GPT Image 2.5 Flare vs GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: Which Fits Your Image Task?
The results split by task: choose Flare for product material and lighting or clearer human anatomy, and Sunburst for advertising composition, complex object edits, garment transfer, or product-preserving scene changes. The models tied on typography, counting, structured UI graphics, text replacement, relighting, and outpainting, so neither is the across-the-board choice.
Side-by-side facts
| Feature | GPT Image 2.5 Flare | GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Availability on Banana Pie | Available now | Available now |
| Credits from | 25 credits | 30 credits |
| Max resolution | 4K | 4K |
| Reference images | Up to 8 | Up to 8 |
Scenario by scenario
Same prompt. Two models. Judge the difference in the published images below.
Product material and lighting
Better here: GPT Image 2.5 FlareLeft more closely satisfies the requested half fill and gives the bottle a more coherent, restrained reflection on the wet stone. Both handle the single-object composition and upper-left lighting well.
- Exactly one transparent rectangular perfume bottle is visible, with no text, logo, or extra objects: tie. Both images show one upright rectangular glass perfume bottle and no visible text, logo, plants, or separate props.
- The bottle is visibly filled halfway with amber liquid: left does better. Its liquid line sits closer to the midpoint of the main bottle body, while the right bottle appears somewhat more than half full.
- The glass refraction and the reflection on the wet black stone are physically coherent: left does better. Its thick glass edges, liquid boundary, internal tube distortion, and reflection beneath the bottle align more convincingly; the right has a broader, brighter amber reflection that looks less subtle and less directly shaped by the bottle.
- Upper-left lighting produces consistent highlights and a plausible contact shadow: tie. Both show strong upper-left illumination, bright highlights on the left-facing glass and cap edges, firm contact at the base, and shadows extending toward the right.
Prompt & settings used
Prompt
A premium product photograph of exactly one transparent rectangular perfume bottle, half filled with amber liquid, standing upright on wet black stone. Light comes from the upper left, creating coherent refraction, a contact shadow, and one subtle reflection. No text, logo, plants, or extra objects.
Multilingual typography
Depends on the taskBoth outputs are effectively identical in their strengths and their main failure: all wording and colors are correct, but "MOONLIGHT MARKET" wraps onto two visible lines, producing five lines instead of exactly four.
- Exactly four centered text lines: Tie. Both posters contain no additional text, but each uses five visible lines because "MOONLIGHT" and "MARKET" are rendered on separate lines, followed by "月光市集", "18 OCT", and "RIVER HALL".
- Exact wording and order: Tie. Both render "MOONLIGHT MARKET", "月光市集", "18 OCT", and "RIVER HALL" in the requested order, with "MOONLIGHT MARKET" wrapped across two lines.
- Text colors: Tie. In both posters, "月光市集" is red, while "MOONLIGHT MARKET", "18 OCT", and "RIVER HALL" are black.
- Legibility, spacing, and alignment: Tie. Both have crisp, legible text centered on the poster with similar visual alignment and broadly even spacing; neither has a clear advantage.
Prompt & settings used
Prompt
Design a clean cream-colored vertical event poster. Show exactly four centered text lines and no other text: "MOONLIGHT MARKET", "月光市集", "18 OCT", and "RIVER HALL". Render "月光市集" in red and all other lines in black.
Human anatomy and contact
Better here: GPT Image 2.5 FlareLeft more clearly satisfies the anatomy and contact requirements. It shows a convincing two-handed shaping posture and makes the finger structure easier to inspect, although some fingers remain overlapped or partially hidden.
- Exactly two fully visible hands are present, with no extra hands or people: Left does better. Both images show one potter and exactly two hands, but Left presents the outside hand more completely; in Right, substantial portions of both hands are hidden inside the bowl.
- Each hand has exactly five distinct, naturally formed fingers: Left does better. Its outside hand shows a thumb and four overlapping fingers, while the fingers of the hand inside the bowl are still comparatively distinguishable. In Right, the thumbs are obscured and only four fingers on each hand can be clearly distinguished.
- The fingers, joints, and contact with the clay are anatomically plausible: Left does better. The inner hand shaping the interior and the opposing hand supporting the exterior form a convincing grip, with natural joint bends. Right's hands are broadly plausible, but the crowded, nearly parallel fingers inside the bowl make their contact and separation less clear.
- The clay bowl, spinning wheel, and shaping action are clearly recognizable: Left does better. The bowl and wheel are prominent in both, but Left more clearly depicts the standard shaping action with one hand inside and one supporting the outer wall; Right places both hands inside the bowl.
Prompt & settings used
Prompt
A photorealistic close-up of an adult potter shaping a clay bowl on a spinning wheel. Both hands are fully visible, each with five natural fingers touching the clay. No other people or hands. Soft window light.
Counting and attribute binding
Depends on the taskBoth images satisfy all four criteria with no meaningful visible compliance difference.
- Object count and placement: Tie. Both images visibly show exactly three red cubes in a row on the left, exactly two blue spheres on the right, and one yellow mug centered behind the groups.
- Attribute binding: Tie. In both images, the cubes are red with a visible wooden texture, the spheres are blue and transparent reflective glass, and the mug is yellow with a glossy ceramic appearance.
- Mug handle direction: Tie. The mug handle is clearly visible on the right side in both images.
- No additional objects or text: Tie. Neither image contains any visible extra objects or text.
Prompt & settings used
Prompt
On a matte gray table, exactly three red wooden cubes form a row on the left, exactly two blue glass spheres sit on the right, and one yellow ceramic mug stands centered behind them. The mug handle points right. No other objects or text.
Advertising composition
Better here: GPT Image 2.5 SunburstRight follows the requested lower-right product placement and establishes the clearer overall hierarchy, though both violate the text restriction by displaying "AERO" on the shoe.
- Exactly one silver shoe and orange trail: Right does better. Both show exactly one silver shoe and an orange trail entering from the bottom-left, but Right places the shoe more clearly within the lower-right; Left's larger shoe extends substantially toward the center.
- Visible text: Tie. Both correctly render "RUN LIGHT" and "42 KM", but both also visibly render "AERO" on the shoe, so neither satisfies the requirement that those be the only visible text.
- Top spacing and headline placement: Tie. Both leave a visibly uncluttered area at the top and position "RUN LIGHT" in the upper-left directly beneath that space.
- Visibility and hierarchy: Right does better. Its shoe, trail, badge, and headline are all clearly separated and fully visible, with a cleaner progression from headline to landscape to product; Left's oversized shoe and heavier headline compete more strongly for attention.
Prompt & settings used
Prompt
Create a vertical social ad for a fictional running shoe named AERO. Keep the top 15 percent empty. Directly below it, place the headline "RUN LIGHT" in the upper-left. Show exactly one silver shoe in the lower-right, an orange trail curving from the bottom-left, and a round badge reading "42 KM". No other shoes or text.
Structured UI graphic
Depends on the taskBoth images satisfy the title, column, row, button, and alignment requirements equally well. Both also add comparable extra plan-detail text, so neither has a clear overall advantage.
- Title and columns: Tie. Both show the exact title "CHOOSE YOUR PLAN" and exactly three columns labeled "STARTER", "PRO", and "TEAM".
- Rows: Tie. Every column in both images contains exactly three aligned rows labeled "PROJECTS", "STORAGE", and "SUPPORT".
- Buttons: Tie. Every column in both images has exactly one blue button labeled "SELECT".
- Alignment and additional text: Tie. Both have three evenly aligned columns, but both violate the no-additional-text requirement by adding plan details. Left renders "5", "10 GB", "Email", "25", "100 GB", "Priority", "Unlimited", "1 TB", and "24/7"; right renders "3", "5 GB", "Email", "10", "50 GB", "Priority", "Unlimited", "1 TB", and "24/7".
Prompt & settings used
Prompt
Create a clean horizontal pricing comparison graphic titled "CHOOSE YOUR PLAN". Use exactly three equal columns labeled "STARTER", "PRO", and "TEAM". Under each column, show exactly three aligned rows labeled "PROJECTS", "STORAGE", and "SUPPORT", followed by one blue button labeled "SELECT". White background, dark navy text, no additional columns or text.
Six-reference object binding and edit
Better here: GPT Image 2.5 SunburstRIGHT is the better result because it handles the two added lemons more cleanly. Both images satisfy the other visible object replacements and preserve a consistent tabletop scene, but LEFT appears to transfer an orange-like leaf onto one lemon.
- Criterion 1: tie. Both show a dark navy-blue mug in the lower-left position and a folded green-and-white striped napkin in the upper-left area; neither visibly retains the red mug or white towel.
- Criterion 2: tie. Both show exactly one orange near the upper center and a mustard-yellow hardcover notebook on the right, with no visible green pear or blue notebook remaining.
- Criterion 3: right does better. Both contain exactly two lemons to the right of the mug, but LEFT gives one lemon a large green leaf resembling the orange's leaf, while RIGHT keeps both lemons distinct and free of visibly cross-bound orange features.
- Criterion 4: tie. Both preserve the same wooden tabletop presentation, elevated camera angle, framing, warm lighting, shadows, and broadly matching object arrangement; the unseen Reference 1 prevents finer verification of exact preservation.
Reference images
Prompt & settings used
Prompt
Use Reference 1 as the base tabletop scene. Replace the red mug with the exact dark navy-blue mug from Reference 2 in the same position and orientation. Replace the folded white towel with the exact green-and-white striped napkin from Reference 3 in the same folded area. Replace the green pear with exactly one orange from Reference 4 in the same position. Replace the blue notebook with the exact mustard-yellow hardcover notebook from Reference 5 in the same position. Add exactly the two lemons from Reference 6 to the right of the mug. Preserve the wooden table, camera, framing, wood grain, lighting, shadows, and all other spatial relationships from Reference 1. Do not copy the white product backgrounds from References 2–6, duplicate any asset, or add other objects.
In-image text replacement
Depends on the taskThe outputs are effectively indistinguishable against the rubric. Both execute the requested sign-text replacement cleanly, and the marginal positioning difference is not enough to establish a winner.
- Exact text replacement: Tie. Both signs read exactly "NIGHT OWL", with no visible remnants of old text.
- No additional or malformed characters: Tie. Both display only "NIGHT OWL" and every character is clean and correctly formed.
- Font, spacing, and perspective: Tie. Both use the same clean uppercase style, wide spacing, and alignment consistent with the sign's perspective; neither has a clear visible advantage.
- Material, lighting, and surrounding scene: Tie. The dark painted wood texture, shadows across the sign, lamps, facade, windows, plants, and bench appear unchanged between the two images.
Reference images
Prompt & settings used
Prompt
Replace only the sign text with exactly "NIGHT OWL". Preserve the original font style, spacing, perspective, sign material, lighting, and everything else.
Multi-reference identity and garment transfer
Better here: GPT Image 2.5 SunburstRight has a modest visible edge because its jacket construction and material rendering are more coherent. The identity and exact reference matching cannot be fully judged without the source references.
- Identity, expression, hair, pose, body proportions, and framing: tie. The Reference 1 image is not shown, so exact preservation cannot be verified; the two outputs visibly depict nearly identical faces, expressions, hairstyles, poses, proportions, and framing.
- Jacket material, color, collar, buttons, pockets, and sleeve patch: right does better visually, though exact matching to Reference 2 cannot be confirmed because it is not shown. Both include light-blue denim, a cream shearling collar, bronze buttons, chest pockets, and a red sleeve patch, but the right jacket has more consistent denim texture, cleaner pocket construction, and a more orderly button placket.
- Black suit replacement and exclusion of mannequin/product background: tie. Neither output shows any remaining black suit jacket, ghost mannequin, or white product background; both retain the same visible gray interior background.
- Physical coherence of hands, fit, occlusion, shadows, and lighting: right does better. Both integrate the hands and sleeves plausibly, but the right jacket has cleaner seams, more symmetrical front panels, and a more coherent closure; the left has irregular horizontal buttonholes and slightly muddled construction around the center placket and lower hem.
Reference images
Prompt & settings used
Prompt
Use the portrait in Reference 1 for the person and the isolated jacket in Reference 2 for the garment. Dress the person from Reference 1 in the exact jacket shown in Reference 2. Preserve the person's identity, face, expression, skin, hair, hands, pose, body proportions, background, framing, and lighting from Reference 1. Preserve the jacket's material, color, collar, buttons, pockets, and sleeve patch from Reference 2. Do not copy the ghost mannequin or white product background.
Coherent scene relighting
Depends on the taskBoth outputs satisfy the relighting request to a very similar degree. Their differences are marginal and do not establish a clear overall winner.
- Warm golden-hour light clearly enters from the left window: tie; both show a low golden sun outside the left window and warm sunlight spreading from left to right across the room.
- Highlights and shadow directions respond coherently to the new light source: tie; both show bright left-facing surfaces, window-frame and foliage projections on the rear wall, and coffee-table shadows extending toward the right.
- The result is more than a uniform yellow color filter: tie; both contain localized sun patches, directional cast shadows, bright highlights, and darker occluded areas rather than only a uniform warm tint.
- No furniture or decor is moved, added, removed, or redesigned: tie; the visible sofa, table, rug, plant, lamp, window, and room layout match between the two outputs, with no clear object-level alteration favoring either side.
Reference images
Prompt & settings used
Prompt
Change the lighting to warm golden-hour sunlight entering from the left window. Do not move, add, remove, or redesign any object. Update highlights and shadows coherently.
Cross-ratio outpainting
Depends on the taskBoth outputs create convincing landscape extensions and show no clear seam or repeated filler. The visible differences in the central cabin prevent judging source preservation without the original reference, so there is no defensible winner.
- 16:9 output and natural side content: Tie. Both images are landscape frames with the centered cabin surrounded by plausible continuations of sky, ocean, shoreline, and sand on both sides.
- Complete original centered without cropping or stretching: Tie. The cabin and beach composition appear centered and proportionate in both, but exact preservation of the complete original cannot be confirmed because the source image is not shown separately.
- Original cabin, shoreline, and internal composition unchanged: Tie. The outputs visibly differ in cabin details, including a dark round door handle on the right that is absent on the left, so they cannot both be unchanged; however, without the original image it is not possible to determine which is more faithful.
- No seams, mirrored filler, or repeated objects: Tie. Neither image shows an obvious vertical join, mirrored region, or conspicuously repeated object; the cloud, wave, and sand textures transition naturally across both frames.
Reference images
Prompt & settings used
Prompt
Expand the canvas to a 16:9 landscape by naturally continuing the beach, ocean, and sky on both sides. Keep the complete original image centered without cropping, stretching, letterboxing, or modifying it.
Product preservation across scene change
Better here: GPT Image 2.5 SunburstRight is the narrow winner. It communicates the basketball court more clearly and has slightly more coherent wet-surface interaction, while product preservation appears effectively tied from the available images.
- Court placement and dusk setting: Right does better because the curved painted court line, hoop, fence, floodlights, wet pavement, and sunset are all clearly visible; Left also establishes the setting, but its court markings are less distinct.
- Sneaker consistency: Tie. Both show nearly identical silhouettes, sole profiles, stitching patterns, white upper materials, lace layout, and side-on camera angle, but exact preservation cannot be assessed without the original sneaker reference.
- Black geometric side mark: Tie. Both marks are sharp and readable as the same angular black shape; whether either remains exactly unchanged cannot be verified without the source image.
- Physical coherence: Right does slightly better because the contact shadow and subdued dark reflection sit naturally beneath the sole, while the sunset and floodlights reflect across the wet court. Left has convincing warm reflections and rim light, but the prominent dark mark-like reflection in front of the shoe is less physically plausible.
Reference images
Prompt & settings used
Prompt
Place the sneaker on a wet outdoor basketball court at dusk. Preserve the exact sneaker shape, black geometric side mark, materials, stitching, sole geometry, and camera angle. Add physically coherent contact, reflections, and dusk lighting.
Cost & latency
GPT Image 2.5 Flare starts at 25 credits and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst at 30, giving Flare the lower minimum cost per generation. Latency varied by scenario, with neither model quicker every time; these are small-sample observations from this run, not benchmark figures.
How we compared & disclosure
This comparison used one fixed prompt per scenario and one run per model per scenario, with outputs published as generated. Banana Pie sells paid access to both models.
Banana Pie sells paid access to this model alongside other models in one studio. Our verdicts come from tests run through the same pipeline our users get.