Model Comparison

Seedream V4.5 vs ImagineArt 1.5 Pro

A comparison between ByteDance's versatile 4K flagship and ImagineArt's professional-grade realism model. Seedream offers speed, flexible resolution, and image-to-image capabilities. ImagineArt 1.5 Pro delivers 4K native output with enhanced text rendering and ultra-high-fidelity photorealism. Both target professional workflows but with different feature priorities.

Comparison7 min read
Background

Two Premium Approaches to Professional Quality

Seedream V4.5 is ByteDance's flagship image generation model, representing their most capable offering to date. With an ELO score around 1147, it positions itself as a versatile premium option. The model excels through its combination of speed, feature set, and resolution flexibility—generating images in approximately 2.5 seconds with support for 1K, 2K, and 4K output. Notable features include image-to-image capabilities and built-in prompt enhancement, all at a flat rate regardless of resolution choice.

ImagineArt 1.5 Pro is the professional tier of ImagineArt's realism-focused lineup. With an ELO score around 1165, it benchmarks notably higher than Seedream V4.5 in quality rankings. The Pro version builds on ImagineArt 1.5's foundation with two key upgrades: native 4K output resolution and enhanced text rendering capabilities. At roughly 13% more than Seedream's pricing, it offers specialized professional features for a modest premium.

The models represent different philosophies. Seedream V4.5 prioritizes versatility—offering image editing workflows, prompt enhancement, and fast generation. ImagineArt 1.5 Pro takes a more specialized approach, focusing on maximum photographic fidelity and text accuracy for professional applications. This specialization can produce more refined results in scenarios where those specific qualities matter most.

Pricing is nearly comparable—ImagineArt 1.5 Pro costs about 13% more than Seedream V4.5. The decision often comes down to whether you need Seedream's image-to-image workflows and faster generation, or whether ImagineArt Pro's higher benchmark scores, superior text rendering, and native 4K resolution justify the slight cost increase for your professional work.

Tip: Choose Seedream V4.5 for image-to-image workflows, faster generation times, or when you benefit from prompt enhancement. Choose ImagineArt 1.5 Pro for maximum quality benchmarks, superior text rendering, and native 4K photorealistic output.

Side by Side

Visual Comparison

Compare outputs from both models using identical prompts. Look for differences in fine detail rendering, text accuracy, and overall photographic quality.

PromptSeedream V4.5ImagineArt 1.5 Pro
PortraitClose-up portrait of a jewelry designer examining a gemstone under a loupe, intense concentration, workshop lighting creating sparkles on surrounding gems, professional documentary photography
Seedream V4.5 - Portrait
Model: seedream-v4.5
Close-up portrait of a jewelry designer examining a gemstone under a loupe, intense concentration, workshop lighting creating sparkles on surrounding gems, professional documentary photography
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro - Portrait
Model: imagineart-1.5-pro-preview
Close-up portrait of a jewelry designer examining a gemstone under a loupe, intense concentration, workshop lighting creating sparkles on surrounding gems, professional documentary photography
ProductLuxury Swiss watch on dark slate, precision macro photography showing intricate dial details and brushed steel finish, high-end product photography with dramatic rim lighting
Seedream V4.5 - Product
Model: seedream-v4.5
Luxury Swiss watch on dark slate, precision macro photography showing intricate dial details and brushed steel finish, high-end product photography with dramatic rim lighting
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro - Product
Model: imagineart-1.5-pro-preview
Luxury Swiss watch on dark slate, precision macro photography showing intricate dial details and brushed steel finish, high-end product photography with dramatic rim lighting
ArchitectureModern art museum interior with curved white walls, visitors viewing contemporary sculptures, natural light streaming through skylights, architectural photography with human scale
Seedream V4.5 - Architecture
Model: seedream-v4.5
Modern art museum interior with curved white walls, visitors viewing contemporary sculptures, natural light streaming through skylights, architectural photography with human scale
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro - Architecture
Model: imagineart-1.5-pro-preview
Modern art museum interior with curved white walls, visitors viewing contemporary sculptures, natural light streaming through skylights, architectural photography with human scale
NatureJapanese maple tree in peak autumn color, morning dew on leaves catching golden sunrise light, serene garden setting, fine art nature photography with exceptional detail
Seedream V4.5 - Nature
Model: seedream-v4.5
Japanese maple tree in peak autumn color, morning dew on leaves catching golden sunrise light, serene garden setting, fine art nature photography with exceptional detail
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro - Nature
Model: imagineart-1.5-pro-preview
Japanese maple tree in peak autumn color, morning dew on leaves catching golden sunrise light, serene garden setting, fine art nature photography with exceptional detail
FashionFashion editorial of a model in structured avant-garde clothing, minimalist studio setting with gradient background, high fashion photography with dramatic pose and lighting
Seedream V4.5 - Fashion
Model: seedream-v4.5
Fashion editorial of a model in structured avant-garde clothing, minimalist studio setting with gradient background, high fashion photography with dramatic pose and lighting
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro - Fashion
Model: imagineart-1.5-pro-preview
Fashion editorial of a model in structured avant-garde clothing, minimalist studio setting with gradient background, high fashion photography with dramatic pose and lighting

New to ImageGPT?

ImageGPT provides access to both Seedream V4.5 and ImagineArt 1.5 Pro through a single API. Compare both premium models with your own prompts to find the right balance of features and quality for your professional needs. Start with a 7-day free trial.

Recommendations

When to Use Each Model

Both models target professional workflows—Seedream with versatility and speed, ImagineArt Pro with maximum quality and text rendering.

ImagineArt 1.5 Pro

  • Maximum quality photorealistic output
  • Professional text rendering requirements
  • Native 4K resolution for print work
  • Fashion and luxury product photography
  • Editorial content requiring authentic feel
  • Projects where benchmark quality matters

Seedream V4.5

  • Image-to-image editing and variations
  • Faster turnaround times (~2.5s vs ~4s)
  • Projects benefiting from prompt enhancement
  • Flexible resolution requirements
  • Volume production at consistent quality
  • Workflows requiring reference image input
Deep Dive

Professional Portraits

Testing high-fidelity human rendering for commercial and editorial use.

Seedream V4.5
"Executive portrait in a corner office, floor-to-ceiling wind..."
Seedream V4.5 result
Model: seedream-v4.5
Executive portrait in a corner office, floor-to-ceiling windows with city skyline, confident pose with subtle smile, professional corporate photography with soft directional lighting
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro
"Executive portrait in a corner office, floor-to-ceiling wind..."
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro result
Model: imagineart-1.5-pro-preview
Executive portrait in a corner office, floor-to-ceiling windows with city skyline, confident pose with subtle smile, professional corporate photography with soft directional lighting

Professional portraiture for corporate and editorial use demands exceptional skin rendering, natural expression capture, and sophisticated environmental integration. The executive portrait tests each model's ability to handle complex window lighting, maintain detail in both subject and background, and convey authentic human presence.

In our testing, ImagineArt 1.5 Pro tended to produce portraits with marginally finer skin detail and more natural-looking expressions. Seedream V4.5 delivered excellent results as well, with slightly faster generation and comparable overall quality. For high-stakes corporate photography where every detail matters, ImagineArt Pro's slight quality edge may justify the extra time and cost.

Note: For executive portraits and professional headshots where maximum quality is essential, ImagineArt 1.5 Pro's higher benchmark scores translate to subtle but meaningful improvements in skin rendering and expression authenticity.

Deep Dive

Luxury Product Photography

Comparing high-end commercial product rendering and material quality.

Seedream V4.5
"Luxury fountain pen on Italian marble, precision macro showi..."
Seedream V4.5 result
Model: seedream-v4.5
Luxury fountain pen on Italian marble, precision macro showing gold nib details and lacquer finish, high-end product photography with carefully controlled reflections and shadows
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro
"Luxury fountain pen on Italian marble, precision macro showi..."
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro result
Model: imagineart-1.5-pro-preview
Luxury fountain pen on Italian marble, precision macro showing gold nib details and lacquer finish, high-end product photography with carefully controlled reflections and shadows

Luxury product photography requires exceptional material rendering, precise control of reflections and highlights, and attention to microscopic surface details. A fountain pen on marble tests each model's ability to render multiple challenging materials—metal, lacquer, and stone—while maintaining commercial photography standards.

Both models excelled at product photography. ImagineArt 1.5 Pro produced slightly more refined material differentiation, with particularly convincing metallic reflections. Seedream V4.5 handled the same challenge well with marginally more saturated colors. For luxury brand photography where material authenticity is paramount, ImagineArt Pro's specialization showed through.

Deep Dive

Text Rendering Quality

Comparing text accuracy and legibility in generated images.

Seedream V4.5
"Vintage bookstore window display with hand-painted sign read..."
Seedream V4.5 result
Model: seedream-v4.5
Vintage bookstore window display with hand-painted sign reading 'Rare Books & First Editions', morning light illuminating gold leaf lettering, nostalgic urban photography
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro
"Vintage bookstore window display with hand-painted sign read..."
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro result
Model: imagineart-1.5-pro-preview
Vintage bookstore window display with hand-painted sign reading 'Rare Books & First Editions', morning light illuminating gold leaf lettering, nostalgic urban photography

Text rendering is a key differentiator between these models. ImagineArt 1.5 Pro includes enhanced text capabilities as a specific upgrade over the standard version. The bookstore sign test requires accurate multi-word rendering, proper letter spacing, and integration with the vintage aesthetic of the scene.

ImagineArt 1.5 Pro consistently produced more accurate and legible text across our testing. Letters were better formed, spacing was more consistent, and the text integrated more naturally with the image style. Seedream V4.5 handled shorter text reasonably well but showed more variability with longer passages. For signage, packaging mockups, or any text-heavy applications, ImagineArt Pro is the stronger choice.

Tip: When your images require readable text—signage, book covers, product labels—ImagineArt 1.5 Pro's enhanced text rendering produces noticeably more accurate results.

Deep Dive

Fashion Editorial

Testing high-fashion photography and fabric rendering.

Seedream V4.5
"Fashion editorial of a model in flowing silk evening gown, d..."
Seedream V4.5 result
Model: seedream-v4.5
Fashion editorial of a model in flowing silk evening gown, dramatic wind effect, minimalist grey backdrop, high fashion photography capturing fabric movement and texture
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro
"Fashion editorial of a model in flowing silk evening gown, d..."
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro result
Model: imagineart-1.5-pro-preview
Fashion editorial of a model in flowing silk evening gown, dramatic wind effect, minimalist grey backdrop, high fashion photography capturing fabric movement and texture

Fashion photography demands exceptional fabric rendering, dynamic pose generation, and the ability to capture movement and flow. The silk gown test challenges each model to render delicate material physics, subtle color gradients, and the interplay of light through semi-transparent fabric.

ImagineArt 1.5 Pro produced fashion imagery with slightly more refined fabric detail and more natural-looking movement. The silk rendering showed better translucency and light interaction. Seedream V4.5 generated compelling fashion photography with marginally more dramatic contrast and slightly stylized fabric behavior. For fashion lookbooks and editorial content, ImagineArt Pro's photographic naturalism often proved more suitable.

Deep Dive

Speed vs Quality Trade-offs

Understanding when generation time matters and when quality is paramount.

Seedream V4.5: ~2.5s, image-to-image support
"Interior design visualization of a modern living room, floor..."
Seedream V4.5: ~2.5s, image-to-image support result
Model: seedream-v4.5
Interior design visualization of a modern living room, floor-to-ceiling windows, designer furniture, morning light creating long shadows, architectural photography
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro: ~4s, text-to-image only
"Interior design visualization of a modern living room, floor..."
ImagineArt 1.5 Pro: ~4s, text-to-image only result
Model: imagineart-1.5-pro-preview
Interior design visualization of a modern living room, floor-to-ceiling windows, designer furniture, morning light creating long shadows, architectural photography

The core trade-off between these models is Seedream's versatility and speed versus ImagineArt Pro's specialized quality. Seedream generates 60% faster (~2.5s vs ~4s) and supports image-to-image workflows. ImagineArt Pro scores higher on benchmarks and excels at text rendering but lacks editing capabilities.

For iterative creative workflows—exploring variations, refining concepts, using reference images—Seedream's speed and image-to-image support provide practical advantages. For final deliverables where maximum quality matters—client presentations, print materials, published content—ImagineArt Pro's benchmark superiority and text accuracy justify the slower generation and modest cost premium.

Note: Consider your workflow: Seedream for iteration and exploration with image-to-image support, ImagineArt Pro for final production where benchmark quality and text accuracy matter most.

Specifications

Feature Comparison

Technical specifications comparing ByteDance's versatile flagship versus ImagineArt's professional-grade model.

FeatureSeedream V4.5ImagineArt 1.5 Pro
Release20252025
ArchitectureByteDance proprietaryImagineArt proprietary
CreatorByteDanceImagineArt
Image qualityExcellentExcellent
Text renderingGoodExcellent
PhotorealismExcellentExcellent
ELO score~1147~1165
Generation speed~2.5s~4s
Cost per imageLower (baseline)~13% higher
Image input support
Aspect ratio options8 ratios9 ratios
Resolution options1K/2K/4K4K native
Prompt enhancement
Try It Yourself

Try Seedream V4.5

Generate your own images to experience the differences firsthand. Try fashion and product prompts to test professional rendering, or prompts with text to compare typography quality.

Generated visual
https://demo.imagegpt.host/image?prompt=Professional+fashion+photograph+of+a+model+in+a+haute+couture+gown%2C+dramatic+studio+lighting+with+soft+shadows%2C+luxury+fashion+editorial+style%2C+4K+quality&model=seedream-4.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Versatility and speed or
maximum professional quality?