GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst vs Flare for character sheets, states and covers
Both tiers on one page: GPT Image 2.5 on SceneMixer.
What is the same on both
- Price. 25 credits per image on either, from the first image — the account’s 15 free sheets are on the default model only.
- Size. About 2K, 2,048 pixels on the long side, on either.
- Where they are used. Character, location and prop sheets, regenerations, state images and the promo cover posters.
- How you switch. One setting; it applies to new images only, so you can change it between groups as often as you like.
What is different
OpenAI released the two together on September 8, 2026 and described them differently:
- Flare — the general-purpose model, built to be fast. The faster of the two on this site as well.
- Sunburst — slower, built for precise work. OpenAI says it keeps reference subjects and earlier edits intact better than Flare.
On SceneMixer the second point is the one that matters. A state image (the same character in a hospital gown) and a cover poster are both drawn from an existing sheet. A model that holds the reference better keeps the face and build of the person you already approved.
Which one for each job
| Job | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First pass over the whole cast | Flare | Faster; you are judging the descriptions, not the final faces |
| The two or three leads | Sunburst | Precision where the audience looks longest |
| Supporting cast and extras | Flare | Same price, quicker turnaround |
| Locations and props | Flare | No reference to hold; speed is the gain |
| State images (second outfit, injury, age) | Sunburst | Drawn from the main sheet; holding the reference is the point |
| Promo cover posters | Sunburst | Drawn from your leads’ sheets, with the title painted in |
A cheap way to decide for your own project
Pick one lead whose face matters and generate the sheet on Flare. If the face is what you wrote, keep it and stay on Flare. If it is not, download it, switch the setting and regenerate the same sheet on Sunburst — regenerating replaces the image on the card, so the download is your copy to compare against. That is two images. Then set the tier for the rest of the cast from what you saw, not from a benchmark.
If neither is clearly better for that face, the default Qwen-Image 3.0 at 7 credits per image may be enough; the free sheets are drawn there.
How to switch between them
Settings → Model Preferences → Image Model, then pick GPT Image 2.5 Flare. From then on every new image is drawn on it: the character, location and prop sheets in step 2, regenerations, state images, and the promo cover posters. Images already drawn keep their pixels; switching never redraws anything. You can switch per group — leads on one tier, background places on another — and switch back.
Switching does not redraw anything. The card for each character, location and prop shows the image it has now; only the next generation uses the new tier.
Sources
- The Rundown: OpenAI ChatGPT Images 2.5 — launch coverage of Flare and Sunburst, September 8, 2026; checked October 25, 2026.
- Kanaries: GPT Image 2.5, Flare vs Sunburst — developer write-up of the two models; checked October 25, 2026.
GPT Image is a trademark of OpenAI, named here to identify the models offered as tiers. Prices are SceneMixer’s own, read from the live price list.
| Flare | Sunburst | |
|---|---|---|
| Shown in Settings as | GPT Image 2.5 Flare | GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst |
| Credits per image | 25 | 25 |
| Speed | Faster | Slower |
| Holds a reference subject | Good | Better (OpenAI’s claim) |
| Best on this site for | Volume: extras, locations, props, drafts | Leads, state images, cover posters |
FAQ
Is GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst better than Flare?
For precise work that has to match a reference, OpenAI says yes. For everything else Flare is the faster choice at the same price on this site.
Do Sunburst and Flare cost the same on SceneMixer?
Yes, 25 credits per image each.
Which is faster?
Flare. OpenAI positions it as the fast general-purpose model; Sunburst trades speed for precision.
Which should I use for character consistency?
Sunburst for state images and covers drawn from an existing sheet. Consistency across a series comes mainly from reusing each sheet in every shot, which works on either.
Can I use both in one project?
Yes. The setting applies to new images only, so draw the leads on Sunburst, switch, and draw the rest on Flare.
Do either of them use my free sheets?
No. The 15 free sheets per account are drawn on the default image model only.
Is either one higher resolution?
No. Both draw at about 2K, 2,048 pixels on the long side.
Which one for a cover with the title painted in?
Sunburst, because the cover is drawn from your leads' sheets. Whichever you use, check the spelling of the title before you pick a candidate.
Try both on one lead
Two images on the same face will tell you more than any chart. Start a project and compare.
Updated October 25, 2026