If you're choosing between Google's Imagen 4 and Black Forest Labs' FLUX for photorealistic images, the useful facts are price, settings and a fair way to compare. On 8frame, Imagen 4 comes in three tiers (Fast 4 credits, standard 8, Ultra 12) and FLUX in two (FLUX.2 [pro] 5, FLUX 1.1 Pro 6). Flux 1.1 Ultra is not available on 8frame. Which looks better depends on your scene, so this page gives you four prompts to run on both.
Correction, 2026-09-30: the first version of this page described a June 2026 test of Imagen 4 against Flux 1.1 Ultra on the 8frame canvas at 4K, with speed and quality verdicts and dollar prices. Flux 1.1 Ultra is not a model on 8frame, neither model has a 4K setting here, and we can't reproduce the test. This version keeps only what we can check.
TL;DR
| Imagen 4 | FLUX | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Black Forest Labs | |
| Versions on 8frame | 4 Fast, 4, 4 Ultra | FLUX.2 [pro], FLUX 1.1 Pro |
| Credits per image | 4 / 8 / 12 | 5 / 6 |
| Shapes | 1:1, 3:4, 4:3, 9:16, 16:9 | 1:1, 3:4, 4:3, 9:16, 16:9, 21:9 |
| Resolution setting | None | FLUX.2 [pro] uses about one-megapixel presets |
- Neither has a 4K setting on 8frame. For 4K images, Nano Banana 2 (22 credits) or Nano Banana Pro (42).
- For a 21:9 banner, FLUX offers it and Imagen doesn't.
- The fair test is your own prompt on both, side by side.
How to compare them fairly
- Use the same prompt, the same shape and one generation each, then a second round if it's close.
- Judge at the size you'll use. A detail you only see at 400% rarely matters.
- Compare on the thing the brief is about: light, texture, faces or edges.
- Budget: one image on each of Imagen 4 Ultra and FLUX 1.1 Pro is 18 credits, about $0.18.
Four prompts to run on both
1. Architecture at blue hour
A minimal concrete house exterior at blue hour, large fixed windows with warm interior light visible from outside, a single path light casting a cone on the stone walkway, surrounding pine forest soft-focused in background, architectural photography, shot on Hasselblad X2D, 28mm f/5.6, ISO 200, 4K
What to compare: Whether the warm windows, the path light's cone and the blue sky keep their separate colours.
2. Portrait in window light
A woman in her early 40s, indirect overcast window light from the right, no fill, high cheekbone shadow, strand-level hair detail in a loose bun, subtle skin texture, no retouching aesthetic, documentary portrait, shot on Sony A7RV, 85mm f/1.4, ISO 200, 4K
What to compare: Skin texture that isn't smoothed, hair detail, and whether the shadow under the cheekbone matches a single window source.
3. Product with caustics
A glass perfume bottle on a white acrylic surface, single overhead softbox at 45 degrees, caustic light refraction through the glass visible on the surface below, white background, product photography, shot on Phase One IQ4, 120mm macro f/8, ISO 50, 4K
What to compare: The caustic light on the surface below the glass and a clean white background around the bottle's edge.
4. Landscape at sunrise
A volcanic black sand beach at sunrise, first light catching the wave crests, dark lava rock formations in the mid-ground with foam pooling in the crevices, no people, wide landscape, shot on Canon R5, 24mm f/8, ISO 100, 4K
What to compare: Wave crests catching first light and foam in the rock crevices without the rocks turning to mush.
Which to pick
| Situation | Starting point on 8frame |
|---|---|
| Many cheap drafts | Imagen 4 Fast (4) or FLUX.2 [pro] (5) |
| Your best Imagen shot | Imagen 4 Ultra (12) |
| Ultra-wide 21:9 frames | FLUX (5 or 6) |
| Legible text in the image | Nano Banana Pro (21) |
| 4K output | Nano Banana 2 (22) or Nano Banana Pro (42) at 4K |
Step-by-step on 8frame
- Open the 8frame canvas and add two image nodes side by side, one Imagen 4, one FLUX.
- Paste the same prompt into both.
- Set the same shape on both.
- Generate, compare at your delivery size, and keep the winner as a reference for the next image.
FAQ
Is Flux 1.1 Ultra on 8frame?
No. FLUX on 8frame is FLUX.2 [pro] (5 credits per image) and FLUX 1.1 Pro (6).
How much does Imagen 4 cost on 8frame?
Imagen 4 Fast is 4 credits per image, Imagen 4 is 8, Imagen 4 Ultra 12. A credit is $0.01 at pack rate.
Which is better for photorealism, Imagen 4 or Flux?
It depends on the scene. Run the four prompts above, or your own, on both; one image each costs from 9 credits (Imagen 4 Fast plus FLUX.2 [pro]).
Sources
- 8frame image models, prices, shapes and settings: the 8frame tool registry and aspect-ratio configuration, 2026-09-30
Same prompt, same shape, your eyes. The 8frame canvas is free and unlimited; generation is paid from $19/month.