Model guides

GPT Image 2 model guide

A practical guide to using GPT Image 2 on GPT Image Hub, including supported quality tiers, aspect ratios, reference images, prompt patterns, and when to choose it over Gemini image models.

GPT Image 2 model guide visual
1K / 2K / 4K16 ReferencesOpenAI
Direct answer

GPT Image 2 is the best default choice on GPT Image Hub when you need high-quality generation or editing, many aspect-ratio choices, and up to 16 reference images. Use it for polished commercial visuals, product mockups, editorial assets, and prompts where instruction following matters more than the lowest possible iteration latency.

Official model IDgpt-image-2
ProviderOpenAI
Hub quality tiers1K, 2K, 4K
Reference imagesUp to 16
Aspect ratiosauto, 1:1, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2, 2:3, 16:9, 9:16, 5:4, 4:5, 21:9, 9:21, 2:1, 1:2, 3:1, 1:3

Visual examples

Visual examples

GPT Image 2 model guide model showcase
Editorial product hero

A clean commercial scene with premium lighting and headline space.

Editorial product hero

A clean commercial scene with premium lighting and headline space.

4K skincare serum on warm marble, soft window light, blank headline area.

Reference board

Multiple visual inputs translated into one consistent brand image.

Preserve palette, material, and logo geometry from all references.

Final asset workflow

Draft at 1K, review at 2K, export at 4K for the approved direction.

Generate final 4K campaign image after composition approval.

Best use cases

  • Product renders, ad concepts, campaign key visuals, thumbnails, and social creatives.
  • Image edits that need several reference inputs or consistent brand/style constraints.
  • 4K exports in GPT Image Hub when a larger final image is required.
  • Structured prompts with detailed composition, typography, lighting, and camera direction.

Where to be careful

  • Transparent background requirements, because OpenAI's current GPT Image 2 guide says transparent backgrounds are not supported for this model.
  • Very rough brainstorming where the fastest low-cost draft is more important than output polish.
  • Prompts that depend on Gemini-specific multimodal reasoning or Google ecosystem examples.

Strengths

Strong default model for high-quality image generation and editing workflows.

Supports the widest aspect-ratio set exposed in GPT Image Hub, including tall, wide, square, and ultra-wide formats.

Allows up to 16 reference images, useful for style boards, product references, brand systems, and multi-image visual consistency.

Good fit for final assets after a prompt has been tested with faster draft passes.

Use cases

Commercial hero images

Product, campaign, thumbnail, and landing-page visuals that need a polished first impression.

Multi-reference edits

Brand boards, product references, and style packs where several inputs must stay coherent.

Final high-resolution exports

Approved concepts that need larger delivery sizes and careful composition.

Workflow

01

Draft the scene

Lock subject, composition, mood, and on-image text before raising the quality tier.

02

Attach references

Mark each reference as product, style, material, layout, or lighting guidance.

03

Export final

Move from 1K exploration to 2K or 4K once the direction is approved.

Prompting guidance

  • Write the scene first, then specify camera, lighting, material, palette, text, and output format.
  • For reference-image workflows, state exactly what to preserve and what can change.
  • Use 1K for quick drafts, then move to 2K or 4K only when the composition is approved.
  • Keep on-image text short and quote it explicitly.

Copy-ready prompts

Example 1

Create a 4K hero image for a premium skincare serum on warm marble, soft morning window light, dewy reflections, minimal beige packaging, blank space on the right for headline text, editorial product photography.

Example 2

Use the reference images as brand style anchors. Generate a square app launch graphic with the same color system and lighting, but replace the subject with a floating glass camera icon over a dark studio background.

Example 3

Design a cinematic poster for an AI image prompt library, centered desktop workspace, glowing generated images on screen, realistic reflections, no extra text except "GPT Image Hub".

Official sources

FAQ

Is GPT Image 2 the default model on GPT Image Hub?

Yes. GPT Image Hub uses GPT Image 2 as the default image model because it covers the broadest set of quality tiers, aspect ratios, and reference-image workflows in the current app configuration.

Does GPT Image 2 support 4K output here?

GPT Image Hub exposes 4K as an available quality tier for GPT Image 2. Use it for final exports rather than every draft, because higher resolution usually increases latency and cost.

Can GPT Image 2 create transparent backgrounds?

OpenAI's current image generation guide says gpt-image-2 does not support transparent backgrounds, so prompts that require transparent PNG assets should be planned accordingly.

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.