GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
For the details you don’t want to compromise.
Meet Sunburst, OpenAI’s most capable image generation and editing model. Give it a detailed brief or upload an image with a specific change in mind. Try it here, free.
Up to 3 free images every 30 days, shared across image tools. No sign-up. 1024 × 1024 PNG at medium quality.
How GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst works
1. Start with a T-shirt idea
2. Refine the details with Sunburst
3. Try another colorway
Try your first T-shirt design
Have an idea for a small merch drop? Start with the shirt, the graphic, and the words you want on it. This prompt brings them together in a product image you can use to explore the direction. Check the lettering and print placement, then try a different colorway.
Design a cream T-shirt with a coral sun and green “WEEKEND CLUB” lettering. Show it as a clean product photo on a peach background.Try this prompt free
The images above illustrate the workflow. Run the prompt to compare your own results.
When to choose Sunburst
Sometimes the image is almost right, but “almost” means another round of work. The packaging needs to stay the same. The background needs to change. The headline needs room to breathe. OpenAI recommends Sunburst for workflows where editing precision matters most. It is a sensible model to test when a brief has several constraints and you want to see how well they hold together.
Read OpenAI’s model notes for Sunburst and Flare.
Product edits with clear boundaries
Start with your own product photo. Ask for a new setting while keeping the label, shape, and camera angle. Inspect those details side by side with the original before choosing a final image.
Posters with a deliberate layout
Specify the headline, the subject’s position, and the space you want to leave for supporting copy. Sunburst is worth testing when composition matters as much as the illustration.
A careful second pass
Give an existing concept one focused revision: warmer lighting, a quieter background, or a different material. List the parts you want preserved so the model has a clear editing brief.
Sunburst vs Flare: where to start
Choose based on the job in front of you. Flare suits a quick first draft; Sunburst is worth trying when you need a more precise edit. Both can generate new images and work from an uploaded reference.
| Your priority | Sunburst | Flare |
|---|---|---|
| Model focus | Capability and editing precision | Speed and everyday generation |
| A useful first test | A product edit with several details to preserve | A social image or a new campaign concept |
| Free Playground output | 1024 × 1024 PNG, medium quality | 1024 × 1024 PNG, medium quality |
| Try it | Try Sunburst free | Try Flare free |
Model positioning: OpenAI Sunburst documentation and OpenAI Flare documentation. The suggested tests are our practical starting points. Generation time and results vary with the brief.
Independent model rankings
GPT Image 2.5 on Arena
Sunburst and Flare hold the top two positions in these Arena snapshots. Here are the scores, along with the original leaderboards so you can check the evidence yourself.
Text-to-image generation
- #1 · Sunburst
- 1,421 ± 13
- #2 · Flare
- 1,399 ± 13
Single-image editing
- #1 · Sunburst
- 1,520 ± 9
- #2 · Flare
- 1,491 ± 9
Arena snapshot dated , checked . Both models are marked preliminary. The ± values are Arena’s reported uncertainty. Scores reflect human preferences, not accuracy percentages; rankings may change as votes accumulate. These scores evaluate the models, not Playground’s free trial settings.
Find the model that fits your next project
Use the same brief across a few models. Compare the details that matter for your project, from lettering to product photos.
OpenAI
GPT Image 2
An earlier GPT Image model for typography, text rendering, and instruction following.
- Speed
- ~15-25s
- Output
- Up to 1024 × 1536
- Pricing
- Free — 3 / month
Best for
Posters, ads, packaging, infographics, and any image with legible text.
- Reads dense prompts and complex layouts
- Renders crisp typography and on-image text
- Edits with strict prompt fidelity
Google Gemini 2.5 Flash Image
Nano Banana
The everyday workhorse. Lightning-fast iteration with strong reference fusion and character consistency.
- Speed
- ~3-6s
- Output
- 10 native ARs up to 1K
- Pricing
- Free — 3 / month
Best for
Rapid retouches, social posts, exploration, and blending multiple references.
- Lightning-fast iteration loop
- Strong reference image fusion
- Great for character / style consistency
Google Gemini 3 Pro Image
Nano Banana Pro
The highest-fidelity Gemini model. 4K native output, sharper detail, and improved photorealism.
- Speed
- ~25-40s
- Output
- Up to 4K, 10 ARs
- Pricing
- 1 free / 30 days, no sign-up
Best for
Photoreal hero shots, large-format prints, and detailed scene composition.
- 4K native resolution output
- Best-in-class photorealism
- Improved text + spatial reasoning
Try Muse Image — our free-user Auto default, at 1 credit each
