Image quality tiers and credits
DesignGen has four image quality tiers: Light, Standard, Ultra and Ultra Max. Ultra Max also has a Signature lane. Each tier has one price everywhere in DesignGen, and an edit costs the same as a new image at the same settings.
At a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Best for | Choosing a tier for a job and knowing what it will cost before you generate. |
| Start here | In Creative Studio, open Settings and choose a Model. |
| Outcome | The right tier for the job, with the credit total shown before you start the generation. |
Open it now
Which tier to use
| Tier | In the picker | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Fast drafts | Trying concepts, layouts and wording quickly. Results are flat and simpler, so judge the idea, not the finish. |
| Standard | Everyday artwork, up to 2K | Everyday finals such as tees, social posts and flyers. |
| Ultra | Polished detail, up to 4K | Finals where clean edges and crisp lettering matter. |
| Ultra Max | Finest detail and real transparency | Real transparent PNGs, and art with fine linework or dense detail. Choose the Signature lane for the most refined finish. |
A practical workflow: explore on Light, pick a direction, make the final on Standard or Ultra, and use Ultra Max when you need a transparent PNG or the finest detail.
Credits per image
Prices are per image. A batch costs the price of one image times the number of images.
| Tier | 1K | 2K | 4K | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 3 | 3 | 3 | One size, about 2.5 MP, at any size you pick. |
| Standard | 10 | 10 | 10 | Tops out at 2K. A 4K request runs at 2K. |
| Ultra | 15 | 22 | 40 | 1K, 2K or 4K. |
Ultra Max and Signature
Ultra Max is priced by size and detail level, from 15 to 130 credits an image. Signature costs 1.5× the matching Ultra Max price, rounded up, at every detail level, including MAX.
| Detail | Ultra Max 1K | Ultra Max 2K | Ultra Max 4K | Signature 1K | Signature 2K | Signature 4K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low or Medium | 15 | 20 | 40 | 23 | 30 | 60 |
| High | 23 | 30 | 60 | 35 | 45 | 90 |
| Ultra High | 30 | 40 | 80 | 45 | 60 | 120 |
| MAX | 65 | 75 | 130 | 98 | 113 | 195 |
Example: Four Ultra images at 2K cost 4 × 22 = 88 credits. Four Light drafts cost 4 × 3 = 12 credits.
Sizes
- Light makes one size, about 2.5 MP. The price is the same whichever size you pick.
- Standard tops out at 2K. A 4K request runs at 2K and is priced at 2K.
- Ultra and Ultra Max make 1K, 2K or 4K.
- In Creative Studio the output sizes are named Standard (1K), HighRes (2K) and UltraRes (4K). The size called Standard is not the Standard tier.
- HighRes needs a paid plan. UltraRes needs Pro or Enterprise.
Edits cost the same as new images
- An edit, a generation from a reference image and a screenshot-to-design cost the same as a new image at the same tier, size, detail and lane.
- When the layout is close and one thing is wrong, edit the image instead of generating again. You keep what already works for the same credits.
One price everywhere
Each tier has one price wherever you use it: Creative Studio, Image Studio, the editors, the mobile app and the DesignGen apps inside AI chat assistants.
Transparent backgrounds
- Real transparent PNGs come only from Ultra Max, including the Signature lane.
- Light, Standard and Ultra return a solid background when you ask for transparency.
- For transparent artwork, make the final on Ultra Max. See Create and edit transparent PNG artwork with Ultra Max.
Plan access
| Option | Available on |
|---|---|
| Light, Standard and Ultra | All plans |
| Ultra Max at Low, Medium or High detail | All plans |
| Ultra Max at Ultra High detail | Paid plans |
| Ultra Max Signature | Paid plans |
| Ultra Max at MAX detail | Pro and Enterprise |
| HighRes (2K) output in Creative Studio | Paid plans |
| UltraRes (4K) output in Creative Studio | Pro and Enterprise |
Locked options show a lock and the plan they need. See plans.
Art direction by tier
- Light, Standard and Ultra always use standard art direction.
- Pro art direction runs only on Ultra Max. It is always on for Pro and Enterprise. On other plans, Ultra Max gets it while your free Pro art-direction passes last.
- Light, Standard and Ultra never use a pass. See Free Pro art direction passes.
See the cost before you generate
- Open a session in Creative Studio.
- Open Settings to show the Generation settings panel.
- Choose the model, size, detail and number of images.
- Read the bottom of the panel. It shows the image count, the output size, the model and the credit total, labeled Generation total. The total updates as you change settings.
- Select Done. Settings apply to your next generation.
When you reach a daily or weekly limit
In the create designer and the mobile app, when a Free, Hobbyist or Creator account reaches its daily or weekly limit, generation can continue on Light at no credit cost: up to 400 images a month on Free, 800 on Hobbyist, and unlimited on Creator. Creative Studio and Image Studio stop at the limit instead.
| Plan | Light at no credit cost after the limit (create designer and mobile app only) |
|---|---|
| Free | Up to 400 images a month |
| Hobbyist | Up to 800 images a month |
| Creator | Unlimited |
| Pro | Pro has no daily or weekly limits |
Troubleshooting
| Issue | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| I chose 4K on Standard and got a 2K file | Standard tops out at 2K. The request ran and was priced at 2K. | For a 4K file, use Ultra or Ultra Max at UltraRes (Pro or Enterprise). |
| I asked for a transparent background and got a solid one | Only Ultra Max makes real transparent PNGs. | Make the image on Ultra Max. |
| Ultra High, MAX, Signature, HighRes or UltraRes is locked | Your plan does not include that option. | Ultra High, Signature and HighRes need a paid plan. MAX and UltraRes need Pro or Enterprise. See plans. |
| An edit cost as much as a new image | Edits cost the same as a new image at the same settings. | Choose the tier and size for the edit the same way you would for a new image. |
| Ultra added a frame or background I did not ask for | This can happen on Ultra. | Ask for "a plain background, no border, no frame", or edit the frame out. |
| Creative Studio stopped at my daily limit | Creative Studio and Image Studio stop at the limit. They do not continue on Light. | Wait for the limit to reset, or see plans. |