Flare and Sunburst are less like two separate toolsets and more like two different paces for the same image work. Flare is the model we’d reach for while the visual direction is still moving; Sunburst makes more sense once a particular detail or edit deserves extra attention. The trick is knowing when that extra precision is worth the wait.
1. Comparison at a Glance
| Model | Strength | Application |
|---|---|---|
| [GPT Image 2.5 Flare](/help/models/gpt-image-2-5-flare/) | Faster generation for general image creation, editing, and iteration. | Choose it to explore compositions, styles, and revisions, or when you need a dependable starting point for common image tasks. |
| [GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst](/help/models/gpt-image-2-5-sunburst/) | A slower, precision-focused option for detailed creative work. | Choose it when a specific feature, fine detail, or careful edit matters more than turnaround time. |
Both models support Text to Image and Image to Image and use the same CawCut output controls. The Image Generation guide covers those modes and settings in more detail.
2. What We Have Found
The distinction matters most at different points in the work. When we are still deciding on composition, background, or visual style, Flare’s faster pace makes it easier to explore. Once the direction is settled and the remaining request is narrow—preserve the layout, change one detail, or refine a particular product feature—Sunburst’s precision focus is easier to justify.
The shared 2.5 toolset also means this is not a choice between one model that can edit and another that cannot. Both can create from text or work from a source image, and both list the same output settings. The decision is chiefly about how much iteration time to spend and how much control the next pass needs.
If your image is part of a broader product campaign, the Help Center’s Ad Video category covers how image concepts fit into the larger creative process.
3. Choose by Image Task
| Your priority | Start with | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Explore visual directions or produce several drafts | Flare | Its faster generation path supports quick comparison and revision. |
| Create common social, creator, or product visuals | Flare | It is positioned as the general-purpose, speed-oriented option for most applications. |
| Make a detailed edit while keeping the broader image stable | Sunburst | Its precision focus suits targeted changes once the composition is mostly settled. |
| Refine fine details or polish a chosen direction | Sunburst | Spend the longer pass where small visual decisions matter to the finished asset. |
| Keep exploring but protect a critical feature | Flare, then Sunburst if needed | Find the direction quickly, then move to a precision-focused pass only if the final detail calls for it. |
These are useful starting points, not guarantees. The prompt and source image still shape the result, so compare the output against the exact feature you need to preserve or change. If an image is already close, make the next instruction narrow and explicit rather than rewriting the whole brief. For connected image inputs and handoffs, see Image and Image Group Nodes.