GPT Image 1 is OpenAI’s latest AI image generator. Learn how to create images with GPT Image 1, compare it to DALL-E, and explore practical use cases and tips.
GPT Image 1 API is OpenAI’s newest and most powerful tool for creating images. It works just like ChatGPT but with pictures — you can describe what you want, and it will turn your words into images. You can also use it to edit existing pictures. This makes it great for more interactive and creative work, not just one-time image creation. The images it creates are high-quality and can even look like real photos. You can use GPT Image 1 through the OpenAI API
Table of Contents
Key Features in Simple Terms
Creates High-Quality Images
GPT Image 1 can make clear, detailed pictures that often look very real — almost like real photos.
Turn Text Into Images & Edit Pictures
You can describe what you want in words, and it will turn that into a picture. You can also ask it to change parts of an existing image, like adding or removing something.
Understands Both Text and Images
It’s built on the same smart system as GPT-4o, so it can understand what you write and what it “sees” in an image, making it super flexible.
Interactive Image Creation
You’re not stuck with just one image — you can go back, change things, and keep improving your picture until it looks just right.
Built-In Safety
GPT Image 1 has tools to keep things safe. It avoids harmful or inappropriate content, and it adds a label to images so people know they were made with AI.
Easy for Developers to Use
Developers can use GPT Image 1 through OpenAI’s API, which means they can build it into websites, apps, or other tools.
Keeps Characters Consistent
If you’re telling a story or designing a game, GPT Image 1 can keep your characters looking the same across different images
Smart Image Editing (Inpainting)
You can point to a part of an image and tell it exactly what to change — for example, “replace the sky with a sunset,” and it will only edit that part.
What You Can Do with GPT Image 1
GPT Image 1 is super flexible and can be used in many ways, like:
Creating Cool Content
You can point to a part of an image and tell it exactly what to change — for example, “replace the sky with a sunset,” and it will only edit that part.
Designing Products
Quickly sketch out product ideas or create mockups to see what something might look like before it’s made.
Game Development
Design characters, backgrounds, or scenes for games — all from simple text prompts.
Building Interactive Tools
Create apps or tools where users can make and edit images on the spot by just typing what they want.
Helping with Learning and Research
Make clear visuals, diagrams, or educational illustrations to explain ideas better in classrooms or research papers.
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Using GPT Image 1 is simple if you follow these steps:
- Get API access: Sign up for an OpenAI account and obtain an API key.
- Install the OpenAI SDK: In your project environment, install the OpenAI client library (for example, run pip install openai in Python).
- Write your prompt: Describe the image you want in detail, including objects, scene, style, etc. For example: “A golden retriever puppy playing in a park at sunset, photorealistic style.” Clear details help the model generate better results.
- Call the image API: Use a function like openai.images.generate() with model=”gpt-image-1″, your prompt, and an image size (e.g. “1024×1024”).
- Decode the result: The API returns the image in base64-encoded JSON. Convert this base64 string into an actual image file (PNG or JPG) using a standard base64 decoder in your programming language.
- View your image: Once decoded, you can open the image file or use it in your designs. The result is a standard image you can save or display.
For example, in Python you might write:
import openai
openai.api_key = “YOUR_API_KEY”
resp = openai.images.generate(
model=”gpt-image-1″,
prompt=”A sci-fi cityscape at night, ultra-realistic”,
size=”1024×1024″
)
img_data = resp[‘data’][0][‘b64_json’]
# Then decode img_data from base64 to an image file
Output:
GPT Image 1 vs Other AI Image Tools
GPT Image 1 stands out among other popular AI image creators like DALL·E 3, Stable Diffusion, and MidJourney. Here’s how it compares:
- GPT Image 1 vs DALL·E 3
Think of GPT Image 1 as the upgraded version of DALL·E. It’s better at understanding detailed prompts and usually creates more realistic and refined images. It takes everything DALL·E does well and improves on it. - GPT Image 1 vs Stable Diffusion
Stable Diffusion is open-source, meaning anyone can use and even run it on their own computer for free. GPT Image 1, on the other hand, is hosted by OpenAI and used through their API. While Stable Diffusion is great for tech-savvy users who want control, GPT Image 1 offers super high-quality, lifelike images right away — plus it has built-in safety tools to filter content. - GPT Image 1 vs MidJourney
MidJourney is loved for its dreamy, artistic style. If you’re going for something that looks more like a painting or fantasy art, MidJourney is a great pick. GPT Image 1 focuses more on realistic and detailed visuals — perfect if you need images that look like real-life photos or professional designs. - GPT Image 1 vs ChatGPT with Vision
ChatGPT (especially GPT-4o) can also make images, but GPT Image 1 is the dedicated image model used behind the scenes. It’s made specifically for developers to plug into their own apps and services. It uses the same safety features as ChatGPT’s image tool, but is optimized for deeper integration and higher-quality results.
Pricing
Usage of gpt-image-1 is priced per token, with separate pricing for text and image tokens:
Text input tokens (prompt text): $5 per 1M tokens
Image input tokens (input images): $10 per 1M tokens
Image output tokens (generated images): $40 per 1M tokens
Source: OpenAI
Safety First
GPT Image 1 follows strong safety rules, just like the image tools in ChatGPT-4o. It’s designed to avoid creating harmful or inappropriate images. Every image it generates includes special C2PA tags to show it was made using AI.
If you’re a developer, you also get control over how strict the content filtering is. By default, it’s set to “auto” for regular protection, but you can choose “low” if you want it to be less strict.
Also, your privacy is safe — OpenAI doesn’t use your API data to train models, and all image inputs and results follow their official usage guidelines.
Final Thoughts
GPT Image 1 (used in ChatGPT with GPT-4o) makes creating and editing images super easy — all you have to do is describe what you want in plain language. You can turn your ideas into custom visuals, tweak them through chat, and even save your creations for later.
Whether you’re a content creator, designer, teacher, or just someone who loves experimenting with AI, GPT Image 1 gives you a fun and powerful way to be creative. Just open ChatGPT, switch to the image tool, and start typing your ideas — the AI will turn them into pictures in seconds.
Try out different prompts and have fun seeing what it can make
FAQ's
GPT Image 1 API
The GPT Image 1 API allows developers to add image generation features to their own apps or websites. You send a text prompt to the API, and it returns an image based on that description. It’s ideal for apps that need custom visuals on demand.
GPT Image 1 pricing
Text input tokens (prompt text): $5 per 1M tokens
Image input tokens (input images): $10 per 1M tokens
Image output tokens (generated images): $40 per 1M tokens
GPT Image 1 safety features
GPT Image 1 includes strong safety tools. It avoids creating harmful or inappropriate images and adds tags (C2PA metadata) to show they’re made by AI. Developers can also choose how strict the content filtering is.
your privacy is safe — OpenAI doesn’t use your API data to train models, and all image inputs and results follow their official usage guidelines.
GPT Image 1 for developers
Absolutely. Developers can use the GPT Image 1 API to let users create and edit images within their apps. It’s perfect for building creative tools, design platforms, games, or even educational software.
GPT Image 1 image editing
Yes! GPT Image 1 can edit images based on your instructions. You can tell it which part of a photo to change using something called a “mask,” and it will update just that section while keeping the rest as-is.
GPT Image 1 vs DALL·E 3
MidJourney makes very artistic, dreamy, or stylized images. In contrast, GPT Image 1 focuses more on realistic and detailed pictures. If you want real-life looking photos, GPT Image 1 is a better choice. If you prefer fantasy-style artwork, MidJourney is great.
GPT Image 1 vs MidJourney
MidJourney makes very artistic, dreamy, or stylized images. In contrast, GPT Image 1 focuses more on realistic and detailed pictures. If you want real-life looking photos, GPT Image 1 is a better choice. If you prefer fantasy-style artwork, MidJourney is great.
GPT Image 1 vs Stable Diffusion
Stable Diffusion is open-source and free to run on your own computer. GPT Image 1, however, is hosted by OpenAI and is easier to use without setup. GPT Image 1 gives you quick, high-quality results, while Stable Diffusion offers more control if you’re tech-savvy.
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