Reviewed 2026-10-10
1. Define the destination and the finished image
Write one sentence describing where the image will appear: a square catalog card, a portrait event poster or a wide website header. Choose the shape and leave space for any final text. List the details you will check, such as a readable headline or an unchanged product label.
Pick the closest recipe in the prompt library and replace its subject. Keep the first brief simple enough to evaluate. One product and one lighting direction are easier to inspect than a crowded scene with several characters and text blocks.
2. Choose the model and check access
Sign in, choose Nano Banana 2.1 or another connected model, and review the credit quote. Nano Banana 2.1 generates or edits one 1K image for 8 credits per request.
The current email-and-password flow does not require email verification. Stripe checkout lets you purchase a monthly membership or credit pack; your balance and billing records are available in your account.
3. Describe the scene or prepare a reference edit
For a new image, specify subject, composition, lighting and exact text. For an edit, state the change and then list what must remain: identity, geometry, label, camera angle and crop. Explain the role of each reference rather than expecting the model to infer it.
Check the images for details that contradict your prompt. If the original has a white cap and the brief says blue cap, decide which requirement is intended before proceeding. Use files you have permission to process and remove confidential material that the task does not need.
4. Submit once and follow the task
When the selected workflow is available, wait for required uploads to finish and check the quote again after changing output settings. Submit one request and follow its status. If it is slow, keep the task identifier instead of repeatedly starting the same job.
A timeout can leave uncertainty about whether the provider accepted the request. Check the existing task before retrying. Developers should retain the returned queue identifier and use documented status and response URLs; the API guide gives the same principle without requiring you to expose a credential in the browser.
5. Review the result and save a usable version
Open the result at the size where it will be used. Read every word, compare identity and product details with the references, and check the edges for accidental objects or cropping. Write one precise correction if needed, such as restoring the original label position while keeping the new background.
Save the final image together with its prompt, references and selected model. Add critical text manually when exact lettering matters. Scientific figures need a separate expert review and real-data sources; a finished-looking image alone does not establish accuracy.
Questions before you start
What should a beginner try first?
Choose one product photo or a simple background edit. Set a single output shape and write a short list of details that must be right.
Do I need an account just to prepare a prompt?
No. You can write, copy and download a brief without an account. Available generation workflows require their displayed sign-in and credit conditions.
What if a request appears stuck?
Keep its task identifier and check the existing status before submitting again. Save the error and request details if you need support; repeated submissions can create separate tasks.