How to Generate AI Images: A Practical Guide for 2026
How to Generate AI Images on Magicdoor
Magicdoor gives you access to 9 image generation models from multiple providers — all in one interface, all pay-per-image. No separate subscriptions, no credits to manage, no waitlists.
This guide walks you through the entire process: picking the right model, writing effective prompts, editing and upscaling images, and keeping costs low.
Quick Start: Generate Your First Image
- Open a chat on Magicdoor
- Select an image model from the model dropdown (or stay on a chat model — see below)
- Describe the image you want in plain language
- Magicdoor generates the image and displays it in the chat
- Download, regenerate, or refine from there
You can generate images two ways:
- Image models directly — Select an image model like Flux 2 Pro or Seedream 4.5 from the dropdown and type your prompt
- From any chat model — While chatting with Claude, GPT, or any text model, use the image generation tool. The chat model helps refine your prompt before generating.
Choosing the Right Image Model
The model you pick determines quality, style, speed, and cost. Here is how they compare:
| Model | Cost/Image | Best for | Key strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seedream 4.5 | $0.03 | General purpose, cinematic | Best value — high quality at lowest cost |
| Google Nano Banana | $0.039 | Fast versatile generation | Good all-rounder, fast output |
| Recraft V3 | $0.04 | Illustration, logos, design | Style presets, vector-quality output |
| Flux Kontext Pro | $0.04 | Editing existing images | Purpose-built for targeted edits |
| Flux 2 Pro | $0.05 | Photorealism | Most consistently realistic output |
| Imagen 4 | $0.05 | Text in images, polished scenes | Reliable text rendering |
| ChatGPT Image | $0.08 | Complex scenes, text in images | Strongest prompt understanding |
| Recraft Upscaler | $0.006 | Enhancing existing images | Cheapest way to improve resolution |
Rule of thumb: Start with Seedream 4.5 ($0.03). If the result does not meet your needs, move up to Flux 2 Pro ($0.05) or ChatGPT Image ($0.08). For a deeper comparison, see our image model comparison and best AI image generators guide.
Writing Effective Image Prompts
The quality of your prompt determines the quality of your image. Here is how to write prompts that work:
The anatomy of a good prompt
A strong prompt includes four elements:
- Subject — What is in the image (a golden retriever, a mountain landscape, a logo)
- Style — How it should look (photorealistic, watercolor, minimalist, cinematic)
- Composition — How the scene is arranged (close-up, wide shot, bird's eye view, centered)
- Mood/lighting — The atmosphere (warm golden hour, dramatic shadows, soft diffused light)
Examples: weak vs. strong prompts
| Weak prompt | Strong prompt | Why it is better |
|---|---|---|
| a cat | A tabby cat sitting on a windowsill, afternoon sunlight streaming through lace curtains, soft bokeh background, pet photography style | Specifies breed, setting, lighting, and style |
| a logo | Minimalist logo for a coffee shop called "Roast," clean vector style, earth tones, white background, modern sans-serif typography | Specifies style, colors, subject, and design direction |
| a landscape | Aerial view of terraced rice fields in morning mist, lush green with water reflections, drone photography style, golden hour lighting | Specifies viewpoint, time of day, atmosphere, and photography style |
Let Magicdoor enhance your prompts
You do not need to master prompt engineering. Magicdoor's automatic prompt enhancement takes your basic description and adds the technical details that models respond to — lighting terms, composition guidance, and style references. Write what you want in plain language, and the system handles the rest.
Step-by-Step Workflows
Workflow 1: Create a Social Media Image
- Pick your model — Seedream 4.5 for general content, ChatGPT Image if you need text overlays
- Write your prompt — Describe the scene and specify the aspect ratio (e.g., "square format for Instagram" or "16:9 for Twitter header")
- Generate — Review the result. If close but not right, adjust your prompt and regenerate
- Upscale if needed — Use Recraft Upscaler ($0.006) to increase resolution for print or high-DPI displays
- Download — Click the download button on the generated image
Cost: $0.03–0.09 per final image, depending on model and regenerations.
Workflow 2: Design a Logo or Brand Asset
- Start with Recraft V3 ($0.04) — It has built-in style presets and produces clean, design-oriented output
- Be specific about style — Include terms like "minimalist," "vector," "flat design," or "geometric" in your prompt
- Specify colors — Name exact colors or palettes: "navy blue and gold," "monochrome," "pastel earth tones"
- Iterate — Logos usually take 3–5 generations to get right. At $0.04 each, that is $0.12–0.20 total
- Upscale — Run the best result through Recraft Upscaler for a high-resolution final version
Cost: $0.15–0.25 for a polished logo concept.
Workflow 3: Generate Photorealistic Images
- Use Flux 2 Pro ($0.05) — Most consistently photorealistic output
- Use photography language — Terms like "35mm lens," "shallow depth of field," "studio lighting," "golden hour" guide the model toward realism
- Avoid contradictions — Do not mix photorealistic terms with illustration styles
- Refine — If a specific area needs fixing, switch to Flux Kontext Pro to edit just that part of the image without regenerating from scratch
Cost: $0.05–0.15 per final image.
Workflow 4: Edit an Existing Image
- Upload your image to the Magicdoor chat
- Select Flux Kontext Pro ($0.04) — Purpose-built for image editing
- Describe the change — "Change the background to a sunset beach," "Remove the person on the left," "Make the shirt blue instead of red"
- Review and iterate — Targeted edits are more predictable than full generation, so you usually need fewer attempts
Cost: $0.04 per edit.
Workflow 5: Batch Content Creation
For creating multiple related images (e.g., a series of blog illustrations):
- Start with your cheapest option — Seedream 4.5 at $0.03/image
- Establish a style template — Write a base prompt with consistent style terms, then swap out only the subject for each image
- Generate in bulk — At $0.03 per image, 20 images costs $0.60
- Upgrade selectively — If a few images need higher quality, regenerate only those with Flux 2 Pro or ChatGPT Image
Cost: $0.60–1.50 for 20 images.
Cost-Saving Tips
Try the cheapest model first. Seedream 4.5 at $0.03 per image is genuinely good. Many users find it sufficient for 70–80% of their needs. Only move to more expensive models when the result visibly falls short.
Use the Recraft Upscaler. Generating a cheap image and upscaling it ($0.03 + $0.006 = $0.036) is cheaper than generating a high-quality image from scratch ($0.05–0.08) — and often produces comparable results.
Refine your prompt before regenerating. Each generation costs money. Spend a few seconds improving your prompt rather than generating five versions and hoping one works.
Use prompt enhancement. Magicdoor's automatic enhancement often produces better results on the first try, reducing the need for regenerations.
Match the model to the task. Do not use ChatGPT Image ($0.08) for a quick social media graphic when Seedream ($0.03) would work. Reserve premium models for work where the quality difference genuinely matters.
For more cost strategies across all of Magicdoor, see our guide to saving money on AI.
Image Generation vs. Chat Models: When to Use Which
You might wonder whether to generate images directly or ask a chat model to help:
Use an image model directly when you already know what you want. Write the prompt, generate, done.
Use a chat model first when you need help figuring out what to generate. Describe your goal to Claude or GPT-5.4, and ask it to write an optimized image prompt for you. Then switch to an image model to generate it. This is especially useful for complex scenes or when you are not sure how to describe what you envision.
FAQs
Which image model should I start with?
Seedream 4.5. At $0.03 per image it is the best value, and the quality is strong enough for most use cases. Move to Flux 2 Pro ($0.05) for photorealism or ChatGPT Image ($0.08) for complex scenes with text. See our complete image model comparison for detailed guidance.
How much does AI image generation cost on Magicdoor?
Between $0.006 and $0.08 per image depending on the model. There are no bundles or credit packs — you pay per image at the listed price. A typical user generating 5–10 images per week spends $1–3/month on images. Check the model cost page for current pricing.
Can I edit images after generating them?
Yes. Upload the generated image back into the chat and use Flux Kontext Pro ($0.04) to make targeted edits — change colors, remove objects, swap backgrounds. You can also upscale any image with Recraft Upscaler ($0.006).
Do I need to learn prompt engineering?
Not really. Magicdoor's automatic prompt enhancement adds technical details to your plain-language descriptions. That said, a few basics help: be specific about what you want, mention a style, and describe the lighting or mood. The prompts section above covers everything you need.
Can I use generated images commercially?
Image usage rights depend on the model provider's terms of service. Most models (Flux, Recraft, Seedream, Imagen) allow commercial use of generated images. Check the specific model provider's current terms for your use case.
How do Magicdoor's image models compare to Midjourney?
Midjourney requires a separate $10–60/month subscription and runs through Discord. Magicdoor gives you access to 9 image models with pay-per-image pricing — no additional subscription needed. For most users, Flux 2 Pro and ChatGPT Image produce results comparable to Midjourney, often at lower total cost. See our best AI image generators comparison.
Ready to start generating? Try Magicdoor — access 9 image models starting at $0.03 per image, all included in your $6/month subscription.
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