How to Generate an AI Image: Models, Prompts and Tips (2026)

To generate an AI image, choose an image model, write a prompt that describes the subject, setting, composition and light, set the aspect ratio, and generate — then refine with a reference image or a targeted edit. The model you pick matters as much as the prompt: some are better at readable text, some at photorealism, some at keeping a face consistent. This guide covers how to generate an AI image in 2026, from the first prompt to editing and character consistency.

Step 1: Pick the right AI image model

These are the image models available in the Framiq studio, and what each is good at.

Model	Best for	Notes
Nano Banana 2.1 (Google)	All-rounder, edits with references, keeping a person consistent	Current Nano Banana; takes up to 14 reference images
Nano Banana Pro (Google)	Harder, more detailed scenes	Pricier than 2.1
GPT Image 2.5 (OpenAI)	Following long, precise instructions; text and layouts	Flexible sizes, good with posters and mock-ups
Seedream 5.0 Pro / 5 Lite (ByteDance)	Photorealism, large output sizes, multiple references	Lite for fast drafts
FLUX.2 Pro / Flash / Turbo (Black Forest Labs)	Aesthetic, stylised and artistic images	Flash and Turbo for speed
Grok Imagine 2.0 (xAI)	Quick creative ideas	Up to 3 reference images

A quick decision guide:

• Product shot, portrait or anything with a real reference → Nano Banana 2.1 or Seedream 5.0 Pro.
• A poster, a menu, a slide, a label with exact words → GPT Image 2.5.
• A stylised illustration or a mood piece → FLUX.2.
• High-resolution photoreal scene → Seedream 5.

If you are not sure, generate the same prompt on two models side by side. It costs less than five rounds of rewriting a prompt on the wrong one.

Step 2: Write an AI image prompt that works

Modern image models read full sentences. Write the prompt like a brief to a photographer or an illustrator, in this order:

1. Subject — who or what, with the details that matter.
2. Setting — where, when.
3. Composition — shot size, angle, where the subject sits in the frame.
4. Light — direction, quality, time of day.
5. Style / medium — photo (lens, film stock), 3D render, watercolour, flat vector.
6. Details to get right — text, colours, materials.

A weak prompt:

cool sneaker ad, professional, 8k

A strong one:

Product photo of a white leather low-top sneaker with a gum sole, floating
at a slight angle above a pale concrete block. Clean studio background in
soft sage green. Low three-quarter angle, sneaker centred, generous empty
space at the top for a headline. Soft key light from the left, gentle shadow
under the shoe. Shot on a 100mm macro lens, crisp leather texture.

The second prompt tells the model where the product sits, where the light comes from, and why there is empty space — so you get a usable ad layout instead of a random hero shot.

Tips that consistently help:

• Be specific about materials and colours ("brushed aluminium", "faded denim") instead of adjectives ("premium", "beautiful").
• Describe the composition you need for the final use: room for text, a centred subject for a thumbnail, negative space for a banner.
• Skip the "8k, masterpiece, trending" tags. Current models ignore or misread them.
• Say what you want, not what you do not want — "empty beach" beats "no people".

Step 3: Choose the aspect ratio first

Set the ratio before generating, because cropping afterwards loses resolution and composition.

Use	Ratio
Instagram feed, marketplace thumbnails	1:1 or 4:5
Stories, Reels, TikTok, phone wallpapers	9:16
Website hero, YouTube thumbnail, slides	16:9
Print, posters	2:3 or 3:4

If the image will later become the first frame of a video, generate it in the video's ratio from the start. Our guide on how to make an AI video explains that image-then-animate workflow.

Step 4: Use reference images

A reference image tells the model "this exact thing", which a text prompt never can. Typical references:

• A product — front and side photos, so the shape and label are kept.
• A person — several clear photos of the same face (your own, or someone who agreed).
• A style — a mood board frame for colours and lighting.

Write the prompt so it says what each reference is for:

Use the first image for the bottle's exact shape and label. Use the second
image only for the colour palette and lighting mood. Place the bottle on a
wet black stone by a waterfall, morning mist, close-up, 85mm lens.

For products you shoot again and again, the Products tab keeps a brand and its products with their photos, then generates product shots (Amazon main image, lifestyle, UGC-style) and copywriting from them, so you do not re-upload references each time.

Step 5: Getting text right in AI images

Text used to be the classic AI failure. It is much better now, but you still need a method:

• Put the exact words in quotes and say where they go: a neon sign above the door that reads "OPEN LATE".
• Keep it short. A headline of two to five words renders reliably; a paragraph does not.
• Name the typography: "bold condensed sans-serif", "hand-painted script".
• Prefer GPT Image 2.5 or Nano Banana 2.1 for text-heavy work like posters or packaging mock-ups.
• Check every letter. If one word is wrong, edit that word rather than regenerating the whole image.

For a long block of copy, generate the image with empty space and add the text in a design tool. It is faster and the font will be exactly right.

Step 6: Edit and retouch instead of regenerating

When an image is 90% right, do not start over. Attach it as a reference to an editing-capable model (Nano Banana 2.1 or GPT Image 2.5 work well) and describe only the change:

Keep everything identical. Change only her jacket to a red wool coat.

Same photo, same framing. Replace the background with a sunlit
Mediterranean street, keep the lighting on the face unchanged.

Start edit prompts with "keep everything identical" or "same photo" and name the one thing that changes. Asking for three edits at once is the most common reason an edit drifts.

Step 7: Keep the same character across images

Generating one good portrait is easy; generating the same person in twenty different scenes is the real challenge. Two things make it work:

1. Good references — a few clear, well-lit photos of the face from different angles, no sunglasses, no heavy filters.
2. A consistent workflow — the same references sent every time.

In Framiq, you create a Character from photos (or import them from an Instagram, TikTok or X profile). An optional 3D scan renders clean studio views — a face close-up, then a full-body front view, then profiles and back — and you approve each stage before the next one. A Wardrobe renders outfits, hair and nails on that character. Then you tag @Name in any image or video prompt and the model receives the right references.

@Maya sitting on a vintage motorbike outside a roadside diner at dusk,
neon reflections on the chrome, three-quarter shot, 35mm film look.

This is what powers consistent AI characters and AI influencer work. To move the same character into video, see consistent AI character video.

Only build a character from your own face or from someone who consented. No celebrities, no real people without their agreement.

Common mistakes and fixes

Problem	Fix
Image looks generic	Add materials, a light direction and a lens or medium
Wrong number of fingers / odd hands	Regenerate or edit just the hands; describe the gesture clearly ("holding the cup with both hands")
Garbled text	Shorter text, in quotes, on GPT Image 2.5 or Nano Banana 2.1
Face changes between images	Use a Character with clean references and tag it
Subject cropped awkwardly	Set the right aspect ratio before generating, describe the framing
Edit changes too much	"Keep everything identical, change only…", one edit at a time

How much does an AI image cost?

Each model has its own price per image, depending on resolution. On Framiq's Free plan models are sold at the standard rate and outputs carry a watermark; a new account comes with free credits to start. The Pro plan (30/month) gives every model at API cost, no watermark and a 200 GB library. The balance is prepaid and failed generations are refunded. Per-model prices are on the pricing page.

When you publish realistic AI images on TikTok or Instagram, use their AI-generated label: both platforms require it for realistic synthetic content.

FAQ

What is the best AI image generator in 2026?

There is no single winner. Nano Banana 2.1 is the best all-rounder for references and edits, GPT Image 2.5 is strongest on text and complex instructions, Seedream 5 on photoreal detail, and FLUX.2 on stylised looks.

Can I generate AI images for free?

You can start for free: a Framiq account includes free credits. Free-plan images carry a watermark. Unlimited free generation does not exist at serious quality, because every image costs compute.

How do I make an AI image of myself?

Upload several clear photos of your face as references (or create a Character from them), then describe the scene. Use your own photos, or photos of someone who has agreed.

Why does the AI mess up text in images?

Image models draw letters as shapes. Keep text short, put it in quotes, choose a model that is good at text, and add long copy in a design tool afterwards.

Can I use AI-generated images commercially?

Generally yes for images you generate, within each provider's terms — but not with someone's likeness, logos or copyrighted characters without permission.

How do I turn an AI image into a video?

Use it as the first frame of an image-to-video generation and describe the motion. See how to make an AI video.

Try it

Open the Framiq studio, pick Nano Banana 2.1, paste the sneaker prompt above and generate. Then swap the background colour, or attach a photo of your own product, and watch how much one line of the prompt changes.