286 lines
8.2 KiB
Markdown
286 lines
8.2 KiB
Markdown
# Image Studio Cost Guide
|
||
|
||
Image Studio uses a credit-based system for all operations. This guide explains the cost structure, estimation, and optimization strategies.
|
||
|
||
## Credit System Overview
|
||
|
||
### How Credits Work
|
||
|
||
- **Credits**: Virtual currency for Image Studio operations
|
||
- **Subscription Tiers**: Different credit allocations per plan
|
||
- **Operation Costs**: Each operation consumes credits
|
||
- **Pre-Flight Validation**: See costs before executing
|
||
- **Transparent Pricing**: Clear cost display for all operations
|
||
|
||
### Credit Allocation
|
||
|
||
Credits are allocated based on your subscription tier:
|
||
- **Free Tier**: Limited credits for testing
|
||
- **Basic Tier**: Standard credit allocation
|
||
- **Pro Tier**: Higher credit allocation
|
||
- **Enterprise Tier**: Unlimited or very high allocation
|
||
|
||
## Operation Costs
|
||
|
||
### Create Studio Costs
|
||
|
||
#### By Provider
|
||
|
||
**Stability AI**:
|
||
- **Ultra**: 8 credits (highest quality)
|
||
- **Core**: 3 credits (standard quality)
|
||
- **SD3.5**: Varies (artistic content)
|
||
|
||
**WaveSpeed**:
|
||
- **Ideogram V3**: 5-6 credits (photorealistic)
|
||
- **Qwen**: 1-2 credits (fast generation)
|
||
|
||
**HuggingFace**:
|
||
- **FLUX**: Free tier available, then varies
|
||
|
||
**Gemini**:
|
||
- **Imagen**: Free tier available, then varies
|
||
|
||
#### By Quality Level
|
||
|
||
- **Draft**: 1-2 credits (fast, low cost)
|
||
- **Standard**: 3-5 credits (balanced)
|
||
- **Premium**: 6-8 credits (highest quality)
|
||
|
||
#### Additional Costs
|
||
|
||
- **Variations**: Each variation adds to base cost
|
||
- **Batch Generation**: Cost = base cost × number of variations
|
||
- **Dimensions**: Larger images may cost slightly more
|
||
|
||
### Edit Studio Costs
|
||
|
||
#### By Operation
|
||
|
||
- **Remove Background**: 2-3 credits
|
||
- **Inpaint**: 3-4 credits
|
||
- **Outpaint**: 4-5 credits
|
||
- **Search & Replace**: 4-5 credits
|
||
- **Search & Recolor**: 4-5 credits
|
||
- **Replace Background & Relight**: 5-6 credits
|
||
- **General Edit**: 3-5 credits
|
||
|
||
#### Cost Factors
|
||
|
||
- **Operation Complexity**: More complex operations cost more
|
||
- **Image Size**: Larger images may cost slightly more
|
||
- **Provider**: Different providers have different costs
|
||
|
||
### Upscale Studio Costs
|
||
|
||
#### By Mode
|
||
|
||
- **Fast (4x)**: 2 credits (~1 second)
|
||
- **Conservative 4K**: 6 credits (preserve style)
|
||
- **Creative 4K**: 6 credits (enhance style)
|
||
|
||
#### Cost Factors
|
||
|
||
- **Mode Selection**: Different modes have different costs
|
||
- **Image Size**: Larger source images may cost slightly more
|
||
- **Quality Preset**: Presets don't affect cost
|
||
|
||
### Social Optimizer Costs
|
||
|
||
- **Included**: Part of standard Image Studio features
|
||
- **No Additional Cost**: Platform optimization is included
|
||
- **Efficient**: Batch processing is cost-effective
|
||
|
||
### Asset Library Costs
|
||
|
||
- **Free**: No cost for asset management
|
||
- **Storage**: Included in subscription
|
||
- **Operations**: Only generation/editing operations cost credits
|
||
|
||
## Cost Estimation
|
||
|
||
### Pre-Flight Validation
|
||
|
||
Before any operation, Image Studio shows:
|
||
- **Estimated Cost**: Credits required
|
||
- **Subscription Check**: Validates your tier
|
||
- **Credit Balance**: Shows available credits
|
||
- **Cost Breakdown**: Detailed cost information
|
||
|
||
### Estimation Accuracy
|
||
|
||
- **Create Studio**: Very accurate (known provider costs)
|
||
- **Edit Studio**: Accurate (operation-based costs)
|
||
- **Upscale Studio**: Accurate (mode-based costs)
|
||
- **Batch Operations**: Cost = base × quantity
|
||
|
||
### Viewing Estimates
|
||
|
||
1. **Before Generation**: Cost shown in Create Studio
|
||
2. **Before Editing**: Cost shown in Edit Studio
|
||
3. **Before Upscaling**: Cost shown in Upscale Studio
|
||
4. **Operation Button**: Shows cost estimate
|
||
|
||
## Cost Optimization Strategies
|
||
|
||
### For Create Studio
|
||
|
||
1. **Use Draft for Testing**: Test concepts with low-cost Draft quality
|
||
2. **Batch Efficiently**: Generate multiple variations in one request
|
||
3. **Choose Appropriate Quality**: Don't use Premium for quick previews
|
||
4. **Use Templates**: Templates optimize for cost-effectiveness
|
||
5. **Provider Selection**: Use cost-effective providers when appropriate
|
||
|
||
### For Edit Studio
|
||
|
||
1. **Edit Strategically**: Only edit when necessary
|
||
2. **Combine Operations**: Plan edits to minimize operations
|
||
3. **Use Masks Efficiently**: Precise masks reduce need for re-editing
|
||
4. **Test First**: Use low-cost operations for testing
|
||
|
||
### For Upscale Studio
|
||
|
||
1. **Upscale Selectively**: Only upscale best images
|
||
2. **Use Fast Mode**: Fast mode for quick previews
|
||
3. **Choose Mode Wisely**: Don't use Creative if Conservative is sufficient
|
||
4. **Batch Upscaling**: Process multiple images efficiently
|
||
|
||
### General Strategies
|
||
|
||
1. **Plan Ahead**: Estimate costs before starting
|
||
2. **Iterate Efficiently**: Test with low-cost options first
|
||
3. **Reuse Assets**: Don't regenerate similar content
|
||
4. **Monitor Usage**: Track costs in Asset Library
|
||
5. **Optimize Workflows**: Use efficient workflow patterns
|
||
|
||
## Cost Examples
|
||
|
||
### Example 1: Social Media Campaign
|
||
|
||
**Scenario**: Create 5 images for Instagram, edit 3, optimize for 3 platforms
|
||
|
||
**Costs**:
|
||
- Create 5 images (Standard): 5 × 4 = 20 credits
|
||
- Edit 3 images (Remove Background): 3 × 3 = 9 credits
|
||
- Social Optimizer: 0 credits (included)
|
||
- **Total**: 29 credits
|
||
|
||
### Example 2: Blog Featured Image
|
||
|
||
**Scenario**: Create featured image, upscale, optimize for social
|
||
|
||
**Costs**:
|
||
- Create 1 image (Premium): 6 credits
|
||
- Upscale (Conservative): 6 credits
|
||
- Social Optimizer: 0 credits (included)
|
||
- **Total**: 12 credits
|
||
|
||
### Example 3: Product Photography
|
||
|
||
**Scenario**: Create product image, remove background, create 3 color variations
|
||
|
||
**Costs**:
|
||
- Create 1 image (Premium): 6 credits
|
||
- Remove Background: 3 credits
|
||
- Search & Recolor (3 variations): 3 × 4 = 12 credits
|
||
- **Total**: 21 credits
|
||
|
||
### Example 4: Content Library
|
||
|
||
**Scenario**: Generate 20 images (Draft), edit 10 favorites, upscale 5 best
|
||
|
||
**Costs**:
|
||
- Create 20 images (Draft): 20 × 2 = 40 credits
|
||
- Edit 10 images (various): 10 × 4 = 40 credits
|
||
- Upscale 5 images (Fast): 5 × 2 = 10 credits
|
||
- **Total**: 90 credits
|
||
|
||
## Subscription Tiers
|
||
|
||
### Free Tier
|
||
- **Credits**: Limited allocation
|
||
- **Best For**: Testing, learning, low-volume
|
||
- **Limitations**: Rate limits, basic features
|
||
|
||
### Basic Tier
|
||
- **Credits**: Standard allocation
|
||
- **Best For**: Regular use, standard content
|
||
- **Features**: Full access to all modules
|
||
|
||
### Pro Tier
|
||
- **Credits**: Higher allocation
|
||
- **Best For**: Professional use, high-volume
|
||
- **Features**: Premium quality, priority processing
|
||
|
||
### Enterprise Tier
|
||
- **Credits**: Unlimited or very high
|
||
- **Best For**: Enterprise, agencies, high-volume
|
||
- **Features**: All features, priority support
|
||
|
||
## Cost Monitoring
|
||
|
||
### Asset Library Tracking
|
||
|
||
- **Cost Display**: See cost for each asset
|
||
- **Usage Tracking**: Monitor total costs
|
||
- **Performance Analysis**: Track cost per asset type
|
||
- **Optimization Insights**: Identify cost-saving opportunities
|
||
|
||
### Best Practices
|
||
|
||
1. **Regular Review**: Check costs regularly
|
||
2. **Identify Patterns**: Find cost-saving patterns
|
||
3. **Optimize Workflows**: Adjust workflows based on costs
|
||
4. **Plan Budget**: Allocate credits for campaigns
|
||
|
||
## Cost Optimization Tips
|
||
|
||
### Quick Wins
|
||
|
||
1. **Use Draft Quality**: For testing and iterations
|
||
2. **Batch Operations**: Process multiple items together
|
||
3. **Reuse Assets**: Don't regenerate similar content
|
||
4. **Choose Providers Wisely**: Use cost-effective providers
|
||
5. **Edit Strategically**: Only edit when necessary
|
||
|
||
### Advanced Strategies
|
||
|
||
1. **Workflow Optimization**: Use efficient workflow patterns
|
||
2. **Quality Matching**: Match quality to use case
|
||
3. **Provider Selection**: Choose providers based on cost/quality
|
||
4. **Template Usage**: Use templates for optimization
|
||
5. **Asset Reuse**: Build library for future use
|
||
|
||
## Troubleshooting Costs
|
||
|
||
### Common Issues
|
||
|
||
**High Costs**:
|
||
- Review quality levels used
|
||
- Check number of variations
|
||
- Consider using Draft for testing
|
||
- Optimize workflows
|
||
|
||
**Unexpected Costs**:
|
||
- Check operation costs before executing
|
||
- Review batch operation costs
|
||
- Verify subscription tier
|
||
- Check credit balance
|
||
|
||
**Cost Estimation Issues**:
|
||
- Verify operation selection
|
||
- Check provider costs
|
||
- Review quality level
|
||
- Confirm batch quantities
|
||
|
||
## Next Steps
|
||
|
||
- See [Create Studio Guide](create-studio.md) for generation costs
|
||
- Check [Workflow Guide](workflow-guide.md) for cost-efficient workflows
|
||
- Review [Providers Guide](providers.md) for provider costs
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
*For technical details, see the [Implementation Overview](implementation-overview.md). For API usage, see the [API Reference](api-reference.md).*
|
||
|