---
title: Image Generation API for Developers — REST Endpoint for Stable Diffusion, Flux & SDXL | ModelsLab
description: Production image generation REST API for developers. POST /api/v6/images/text2img with Stable Diffusion, Flux, SDXL and 10,000+ models. Python, JS, cURL examples. 2-5s latency, $0.002/image. Free API key — no credit card.
url: https://modelslab.com/image-generation-api
canonical: https://modelslab.com/image-generation-api
type: website
component: Seo/ImageGenerationApi
generated_at: 2026-06-08T05:31:12.007709Z
---
Imagen
AI Image Generation API for Developers
---
ModelsLab's Image Generation API provides access to 10,000+ AI models including Flux, SDXL, and Stable Diffusion 3 through a single REST endpoint. Image generation starts at $0.002 per image — up to 20x cheaper than DALL-E 3. Average latency is 2-4 seconds with throughput of 1,000+ requests per minute. Get a free API key to start generating images in under 5 minutes.
[Get Image Generation API Key](https://modelslab.com/register) [API Documentation](https://docs.modelslab.com)
What is ModelsLab's AI Image Generation API?
---
### Enterprise-Grade AI Image Generation API
ModelsLab provides the most comprehensive AI image generation API available, giving developers access to over 10,000 AI models through a single REST endpoint. The API supports Stable Diffusion (SDXL, SD 1.5, SD 3.0), Flux, DALL-E compatible models, and thousands of community fine-tuned variants — all without managing GPU infrastructure.
Unlike closed APIs from OpenAI or Leonardo AI that limit you to a single model, ModelsLab lets you switch between any model with a single parameter change. Run photorealistic SDXL for product photos, anime-optimized models for illustrations, or your own DreamBooth-trained models for branded content — all through the same API endpoint.
ModelsLab processes millions of image generations monthly for over 50,000 developers worldwide. The platform handles model loading, GPU allocation, auto-scaling, and failover automatically, so you can focus on building your application instead of managing AI infrastructure.
### Supported Image Generation Capabilities
The ModelsLab AI image generation API supports a comprehensive set of image creation and editing workflows:
- Text-to-Image — Generate images from natural language prompts with full control over style, composition, resolution, and artistic direction
- Image-to-Image — Transform existing images with AI-guided modifications, style transfers, and compositional changes
- Inpainting — Edit specific regions of images by masking areas and providing text prompts for AI-powered replacement
- Outpainting — Extend image boundaries to create wider or taller compositions while maintaining visual coherence
- ControlNet — Guide generation with reference images for pose, depth, edge, and composition control
- Upscaling — Enhance image resolution up to 8K using Real-ESRGAN and other super-resolution models
- Background Removal — Remove and replace backgrounds from product photos and portraits using AI segmentation
- Face Swap — Replace faces in images while preserving lighting, angle, and expression matching
Trusted by
1B+
Images Processed Monthly
500K+
Active Developers
5K+
Discord Community Members
300+
Available AI APIs
AI Image Generation API Quick Start
---
Start generating images in seconds with simple REST API calls.
### Generate an image with Python
Python
```
1import requests
2
3url = "https://modelslab.com/api/v7/images/text-to-image"
4payload = {
5 "key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
6 "model_id": "flux",
7 "prompt": "professional product photography of a sneaker, studio lighting, white background",
8 "negative_prompt": "blurry, distorted, low quality",
9 "width": 1024,
10 "height": 1024,
11 "samples": 4,
12 "num_inference_steps": 25,
13 "guidance_scale": 7.5
14}
15
16response = requests.post(url, json=payload)
17data = response.json()
18
19# data["output"] contains a list of generated image URLs
20for i, url in enumerate(data["output"]):
21 print(f"Image {i+1}: {url}")
```
### Image-to-Image transformation
Python
```
1import requests
2
3url = "https://modelslab.com/api/v7/images/image-to-image"
4payload = {
5 "key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
6 "model_id": "sdxl",
7 "init_image": "https://example.com/input-image.jpg",
8 "prompt": "transform into watercolor painting style",
9 "strength": 0.7,
10 "guidance_scale": 7.5,
11 "samples": 1
12}
13
14response = requests.post(url, json=payload)
15data = response.json()
16print(data["output"][0]) # Transformed image URL
```
### Generate with JavaScript (Node.js)
JavaScript
```
1const response = await fetch('https://modelslab.com/api/v7/images/text-to-image', {
2 method: 'POST',
3 headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
4 body: JSON.stringify({
5 key: 'YOUR_API_KEY',
6 model_id: 'flux',
7 prompt: 'professional product photography of a sneaker, studio lighting',
8 width: 1024,
9 height: 1024,
10 samples: 4
11 })
12});
13
14const data = await response.json();
15// data.output = array of generated image URLs
16data.output.forEach((url, i) => console.log(`Image ${i+1}: ${url}`));
```
One API, 10,000+ Image Generation Models
---
Access the largest collection of AI image models through a single API. Generate, edit, transform, and upscale images at enterprise scale.
Text-to-Image Generation Generate images from text prompts using Stable Diffusion, Flux, SDXL, and thousands of community-trained models. Control style, composition, and detail through natural language descriptions.
Image-to-Image Transformation Transform existing images with AI. Apply style transfers, modify compositions, change artistic styles, and enhance details while preserving the original structure and layout.
Inpainting and Editing Edit specific regions of an image using AI. Remove objects, replace backgrounds, fill missing areas, and make targeted edits with mask-based inpainting through API calls.
Upscaling and Enhancement Upscale images to 4K and 8K resolution without quality loss. Enhance details, reduce noise, and sharpen images with AI-powered super-resolution models.
Everything developers need to build image-powered applications.
[Start Free Trial](https://modelslab.com/register)
AI Image Generation API Comparison
---
How ModelsLab compares to other AI image generation API providers.
| Feature | ModelsLab | OpenAI (DALL-E) | Leonardo AI | xAI (Grok) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Models Available | 10,000+ | 1 (DALL-E 3) | ~50 | 1 (Grok) |
| Open Source Models | Yes | No | Limited | No |
| Custom Model Training | DreamBooth | No | Yes | No |
| ControlNet | Full Suite | No | Limited | No |
| Image-to-Image | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Inpainting | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Starting Price | $0.002/image | $0.040/image | $0.004/image | Included |
| Unlimited Plan | $29/mo | No | $48/mo | $25/mo |
| Parallel Generation | Up to 15 | 1 | Up to 8 | 1 |
| Self-Hosted Option | Enterprise | No | No | No |
Data as of February 2026. Pricing based on publicly available information.
Popular image API guides
---
[### GPT-4o Image Generation API
Alternative page for developers looking for OpenAI-style image workflows.](https://modelslab.com/gpt-4o-image-generation-api) [### ChatGPT Image Generation API
Guide for teams moving from chat-style image prompting into repeatable API integrations.](https://modelslab.com/chatgpt-image-generation-api) [### Stable Diffusion API
Go deeper on open image models, model choice, and production image generation.](https://modelslab.com/stable-diffusion-api)
How to Use the AI Image Generation API
---
Generate your first AI image in under 5 minutes.
STEP 01
STEP 01
### Step 1: Get Your API Key
Create a free ModelsLab account and generate your API key. No credit card required — the free tier includes image generation credits to get started.
STEP 02
STEP 02
### Step 2: Choose a Model and Prompt
Select from Stable Diffusion, Flux, SDXL, or any community model. Send a POST request with your text prompt, model ID, and generation parameters like resolution and seed.
STEP 03
STEP 03
### Step 3: Get Your Images
Receive generated images as URLs or base64 data within 2-5 seconds. Download them directly or serve to your users. Generate up to 15 images per request.
[Start Generating Images ](https://modelslab.com/register)
### AI Image Generation API Pricing
ModelsLab offers the most competitive pricing for AI image generation APIs. Pay-as-you-go pricing starts at $0.002 per image — up to 20x cheaper than OpenAI DALL-E 3. For high-volume users, the unlimited plan at $29 per month provides unlimited access to all image generation models including SDXL, Flux, and community models.
All plans include a free tier with 100 API calls per day, making it easy to evaluate the API before committing. Enterprise plans with dedicated GPU instances, custom SLAs, and priority support start at $299 per month.
### API Response Format
The ModelsLab AI image generation API returns a consistent JSON response for all endpoints. Generated images are returned as publicly accessible URLs that remain available for 24 hours, or as base64-encoded data for direct embedding. The API supports synchronous and asynchronous generation modes — for synchronous requests, images are returned in the response; for asynchronous requests, use the fetch endpoint with the returned request\_id to retrieve completed images.
### Integration and SDKs
ModelsLab provides official SDKs and integration guides for popular languages and frameworks:
- Python SDK — pip install modelslab — Full API coverage with async support and type hints
- JavaScript/TypeScript — npm install modelslab — Works with Node.js, Deno, and browser environments
- REST API — Standard HTTP endpoints compatible with any language (cURL, Ruby, Go, Java, PHP, etc.)
- Webhook Callbacks — Receive completion notifications via HTTP webhooks for async processing pipelines
- Postman Collection — Pre-built API collection for interactive testing and exploration
Why ModelsLab for AI Image Generation?
---
Key advantages that set us apart
10,000+ models — Stable Diffusion, Flux, SDXL, and community models
Text-to-image, image-to-image, and inpainting endpoints
ControlNet for precise pose, depth, and edge guidance
LoRA support for style fine-tuning and customization
Up to 15 parallel generations per request
Upscale images to 8K resolution
Negative prompts and seed control for reproducibility
Transparent per-image pricing — no hidden costs
Sub-3-second generation times on dedicated GPUs
GDPR-compliant with no image data retention
Python, JavaScript, and cURL examples in documentation
99.9% uptime SLA for enterprise plans
24/7 developer support via Discord and email
No questions asked refund policy
Our Popular Use Cases
What developers build with our image generation API:
E-Commerce Product PhotosDesign Tool IntegrationMarketing AutomationGame Asset GenerationPrint-on-DemandReal Estate Visualization
Generate product photography, lifestyle shots, and marketing visuals at scale. Create consistent product images without expensive studio sessions.
AI Image Generation API FAQ
---
An AI image generation API is a REST API that allows developers to programmatically create images from text descriptions (prompts) using artificial intelligence models like Stable Diffusion, SDXL, and Flux. ModelsLab provides an AI image generation API with access to over 10,000 models, supporting text-to-image, image-to-image, inpainting, ControlNet, and upscaling workflows.
ModelsLab AI image generation API pricing starts at $0.002 per image, making it one of the most affordable options available — up to 20x cheaper than OpenAI DALL-E. An unlimited plan is available at $29/month. Enterprise plans with dedicated GPUs start at $299/month. All plans include a free tier with 100 API calls per day.
### Which AI models does the image generation API support?
ModelsLab supports over 10,000 AI image generation models including Stable Diffusion XL (SDXL), Stable Diffusion 1.5, Stable Diffusion 3.0, Flux, and thousands of community fine-tuned models from CivitAI. You can also train and deploy custom models using DreamBooth.
### How does ModelsLab compare to OpenAI DALL-E API?
ModelsLab offers 10,000+ models vs DALL-E's single model, prices starting at $0.002/image vs $0.040/image, ControlNet and LoRA support, custom model training, and up to 15 parallel generations. DALL-E excels in single-model quality but ModelsLab offers far more flexibility and lower cost.
### Can I train custom AI image generation models?
Yes, ModelsLab supports custom model training via DreamBooth. Upload 10-20 training images, fine-tune a Stable Diffusion model on your specific style or subject, and deploy it to the API within minutes. Custom models are accessible through the same API endpoints as all other models.
### Is the AI image generation API suitable for commercial use?
Yes, all images generated through the ModelsLab API can be used commercially. The platform uses open-source models with permissive licenses (CreativeML Open RAIL-M). Enterprise customers receive additional commercial guarantees and indemnification options.
### What image resolutions does the API support?
The API supports image generation from 256×256 up to 2048×2048 natively, with upscaling to 8K resolution available via the upscale endpoint. SDXL models natively generate at 1024×1024 for optimal quality. Custom aspect ratios are supported across all models.
### How fast is the AI image generation API?
Average generation time is 2-5 seconds depending on the model and resolution. SDXL generates in ~2.5 seconds, SD 1.5 in ~1.5 seconds, and Flux in ~3 seconds on dedicated A100 GPUs. The API supports batch generation of up to 15 images per request for parallel processing.
Your Data is Secure: GDPR Compliant AI Services
---
AI Image API Pricing Starting at $0.0047 Per Image
---
ModelsLab offers a free tier with pay-as-you-go pricing, a Standard plan at $47/month for 10,000 API calls, and a Premium plan at $199/month with unlimited calls. All plans include access to Flux, SDXL, Stable Diffusion 3, and 10,000+ community models. Cancel anytime.
Coming Soon
---
We are making some changes to our pricing, please check back later.
Get Expert Support in Seconds
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---
Want to know more? You can email us anytime at
Chat with support[View Docs](https://docs.modelslab.com)
Explore Our Other Solutions
---
Unlock your creative potential and scale your business with ModelsLab's comprehensive suite of AI-powered solutions.
[Audio Gen
### AI Audio Generation
Text-to-speech, voice cloning, music generation, and audio processing APIs.
Explore Audio Gen](https://modelslab.com/audio-gen) [Video Fusion
### AI Video Generation & Tools
Create, edit, and enhance videos with AI-powered generation and transformation tools.
Explore Video Fusion](https://modelslab.com/video-fusion) [Chat
### Engage Seamlessly with LLM
Access powerful language models for chatbots, content generation, and AI assistants.
Explore Chat](https://modelslab.com/custom-llm) [3D Verse
### Create Stunning 3D Models
Transform images and text into 3D models with advanced AI-powered generation.
Explore 3D Verse](https://modelslab.com/3d-verse)
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---
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[Explore Plugins](https://modelslab.com/pro#plugins) [Learn More](https://modelslab.com/pro)
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API
---
Use our API to build apps, generate AI art, create videos, and produce audio with ease.
[API Documentation](https://docs.modelslab.com) [Playground](https://modelslab.com/models)
## Frequently Asked Questions
### What is an AI image generation API?
A REST API that takes a text prompt and returns a generated image. Modern image generation APIs like ModelsLab also accept input images for editing, ControlNet conditions for guided generation, and parameters like negative prompts, seed and guidance scale.
### How do I get started with the ModelsLab image generation API?
Sign up for a free account at modelslab.com (no card), generate an API key, then POST to /api/v7/images/text-to-image with your key, prompt and model_id (e.g. "flux" or "sdxl"). The free tier gives 100 calls/day across all 10,000+ models.
### Which models does the ModelsLab image API support?
Flux (photorealistic), SDXL (versatile), SD 3.5 (latest Stable Diffusion), SD 1.5 (legacy), plus ~10,000 community fine-tunes including Realistic Vision, DreamShaper, Pony, Illustrious and CivitAI imports. Specialised models for face swap, anime, logos and headshots are also exposed via the same endpoint.
### How fast is the ModelsLab image generation API?
Sub-3-second p50 latency on A100/H100 GPUs for SDXL at 1024×1024. Cold starts are eliminated by warm model caching. p95 stays under 5 seconds for popular models; less-used community models may add 1–2s on first call.
### Does the API support ControlNet, inpainting and image-to-image?
Yes. Image-to-image at /api/v7/images/image-to-image, inpainting at /api/v7/images/inpaint, and ControlNet (pose/depth/canny/openpose) via the conditioning parameter. All endpoints share the same auth and request shape — switch use cases with a one-line code change.
### How much does the AI image generation API cost?
$0.002 per image on pay-as-you-go, or $29/month unlimited. Both tiers include all 10,000+ models with no resolution upcharges up to 2048×2048. Free tier covers the first 100 calls/day for evaluation. Enterprise plans start at $299/month for dedicated GPUs and 99.9% SLA.
### Can I use the API for batch image generation?
Yes. Pass samples up to 15 in a single request — the API returns 15 image URLs in one response, costing $0.030 total. For larger jobs use webhooks: pass a webhook_url and the API POSTs results back as each batch finishes, so your workers do not block.
### Is the API SDXL- and Flux-compatible without code changes?
Yes. The same /text-to-image endpoint accepts model_id="sdxl", model_id="flux", or any of the 10,000+ community model IDs. You do not need a separate integration per model family.
---
*This markdown version is optimized for AI agents and LLMs.*
**Links:**
- [Website](https://modelslab.com)
- [API Documentation](https://docs.modelslab.com)
- [Blog](https://modelslab.com/blog)
---
*Generated by ModelsLab - 2026-06-08*