Seedream 5 Lite
A ByteDance image model for reference-heavy edits, product preservation, relighting, outpainting, and text-aware composition.
Key facts
| Developer | ByteDance |
|---|---|
| Availability on Banana Pie | Available now |
| Credits from | 20 credits / image |
| Reference images | Up to 8 |
Seedream 5 Lite is positioned for image workflows that combine several references with targeted changes, especially product, identity, garment, lighting, layout, and canvas edits. It accepts up to 8 references and outputs up to 4K from 20 credits; expect longer waits on the most reference-heavy edits.
Strengths
- High reference allowance
The model accepts up to 8 reference images, giving creators room to supply several objects, identities, garments, or visual guides in one workflow.
- Built around asset coordination
Our tests include six-reference object binding, identity and garment transfer, and product preservation across a scene change.
- Useful editing scope
Relighting, cross-ratio outpainting, and in-image text replacement appear in the tested scenario set, covering several common revision tasks.
- 4K output
The listed maximum resolution is 4K, supporting image work that needs a larger final output.
Limitations
- Reference-heavy edits can take longer
In our tests, the six-reference object binding and edit took 89.7s, the longest of the set.
- Text accuracy still needs review
Our tests include typography and in-image text replacement; proofread spelling across languages and layouts before you publish.
Choose Seedream 5 Lite when
- You need to coordinate several source images in one edit.
- You want to preserve a product while changing its surrounding scene.
- You are transferring identity or garments between references.
- You need relighting, outpainting, or in-image text replacement.
- You want output up to 4K.
Consider an alternative when
- Your workflow needs correct spelling without a proofreading pass.
- You need predictable turnaround for reference-heavy edits.
- You need video rather than a still image.
Depending on the task, these can be a better fit: Nano Banana 2 · Seedream 5 Pro
Real-world results
Same fixed prompts we run on every model - one published result per model, with prompts and settings you can inspect.
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.
Settings
- Resolution: 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 1:1
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.
Settings
- Resolution: 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 2:3
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.
Settings
- Resolution: 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 3:4
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.
Settings
- Resolution: 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
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.
Settings
- Resolution: 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16
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.
Settings
- Resolution: 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Reference images
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.
Settings
- Resolution: 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Reference images
Prompt
Replace only the sign text with exactly "NIGHT OWL". Preserve the original font style, spacing, perspective, sign material, lighting, and everything else.
Settings
- Resolution: 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 3:2
Reference images
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.
Settings
- Resolution: 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 3:4
Reference images
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.
Settings
- Resolution: 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Reference images
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.
Settings
- Resolution: 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Reference images
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.
Settings
- Resolution: 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 1:1
Credits & pricing
Generations start at 20 credits at 2K; 4K output costs more. The Generate button shows the exact cost for your settings before you generate.
Frequently asked questions
Is Seedream 5 Lite available now?
Yes. Seedream 5 Lite is currently available on Banana Pie, with generations starting at 20 credits.
How many reference images can I use?
It supports up to 8 reference images, making it suitable for workflows that need to coordinate products, people, garments, or other source assets.
What is the maximum output resolution?
The listed maximum resolution is 4K.
Can it generate and replace text inside images?
Our tests include in-image text replacement and multilingual typography, with both results on this page. Proofread lettering before you publish.
How long does a generation take?
In our tests, generations took from 30.0s for counting and attribute binding to 89.7s for a six-reference object binding and edit. Actual time depends on the task.
Related comparisons
How we test & disclosure
We ran Seedream 5 Lite on the same fixed test prompts we use for every model, covering product shots, typography, anatomy, counting, layouts, text replacement, reference-based edits, relighting, and outpainting. Each scenario shows one published result on this page, with its prompt and settings.
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.