moreminimore-marketing/docs-site/docs/features/image-studio/cost-guide.md

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 for generation costs
• Check Workflow Guide for cost-efficient workflows
• Review Providers Guide for provider costs

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For technical details, see the Implementation Overview. For API usage, see the API Reference.