Short answer: Choose by output type first, then by resolution, reference-image needs, speed, and how the selected settings affect credits. The newest choices are Grok Imagine Image 2.0, GPT Image 2.5 Flare, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst, and Seedance 2.5.
Image model overview
Default: Grok Imagine Image Quality at 1K and 3:4.
Grok Imagine Image 2.0: 1K or 2K at medium quality with up to three references.
Grok Imagine Image Quality and Grok Imagine Image: straightforward image creation at 1K or 2K with up to three references.
Nano Banana Lite: 1K only with up to 14 references.
Nano Banana 2 and Pro: flexible Gemini image options with up to 14 references and higher output resolutions.
GPT Image 2.5 Flare and Sunburst: 1K, 2K, or 4K with up to five references. Flare is the faster everyday option; Sunburst is the premium option for precise editing.
GPT Image 2: text-to-image and image-to-image with up to five references and an estimated charge based on medium quality. It is the default for guided AI image tools and for Characters.
Seedream 4.5 and Seedream 5.0 Lite: higher-resolution choices. Seedream 5.0 Lite supports up to 4K and 14 references.
Seedream 5.0 Pro: 1K or 2K, defaults to 2K, and accepts up to 10 references.
Video model overview
Default: Veo 3.1 Fast at 720p, 9:16, and 8 seconds.
Veo 3.1 and Veo 3.1 Fast: 720p, 1080p, or 4K. Veo 3.1 Lite offers 720p or 1080p.
Grok Imagine Video: a one-image workflow with 4-, 8-, or 12-second options. Video 1.5 supports up to 1080p and requires an image.
Seedance 2.5: 480p, 720p, or 1080p; 4, 8, or 12 seconds; synchronized audio; and up to 30 references, including up to three MP4 or MOV video clips. New selections default to 720p, 9:16, and 8 seconds.
Seedance 2.0: up to 4K and as many as nine references.
Seedance 2.0 Fast and Seedance 2.0 Mini: 480p or 720p for faster drafts and up to nine references.
Seedance 1.5 Pro: up to 1080p, with reference limits that depend on the chosen resolution.
Settings shared by new videos
New video generations support only 9:16 or 16:9. Non-Veo models offer 4, 8, or 12 seconds. Veo offers 4 or 8 seconds at 720p and requires 8 seconds at higher resolutions. Adaptive ratio and automatic duration are unavailable for new generations.
Characters and guided tools
Saved Characters work with GPT Image 2, GPT Image 2.5 Flare and Sunburst, the Grok Imagine image models, Nano Banana 2, and Nano Banana Pro. See Create and Use Characters.
Guided AI image tools default to GPT Image 2, and AI image to video defaults to Veo 3.1 Fast. See Use Typeshutter AI Tools.
Credits
Image charges apply per generated image. Video charges apply once per configured clip. Charges depend on the model, resolution, duration, and accepted reference count. A retry, edit, or append starts a new charged attempt. GPT Image 2 and GPT Image 2.5 use estimates that are not adjusted after completion.
Troubleshooting
If a setting disappears after changing models, choose one supported by the newly selected model.
If you are comparing quality, keep the prompt and main settings consistent across tests.
Use a Lite, Fast, or Mini model for lower-resolution drafts, then move to a higher-quality model for final output.