{
 "slug": "which-model-for-stills",
 "name": "Which model for stills",
 "category": "guide",
 "group": "Which model",
 "media": [
  "image"
 ],
 "checked": "2026-10-13",
 "effect": "Picks the image model by the job instead of by the hype of the week.",
 "use_when": "Before writing any image prompt.",
 "phrase": "Nano Banana Pro by default; Nano Banana 2 for cheap test rounds; GPT Image 2.5 when the image carries text or a layout",
 "pitfalls": [
  {
   "text": "A tutorial's model advice is an argument, not a rule: tutorials three weeks apart named different best models for skin. Compare with one image before switching.",
   "evidence": "measured",
   "source": "Director Chair field notes on image prompting"
  }
 ],
 "per_model": [],
 "external_refs": [],
 "licensed": [],
 "site_names": [],
 "related": [
  "guide-nano-banana-pro",
  "guide-gpt-image"
 ],
 "rights": "own-work",
 "evidence": "measured",
 "source": {
  "url": null,
  "note": "Own summary of Director Chair field notes on image prompting"
 },
 "body": "## The choice (checked 29 Sep 2026)\n\n| Job | Model | Why |\n|---|---|---|\n| Any still, by default | Nano Banana Pro | references hold best |\n| Test rounds before the final | Nano Banana 2 | close to Pro for a fraction of the cost |\n| Text, interface, typography on the image | GPT Image 2.5 | positioned for design and text |\n| Character sheets, a second opinion | Seedream 5 | one tutorial's pick, not measured by us |",
 "shown_with": null,
 "url": "https://directorchair.ai/guide/which-model-for-stills",
 "markdown": "https://directorchair.ai/guide/which-model-for-stills.md",
 "prompts": {
  "chat": "Give me a filled-in prompt that follows this guide, plus the one thing to check in the result, for a short video about [your product], for [your audience]. The technique is which model for stills: picks the image model by the job instead of by the hype of the week. How it works: nano Banana Pro by default; Nano Banana 2 for cheap test rounds; GPT Image 2.5 when the image carries text or a layout. It is right for: before writing any image prompt. A tutorial's model advice is an argument, not a rule: tutorials three weeks apart named different best models for skin. Be concrete: numbers, seconds and settings, no theory. Ask me one question first if something you need is missing."
 },
 "licence": {
  "code": "MIT",
  "text": "CC BY 4.0",
  "third_party": "Clips and card texts inside a \"licensed\" block belong to their makers and are shown with permission and credit."
 }
}