By AI Image to Image · Updated
GPT Image 2 editing with a reference
GPT Image 2 image to image starts with an uploaded reference and a written editing brief. Use it to explore a different arrangement, develop a visual direction for a campaign, or revise the environment around an existing subject. The reference supplies visual context; your instructions explain the relationships and changes that matter. Each generation creates a new image, which needs its own review.
This workspace exposes quality and resolution as separate controls. That makes the choice more specific than selecting a model alone: a quick composition experiment and a larger output for closer inspection can use different settings. Select an aspect ratio that suits the intended layout, then check the cost before submitting. One request returns one image, so budget separately for each variation you want to compare.
GPT Image 2 credit costs by quality and resolution
The table shows the current credits per image for every available combination. Standard, Medium, and High are quality settings. The 1K, 2K, and 4K options select output resolution. Increasing either control can change the cost, so choose them together rather than assuming that all outputs from the same model have a fixed price.
| Resolution | Standard | Medium | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1K | 2 | 10 | 18 |
| 2K | 5 | 20 | 40 |
| 4K | 10 | 32 | 80 |
At current rates, the 10-credit signup gift covers 5 attempts at 1K Standard, 2 at 2K Standard, 1 at 4K Standard, or 1 at 1K Medium. Higher combinations require a larger balance. Gift credits are awarded once and do not expire. The free image to image page explains account verification and trying the service before purchasing additional credits.
Use early iterations to settle the composition
Set a credit allowance for the edit before making several attempts. For an initial direction check, 1K Standard is the least expensive GPT setting here. Examine the subject placement, the amount of empty space, and the relationship between foreground and background. If the composition needs revision, adjust the brief before spending more on a larger or higher-quality output.
Once you have a useful candidate, decide what another generation needs to resolve. A larger image may help you inspect fine details, but a quality increase does not guarantee correct lettering, identity, or geometry. Keep downloaded candidates and their useful instructions together so you can compare the changes. Returning to the original reference is often useful when accumulated edits have moved away from the initial idea.
Describe the layout, then the visual treatment
Give the model an ordered brief: identify the subject, explain what should remain recognizable, and describe the intended change. For a layout with room for a headline, specify which side should contain open space and where the subject belongs. For a new environment, describe the viewpoint, scale, and direction of light. These details make the result easier to evaluate against your purpose.
You can upload up to five JPG, PNG, or WebP references, each no larger than 10 MB. Explain the role of each image if you use more than one. A source photograph might establish the object while another supplies a palette. The editor applies whole-image instructions and has no brush or mask selection. Requesting a small change can still alter other parts of the picture.
Check the output against the intended use
Review important words character by character, and inspect object boundaries, reflections, perspective, and facial details. For a product image, compare shape and color directly with the source. For a composition with empty space, test the actual crop and placement of your intended overlay. A convincing preview can hide defects that become apparent when the image is enlarged or placed in a design.
You need a signed-in, verified account to generate. Completed images can be downloaded and revisited in My creations. If you prefer a predictable cost across the offered resolutions, read about Nano Banana 2 and Pro. Their flat pricing gives you another way to budget comparisons. The model comparison page puts those options beside GPT Image 2 without assuming that one model will suit every reference.

