Seedream 4.0 model guide
A practical guide to Seedream 4.0 on GPT Image Hub: ByteDance's image model at one flat price for 1K, 2K and 4K, with measured render times and real examples.
Seedream 4.0 is ByteDance's image generation and editing model. On GPT Image Hub it costs 25 credits per image at any size, 1K, 2K or 4K, which makes its 4K output one of the cheapest on the site. In the Hub's tests 1K and 2K images took about 20 seconds and a 4K landscape took 137 seconds. Choose it for photographic scenes and large exports on a budget; choose Seedream 4.5 or 5.0 for stronger text and design work.
Visual examples
Visual examples
Terraced rice fields at sunrise, rendered at 4K.
4K landscape
Terraced rice fields at sunrise, rendered at 4K.
Aerial terraced rice fields in morning mist, golden light.Food photography
A breakfast tray in soft window light at 2K.
Japanese breakfast flat-lay on a wooden tray.Same price, any size
1K drafts and 4K finals cost the same 25 credits.
Render the approved scene again at 4K.Best use cases
- 4K landscapes and backgrounds on a budget.
- Food, travel, and lifestyle photography.
- Product shots at any size for one price.
- Batches of scene variations.
Where to be careful
- Text-heavy posters and layouts; Seedream 4.5 or 5.0 Pro render text more reliably.
- Transparent backgrounds, which Seedream does not output.
Strengths
One flat price, 25 credits, for 1K, 2K, and 4K output.
Fast at 1K and 2K: about 20 seconds per image in Hub tests.
Natural photographic results for food, landscape, and product scenes.
Accepts reference images for edits.
Use cases
Budget 4K scenes
Landscapes, backgrounds, and wallpapers at 4K for 25 credits.
Food and lifestyle
Natural light scenes for menus, blogs, and social posts.
Product photos
Clean product shots at the size each channel needs.
Workflow
Set the size
Choose 1K, 2K, or 4K; the price does not change.
Iterate quickly
1K and 2K render in about 20 seconds.
Edit with references
Attach the chosen image and describe the change.
Prompting guidance
- Describe light and lens like a photographer: time of day, angle, depth of field.
- Pick the size you need from the start; every size costs the same.
- Add "no text" for clean scenes.
- For edits, say what must stay unchanged before what should change.
Copy-ready prompts
Overhead flat-lay of a Japanese breakfast set on a wooden tray: grilled salmon, miso soup, rice, pickles, a small teapot, soft morning window light, editorial food photography, no text.
Wide aerial photo of terraced rice fields in morning mist, golden light, cinematic landscape, no text.
Minimal product photo of a matte black water bottle on a light oak table, soft daylight, no text.
Example outputs generated on GPT Image Hub
Official sources
FAQ
How much does Seedream 4.0 cost on GPT Image Hub?
25 credits per image (about $0.025) at 1K, 2K, or 4K, based on BytePlus's $0.03 list price.
How fast is Seedream 4.0?
In the Hub's tests 1K and 2K images took 19 to 23 seconds and a 4K landscape took 137 seconds.
Does Seedream 4.0 support reference images?
Yes. Attach up to 10 reference images and describe what to keep and what to change.
Use this model
Start from a prompt template or compare models first
Use the generator when you already know the model, or compare all supported models when the prompt needs a different balance of speed, detail, and reference inputs.