AI Transition, or Relight source.
You want direct prompt/model experimentation.
You want references, visual consistency, and production-style look control.
Cinematic Lab is usually the better choice for hero frames, thumbnails, key art, style frames, and source images for Studio video workflows.
Text, Logos, And Readable Words
AI image models do not all handle text equally.
Use GPT Image 2 when the image includes:
A sign.
A label.
Packaging text.
A book title.
A poster.
UI text.
A thumbnail with readable words.
For text-heavy images, keep the wording short and clear. Long paragraphs inside generated images are still difficult. For final thumbnails or titles, you may get better control by generating the image background first, then adding text in Premiere, Photoshop, or another design tool.
References And Image Inputs
References are useful when the output should match something: a person, product, location, wardrobe, lighting style, or art direction.
Good references are:
Clear.
High-resolution enough to read.
Consistent with the desired result.
Focused on the subject or style you want to preserve.
Not overloaded with conflicting looks.
Use fewer references when the prompt is being ignored. Use stronger references when the model is drifting too far from the subject.
For projects with recurring characters, products, or locations, build a small reference set and reuse it. Consistency improves when the model sees the same visual anchors across generations.
Speed vs. Quality
Use faster models when:
You are brainstorming.
You are testing composition.
You need several visual directions.
The image is not final.
Use higher-quality models when:
The image is client-facing.
The image will become a video source frame.
Details, faces, products, or realism matter.
You are close to the final look.
A practical workflow:
Draft quickly.
Pick the strongest direction.
Refine the prompt or references.
Generate a higher-quality final.
Upscale only after the image is approved.
Practical Starting Points
If you are new
Start with:
Nano Banana 2 for most image generation.
GPT Image 2 when text or complex composition matters.
Cinematic Lab for cinematic frames and video-ready stills.
Ideogram V4 Fast for quick design drafts with readable text.
If you are making video source frames
Start with:
Cinematic Lab for controlled camera/lens look.
Nano Banana 2 for fast photoreal exploration.
GPT Image 2 if the frame contains readable text.
Flux 2 Max when you want to compare a more polished realism pass.
Then send the result into Motion Director, Multi-Cam, AI Transitions, or Relight Scene.
If you are making thumbnails
Start with:
Thumbnail Mode for thumbnail-specific composition.
GPT Image 2 when text or layout precision matters.
Nano Banana or Flux for strong faces, scenes, or image backgrounds.
For final thumbnail text, consider adding the text manually after generation for maximum control.
If you are editing an existing image
Start with:
Image-to-Image for prompt-based edits.
Canvas Editor for controlled edits with masks, layers, or annotations.
Background Removal for cutouts.
Image Upscaling after the edit is approved.
Troubleshooting
The image looks generic
Add more specific visual direction: subject details, setting, lighting, material, texture, mood, and composition. If it should feel like a real frame, try Cinematic Lab.
Text in the image is wrong
Use GPT Image 2 or add the final text manually in a design tool. Keep generated text short.
The model ignores my reference
Use a clearer reference, reduce conflicting references, or make sure the prompt does not contradict the image. For recurring subjects, reuse the same reference set across generations.
The model follows the reference too much
Use fewer references or write a stronger prompt describing what should change. If all references look similar, the model may treat them as strict instructions.
The image is too small or soft
Do not regenerate endlessly just for resolution. Once the image is approved, use Image Upscaling.
I am not sure which model to pick
Start with Nano Banana 2. If the problem is text, switch to GPT Image 2 or Ideogram V4 Fast. If the problem is posters, UI mockups, or region-precise edits, use Seedream 5.0 Pro. If the problem is final realism, compare Flux 2 Max. If the problem is speed, use Ideogram V4 Fast or Grok. If the problem is cinematic framing, use Cinematic Lab.
Next Steps
Use Text-to-Image for normal prompt-based image generation.
Use Image-to-Image when editing an existing image.
Use Studio Cinematic Lab for cinematic stills and video-ready frames.
Use Canvas Editor for controlled edits.
Use Image Upscaling after the image is approved.
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