Explore cheap, ship sharp
Draft with Flare at 1K to compare options quickly, then re-run the winner with Sunburst at higher resolution for delivery.
GPT Image 2.5: Flare & Sunburst
Two OpenAI GPT Image 2.5 variants in one workspace. Flare returns balanced results quickly for drafts and iteration; Sunburst refines detail with precise control for final assets. Both support 1K, 2K, and 4K output.
What is GPT Image 2.5?
GPT Image 2.5 is OpenAI’s next-generation image model and the successor to GPT Image 2. It ships as two variants tuned for different points in a creative workflow. Both accept text prompts and reference images, and both output at up to 4K resolution.
Two tuned variants
GPT Image 2.5 ships as Flare and Sunburst. Both cover text-to-image and image editing, so the mode switch stays the same across variants.
Up to 4K output
Both variants support 1K, 2K, and 4K resolutions. Draft cheap at 1K and ship at 4K without changing prompt or aspect ratio.
Consistent aspect ratios
Eight aspect ratios cover portrait, landscape, and cinematic framing—enough for social, ecommerce, and marketing outputs.
Shared prompt style
A prompt that works well on Flare will typically work on Sunburst too. That makes A/B comparison and final polish a switch, not a rewrite.
Flare vs Sunburst
The two variants share the same interface, prompt style, and output formats. Pick based on where each generation sits in the workflow. Comparing against other providers? Browse every AI image model.
Flare
Sunburst
Best for
Fast drafts, campaign iteration, broad exploration
Final assets, precise composition, detail work
Trade-off
Prioritizes speed and balance over ultimate polish
Prioritizes refinement and control over turnaround time
Aspect ratios
1:1, 2:3, 3:2, 3:4, 4:3, 9:16, 16:9, 21:9
1:1, 2:3, 3:2, 3:4, 4:3, 9:16, 16:9, 21:9
Resolutions
1K · 2K · 4K
1K · 2K · 4K
Modes
Text-to-image · image editing
Text-to-image · image editing
Why GPT Image 2.5 works
Two variants covering exploration and delivery, wired to one prompt workflow and one output pipeline.
One prompt, two lanes
Flare and Sunburst share the same input contract, so refining a prompt on one variant automatically improves the other.
Text-heavy visuals
In-image typography stays legible across ads, posters, and social creatives thanks to GPT Image 2.5’s stronger text rendering.
Edit without restarting
Upload a base image and describe the change—both variants preserve the rest of the composition instead of regenerating from scratch.
GPT Image 2.5 prompt examples
Ready-to-run prompts organized by workflow. Every prompt works on both Flare and Sunburst—draft with Flare for speed, then re-run the winner on Sunburst for the final asset.
Use case 01
Ecommerce product visuals
Ship product-page hero shots, feature closeups, and variant lineups. Draft with Flare, finalize on Sunburst at 2K or 4K.
Hero PDP shot
Studio product hero shot of a matte-black cordless kettle on a warm beige gradient backdrop, soft directional key light, subtle drop shadow, sharp edge definition, and clean composition suitable for an ecommerce product-detail page.
Feature closeup
Macro detail shot of the water-level window on a stainless steel kettle, showing brushed metal texture, precise reflections, cool neutral lighting, and razor-sharp micro-detail suitable for a feature callout section.
Variant lineup
Ecommerce product lineup of the same wireless earbuds case in four colorways (charcoal, cream, sage, blush), arranged with consistent spacing, uniform shadow direction, and pure white backdrop for a color-picker module.
Lifestyle context
Lifestyle scene of a minimalist ceramic pour-over kettle on a bright morning kitchen counter, natural window light, shallow depth of field on background props, and a composition that leaves room for a headline overlay.
Use case 02
Social media posts
Feed-ready visuals with in-image text. GPT Image 2.5 renders typography cleanly across both variants; check spelling manually before publish.
Product drop
Instagram square post announcing a summer product drop, bold central subject, gradient orange-to-pink background, and the text 'NEW · SUMMER 2026' rendered clearly with modern sans-serif type.
Quote card
Editorial quote card for LinkedIn with the text 'Design is thinking made visible.' in large centered serif, warm off-white background, minimal decorative flourish in one corner, and generous negative space around the text.
Event teaser
Vertical story-format visual teasing a design conference, cinematic dusk lighting on a modern venue exterior, a title zone in the upper third for date-and-city text, and space at the bottom for a call-to-action sticker.
Meme-style callout
Playful two-panel comparison graphic showing 'Draft on Flare' versus 'Finalize on Sunburst', bright poster colors, hand-drawn arrow accent, and a clean typographic hierarchy that reads on mobile feed.
Use case 03
Ads and marketing posters
Campaign-quality drafts with clear headline zones and consistent brand color. Sunburst holds detail better in busy compositions.
Launch poster
Vertical launch poster for a new fitness app, dynamic figure in motion silhouette, high-contrast lighting from lower-left, deep navy background, and a clear headline safe area across the top third.
Ad banner
Horizontal display ad for a project-management SaaS, isometric floating UI cards showing a kanban board, brand-blue color palette, and a clear right-side region reserved for a headline and CTA button.
Retail promo
Storefront-style promotional visual for a 48-hour flash sale, bright saturated colors, product silhouette centered, a bold 'UP TO 50% OFF' text zone, and margin-safe layout for both 16:9 and 9:16 crops.
Brand campaign
Editorial brand campaign visual for a premium skincare launch, soft studio lighting on a translucent glass bottle, warm neutral tones, and refined negative space suitable for a poster or magazine spread.
Use case 04
Editorial and blog art
Article headers, blog covers, and content illustrations without spinning up a design cycle. Consistent style across a series is easy on either variant.
Blog cover
Modern editorial cover illustration for an article titled 'The New Rules of Design Systems', geometric layered shapes, calm accent colors on a warm cream base, and clear space in the upper-left for the article title.
Concept explainer
Conceptual illustration explaining how retrieval-augmented generation works, abstract nodes and connecting arcs, three-color palette on an off-white background, and a composition that supports diagram-style annotation.
Newsletter header
Wide banner illustration for a weekly product-design newsletter, minimalist workspace scene (notebook, mug, laptop), warm morning light, and a horizontal composition with the left third reserved for the issue title.
Case-study hero
Case-study hero image for a fintech redesign article, isometric dashboard mockup floating on a soft gradient, subtle grid backdrop, brand-primary accent color, and space at the top for a large deck-style headline.
How to use GPT Image 2.5 in 3 steps
A workflow that keeps early exploration cheap and final delivery sharp by moving between Flare and Sunburst on purpose.
STEP 01
Pick a variant
Use Flare for the first batch when exploring composition, or jump directly to Sunburst if the concept is already clear.
STEP 02
Write a production-ready prompt
Describe subject, style, composition, lighting, and required text in one instruction. Set aspect ratio and resolution before generating.
STEP 03
Iterate across variants
Compare Flare drafts side by side, lock the winner, then re-generate on Sunburst at higher resolution for the publish-ready asset.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between GPT Image 2.5 Flare and Sunburst?+
Flare is tuned for fast, balanced generation across drafts and campaign iterations. Sunburst is tuned for refined output with tighter detail control—use it when final polish matters more than speed.
Which variant should I pick for a first draft?+
Flare is usually the better starting point. It returns results quickly, so several composition ideas can be reviewed before switching to Sunburst for a final render.
Do Flare and Sunburst share the same prompt style?+
Yes. Both variants accept the same natural-language prompts and support the same aspect ratios and resolutions, so a working prompt can be reused between them without rewriting.
What resolutions do GPT Image 2.5 variants support?+
Both Flare and Sunburst support 1K, 2K, and 4K output. Higher resolutions cost more credits, so 1K is a good fit for drafts and 4K for final assets.
Can GPT Image 2.5 edit existing images?+
Yes. Upload a base image, describe the changes in plain language, and either variant will apply edits while keeping the rest of the composition intact.
Is GPT Image 2.5 good at rendering text inside images?+
Both variants handle in-image text well, but small typography and exact spelling should still be reviewed manually before publishing.
How can generation cost be kept low?+
Draft with Flare at 1K, keep the prompt tight, and only switch to Sunburst or higher resolutions once the composition is locked. That avoids paying for polish on ideas that get replaced.
Can outputs be used commercially?+
Yes, on any paid plan. Outputs created on a paid subscription can be used commercially; outputs created on the free tier are licensed for personal, non-commercial use only. Also check the destination platform's policy before publishing brand-facing assets.
Generate with GPT Image 2.5 now
Draft cheaply with Flare, finalize crisply with Sunburst, and keep one prompt working across both variants.