ByteDance unveils faster Seedream 4.0 for image generation and editing
Key Points
- ByteDance has released Seedream 4.0, an AI system that merges text-to-image generation and image editing, and claims to operate over ten times faster than the previous Seedream 3.0 model.
- The system allows for reference images, native control signals, multi-image workflows, and can produce images up to 4K resolution. It also offers clear rendering of text, tables, and diagrams, and enables edits such as object removal or lighting adjustments through text commands.
- Seedream 4.0 is accessible on ByteDance's Volcano Engine - Ark cloud platform, the Doubao chatbot, and through partners like FAL.ai, Freepik, and Wavespeed.ai. Pricing depends on provider and resolution, with an example cost of 30 US dollars for 1,000 images or 0.03 US dollars per image for partners.
ByteDance's Seedream 4.0 brings text-to-image generation and image editing into a single system.
According to ByteDance, Seedream 4.0 is over ten times faster than Seedream 3.0. The model supports reference images, native control signals, and multi-image workflows. Users can generate images up to 4K resolution with flexible aspect ratios.
Text, tables, and diagrams are supposed to be clearer than before. Users can remove objects or adjust lighting directly with a text prompt. ByteDance reports that Seedream 4.0 takes the top spot in its internal "MagicBench" and "MagicArena" benchmarks for both text-to-image and single-image editing.
Developers and companies can use Seedream 4.0 through the Volcano Engine - Ark cloud platform, which was the first to roll out features like 4K output. The model is also built into ByteDance's Doubao chatbot and is available on no-code partner platforms including FAL.ai, Freepik, and Wavespeed.ai.
Pricing for Seedream 4.0 varies depending on platform and use case. On partner platforms, text-to-image or image editing costs about $0.03 per image, usually for images up to 1024×1024 pixels. Larger formats like 2K or 4K, as well as batch jobs, may cost more. The official Volcano Engine - Ark platform charges 0.2 yuan per image for Seedream 4.0 (about $0.028 at current rates). Pricing details for other regions and packages are available only after logging in or using the price calculator.
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