curl -X POST 'https://api.openai.com/v1/images/generations' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $OPENAI_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "prompt": "A cute baby sea otter",
  "model": "gpt-image-2.5-flare"
}'

# POST /images/generations (OpenAI API)
Base URL: https://api.openai.com/v1
Auth: Authorization; OpenAI API key; required.
Request formats: application/json.
Last verified: 2026-10-20

> Create image

## Critical Gotchas
* The Responses API is the primary interface for new text and tool workflows; Chat Completions remains a separate compatibility API.
* Audio transcription uploads use multipart form data rather than a JSON request body.

## cURL
curl -X POST 'https://api.openai.com/v1/images/generations' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $OPENAI_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "prompt": "A cute baby sea otter",
  "model": "gpt-image-2.5-flare"
}'

## Parameters
| Name | In | Type | Required | Description |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| prompt | body | string | Yes | A text description of the desired image(s). The maximum length is 32000 chara... |
| model | body | string | Yes | The GPT image model to use for image generation. Specify a model explicitly.... |
| n | body | integer | No | The number of images to generate. Must be between 1 and 10. |
| quality | body | string | No | The quality of the image that will be generated.  - `auto` (default value) wi... |
| response_format | body | string | No | Legacy response format parameter for retired image models. Unsupported for GP... |
| output_format | body | string | No | The format in which the generated images are returned. This parameter is only... |
| output_compression | body | integer | No | The compression level (0-100%) for the generated images. This parameter is on... |
| stream | body | boolean | No | Generate the image in streaming mode. Defaults to `false`. See the [Image gen... |
Other params: partial_images, size, moderation, background, style, safety_identifier, user

## Response example
{"safety_identifier":"string","created":0}

---
Need an API key? Get one at https://platform.openai.com/api-keys

POST

POST /images/generations — OpenAI API

OpenAI API key (required); https://api.openai.com/v1

OpenAI API

Create image

Base URL: https://api.openai.com/v1
Auth: Authorization: Bearer <OPENAI_API_KEY>
Last verified: 2026-10-20 · upstream hash matched

Actions Try in browser→

Agents: curl -H "Accept: text/markdown" this URL
→ 410 tokens · Vary: Accept

Critical gotchas

The Responses API is the primary interface for new text and tool workflows; Chat Completions remains a separate compatibility API.

Audio transcription uploads use multipart form data rather than a JSON request body.

cURL

curl -X POST 'https://api.openai.com/v1/images/generations' \  -H "Authorization: Bearer $OPENAI_API_KEY" \  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \  -d '{  "prompt": "A cute baby sea otter",  "model": "gpt-image-2.5-flare"}'

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
prompt	body	string	Yes	A text description of the desired image(s). The maximum length is 32000 characters.
model	body	string	Yes	The GPT image model to use for image generation. Specify a model explicitly. Supported models include `gpt-image-1`, `gpt-image-1-mini`, `gpt-image-1.5`, `gpt-image-2`, `gpt-image-2-2026-04-21`, `gpt-image-2.5-sunburst`, `gpt-image-2.5-sunburst-2026-09-08`, `gpt-image-2.5-flare`, `gpt-image-2.5-flare-2026-09-08`, and `chatgpt-image-latest`.
n	body	integer	No	The number of images to generate. Must be between 1 and 10.
quality	body	string	No	The quality of the image that will be generated. - `auto` (default value) will automatically select the best quality for the given model. - `high`, `medium` and `low` are supported for the GPT image models. - `gpt-image-2.5-sunburst` and `gpt-image-2.5-flare`, including their `2026-09-08` snapshots, also support `xhigh` and `max`.
response_format	body	string	No	Legacy response format parameter for retired image models. Unsupported for GPT image models, which always return base64-encoded images.
output_format	body	string	No	The format in which the generated images are returned. This parameter is only supported for the GPT image models. Must be one of `png`, `jpeg`, or `webp`.
output_compression	body	integer	No	The compression level (0-100%) for the generated images. This parameter is only supported for the GPT image models with the `webp` or `jpeg` output formats, and defaults to 100.
stream	body	boolean	No	Generate the image in streaming mode. Defaults to `false`. See the [Image generation guide](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/image-generation) for more information. This parameter is only supported for the GPT image models.
partial_images	body	integer	No	The number of partial images to generate. This parameter is used for streaming responses that return partial images. Value must be between 0 and 3. When set to 0, the response will be a single image sent in one streaming event. Note that the final image may be sent before the full number of partial images are generated if the full image is generated more quickly.
size	body	string	No	The size of the generated images. For `gpt-image-2`, `gpt-image-2-2026-04-21`, `gpt-image-2.5-sunburst`, `gpt-image-2.5-sunburst-2026-09-08`, `gpt-image-2.5-flare`, and `gpt-image-2.5-flare-2026-09-08`, arbitrary resolutions are supported as `WIDTHxHEIGHT` strings, for example `1536x864`. Width and height must both be divisible by 16 and the requested aspect ratio must be between 1:3 and 3:1. Resolutions above `2560x1440` are experimental, and the maximum supported resolution is `3840x2160`. The requested size must also satisfy the model's current pixel and edge limits. The standard sizes `1024x1024`, `1536x1024`, and `1024x1536` are supported by the GPT image models; `auto` is supported for models that allow automatic sizing.
moderation	body	string	No	Control the content-moderation level for images generated by the GPT image models. Must be either `low` for less restrictive filtering or `auto` (default value).
background	body	string	No	Set the background of the generated image(s). This parameter is only supported for the GPT image models. Must be one of `transparent`, `opaque`, or `auto` (default value). When `auto` is used, the model will automatically determine the best background for the image. `gpt-image-2.5-sunburst` and `gpt-image-2.5-flare`, including their `2026-09-08` snapshots, support `opaque` and `transparent` backgrounds. Transparent backgrounds are available for supported GPT Image models. For `gpt-image-2` and `gpt-image-2-2026-04-21`, this support is in preview. When using `transparent`, set the output format to `png` or `webp`.
style	body	string	No	Legacy style parameter for retired image models. Unsupported for GPT image models; describe the desired style in the prompt instead.
safety_identifier	body	string	No	A stable identifier for an end user in your organization, used for safety monitoring and abuse detection. Hash a username or email address to avoid sending identifying information. A non-empty value takes precedence over the deprecated `user` parameter. If omitted, null, or empty, the API uses `user` when available. [Learn more](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/safety-best-practices#implement-safety-identifiers).
user	body	string	No	Deprecated: use `safety_identifier` instead. This parameter remains accepted for backward compatibility and is used when `safety_identifier` is omitted, null, or empty. [Learn more](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/safety-best-practices#implement-safety-identifiers).

Response 200 OK

{
  "safety_identifier": "string",
  "created": 0,
  "data": [
    {
      "b64_json": "string",
      "url": "https://example.com",
      "revised_prompt": "string"
    }
  ],
  "background": "transparent",
  "output_format": "png",
  "size": "string",
  "quality": "low",
  "usage": {
    "input_tokens": 0,
    "total_tokens": 0,
    "output_tokens": 0,
    "output_tokens_details": {
      "image_tokens": 0,
      "text_tokens": 0
    },
    "input_tokens_details": {
      "text_tokens": 0,
      "image_tokens": 0
    }
  }
}

Get a free OpenAI API key → sponsored

Affiliate link - we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.