OpenAIImage modelFor the shot that matters.
Ten turns in, the first nine decisions are still there. This is the model for assets that get notes.
Campaign hero shots
The one image the whole campaign hangs on, at the quality that decision deserves.
Ecommerce product imagery
Polished enough for a product page without a retouching pass afterwards.
Print and large format
Work that gets looked at closely, where an approximation shows.
Long editing sessions
Client notes, revisions, then more notes. Precision across turns is the whole point.
Brand critical creative
When the logo, the colour and the type all have to be exactly right.
- Provider
- OpenAI
- Released
- September 2026
- Positioning
- Premium visual workflows
- API model ID
- gpt-image-2.5-sunburst
- Generation time
- Longer than Flare, by design
- Edit control
- Tightest available across multi turn edits
- Reference photos
- Strong subject fidelity across settings and styles
- Text rendering
- Inherits GPT Image 2's strength
- Best for
- Campaign creative, product imagery, hero shots
- Plans
- Every plan, including free
- Cost
- 1 to 54 credits per image up to high; about 2x at xhigh, 3x at max
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
You are exploring, or generating at volume. Faster and the default for most work.
GPT Image 2
Budget matters more than the last increment of quality.
What is GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst?
Sunburst is the premium model in OpenAI's September 2026 API release. It offers an extra level of precision for detailed creative work, at the cost of longer generation times, and is intended for production ready campaign creative and polished product imagery.
When should I use Sunburst instead of Flare?
When the image is a deliverable rather than a draft. Explore on Flare because it is faster, then render the frame you are keeping on Sunburst.
How much slower is Sunburst?
Noticeably. OpenAI describes the longer generation time as the deliberate trade for tighter control. For a hero shot that is a good trade, and for a hundred social variants it is not.
How much does Sunburst cost on APImage?
The same as Flare and GPT Image 2: an HD image is about 3 credits at medium and 9 to 14 at high. Quality xhigh costs about twice that and max three times, which is where a hero shot usually lands.
Can I move a prompt between Flare and Sunburst?
Yes. They share a studio, a prompt format and a credit pool on APImage, so switching model is a dropdown and your references come with you.
Is Sunburst included in my plan?
Yes. Every model on APImage is available on the same subscription and priced in the same credits. There is no per model surcharge.
How do I use it?
Find your composition on Flare first. It is faster and cheaper for exploration. Switch the model to GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and bring the prompt and references across. Render the frame, then refine with targeted edits. Export at full size. Transparent PNG is available on Plus and above.