OpenAI's newest image model comes in two versions — Flare, tuned for speed, and Sunburst, which spends extra time on fine detail. Generate in 1K, 2K or true 4K, edit with up to 10 reference images, and push quality all the way to the new max level.
Released by OpenAI on September 8, 2026 in two versions: Flare and Sunburst
Flare is the everyday default. OpenAI says it delivers GPT Image 2-level quality with up to 50% lower latency — ideal for exploring ideas and producing assets at volume.
Sunburst is OpenAI's most capable image model. It takes longer on each request to render intricate structures, dense scenes and fine textures with extra fidelity.
Choose 1K, 2K or 4K for every generation. At 16:9, 4K delivers a full 3840×2160 image — sharp enough for print, large displays and heavy cropping.
Quality now goes beyond high with two new levels, xhigh and max, for final assets where every detail counts. Low and medium stay available for fast drafts.
Upload up to 10 reference images and describe the change — swap a background, restage a product or combine elements while keeping the subject intact.
Real text-to-image outputs generated on SharkFoto with Flare and Sunburst — each label shows the version and resolution used, and each caption summarizes the prompt.
A ballerina frozen mid-leap above a flooded neon subway platform — a crown of water droplets, magenta and cyan reflections, cinematic low angle.
A cellist playing on a rooftop in a thunderstorm — sheet music swirling into the sky, lightning splitting the clouds, rain lit by warm bulbs.
An exploded-view product shot of an unbranded sneaker — outsole, foam, lace cage and laces floating in alignment under a hard orange rim light.
Extreme macro of a pollen-dusted honeybee on frost crystals at sunrise — every hair and eye facet visible, ice needles glowing amber in the backlight.
An elderly gentleman calmly reading a newspaper while riding a giant koi through the air above a rush-hour street — commuters stare and film.
A 1960s-style travel poster — bold 'VISIT SATURN' headline, 'The Rings Are Open Year-Round', a retro rocket liner gliding past the rings.
Write your own prompt and generate high-resolution images with GPT Image 2.5. Start free — no credit card required.
Try GPT Image 2.5GPT Image 2.5 is the successor to GPT Image 2 and OpenAI's first image model released as two versions. Flare is built for speed and everyday volume: social graphics, product shots, concept art and quick iterations. Sunburst is the heavyweight: it spends more time per image to hold intricate detail together across the whole frame.
Both versions share the same controls on SharkFoto. Pick one of ten aspect ratios from 1:1 to 21:9, choose 1K, 2K or 4K resolution, set one of five quality levels from low to max, and export PNG, JPEG or WebP.
GPT Image 2.5 works in both the text-to-image and image-to-image tools. For edits, upload up to 10 reference images and describe what should change — the model keeps your subject while it restyles, restages or combines the scene.
Switch between Flare and Sunburst in the model menu. Explore ideas quickly with Flare, then re-run your best prompt on Sunburst for the final version.
Sunburst is designed for dense, intricate images — macro textures, busy crowds, architecture and products that need to hold up when you zoom in.
Draft at 1K, then render finals at 2K or 4K. At 16:9, 4K produces a full 3840×2160 image ready for print and big screens.
Posters, headlines, labels and packaging copy come out readable, continuing the text-rendering strengths of the GPT Image line.
Low and medium for fast drafts, high for everyday assets, and the new xhigh and max levels when fidelity matters more than speed.
Use up to 10 reference images in the image-to-image tool to restage products, change backgrounds or blend elements while keeping the subject consistent.
From square posts to 9:16 stories and 21:9 cinematic banners, pick the exact frame your platform needs.
Describe a look — film still, screen-print poster, macro photography — and GPT Image 2.5 follows it closely across generations.
| Flare | Fastest, everyday generation |
|---|---|
| Sunburst | Most capable, max detail |
| Credits | Same for both versions |
| Resolution | 1K, 2K, 4K |
|---|---|
| Max Size | 3840×2160 (4K, 16:9) |
| Formats | PNG, JPEG, WebP |
| Aspect Ratios | 10 presets, 1:1 to 21:9 |
|---|---|
| Quality Levels | low, medium, high, xhigh, max |
| Images per Run | 1–4 |
| Text Prompt | Up to 4,000 characters |
|---|---|
| Reference Images | Up to 10 (image-to-image) |
| Modes | Text-to-image, image-to-image |
| 1K–2K | ~20–40 seconds |
|---|---|
| 4K | ~35 s (Flare) · ~50–60 s (Sunburst) |
| Tip | Draft at 1K, finish at 4K |
Create cinematic hero images for launches and ads, then render the chosen concept in 4K for billboards, print and large displays.
Produce studio-style product renders, exploded views and lifestyle scenes, or restage an existing product photo with reference-image editing.
Lay out event posters, travel prints and packaging mockups with bold, legible headlines built into the image.
Generate dramatic narrative scenes for articles, book covers and social stories, with 21:9 and 9:16 frames for every placement.
Sunburst's extra detail suits macro-style textures, wildlife and landscapes that need to stay crisp at high resolution.
Iterate on ideas at 1K and low quality with Flare, then re-render the winner at xhigh or max on Sunburst.
What each model offers in the SharkFoto generator today
| Feature | GPT Image 2.0 | GPT Image 2.5NEW |
|---|---|---|
| Versions | Single model | Flare (fast) + Sunburst (max detail) |
| Quality Levels | low, medium, high | low → max (+ xhigh, max) |
| Resolution | 1K, 2K, 4K | 1K, 2K, 4K |
| Output Formats | Default only | PNG, JPEG, WebP |
| Latency (per OpenAI) | Baseline | Flare up to 50% lower |
In our tests on SharkFoto, Flare returned 1K–2K images in about 20–40 seconds, while Sunburst at 4K took roughly 50–60 seconds per image. Higher quality levels add time, so draft at lower settings first.
Credits scale with quality and resolution — max quality at 4K costs far more than a 1K draft. Iterate cheaply first, then upgrade the final render.
GPT Image 2.5 on SharkFoto outputs opaque images. For cutouts, run the result through the SharkFoto Background Remover.
GPT Image 2.5 creates still images. To animate a result, use an image-to-video model such as Seedance or Kling.
As an OpenAI model, GPT Image 2.5 applies OpenAI's content moderation, and some prompts may be declined.
Try Flare for fast, high-quality images or Sunburst for maximum detail — in 1K, 2K or 4K, available now in the SharkFoto text-to-image and image-to-image tools.
Try GPT Image 2.5 now