Seedream

Overview

varg offers two Seedream models from ByteDance:

Seedream 5 Lite (seedream_5_lite) — text-to-image generation with up to 10 reference images, at 2K or 3K resolution.
Seedream V4.5 Edit (seedream-v4.5/edit) — precise editing of existing images.

Model	Mode	~Cost
`seedream_5_lite`	Text-to-image + references	4 credits (2K), 6 credits (3K)
`seedream-v4.5/edit`	Image editing	10 credits

Seedream 5 Lite

Seedream 5 Lite generates images from text, optionally guided by up to 10 reference images addressed with @image1, @image2, etc. in the prompt. The canonical name seedream_5_lite routes to piapi:seedream-5-lite.

Quick start

import { createVarg } from "vargai/ai"

const varg = createVarg({ apiKey: process.env.VARG_API_KEY! })

const result = await varg.imageModel("seedream_5_lite").generate({
  prompt: "a cozy mountain cabin at dusk, warm light in the windows, cinematic",
  aspectRatio: "16:9",
})

console.log(result.image.url)

curl -X POST https://api.varg.ai/v2/image \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VARG_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "seedream_5_lite",
    "prompt": "a cozy mountain cabin at dusk, warm light in the windows, cinematic",
    "aspect_ratio": "16:9"
  }'

Reference images

Pass up to 10 reference images in files and address them in the prompt:

curl -X POST https://api.varg.ai/v2/image \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VARG_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "seedream_5_lite",
    "prompt": "@image1 standing in the environment of @image2, golden hour lighting",
    "files": [
      { "url": "https://example.com/character.jpg" },
      { "url": "https://example.com/location.jpg" }
    ]
  }'

Parameters

string

required

Text description of the image. Reference input images with @image1, @image2, etc.

string

default:"1:1"

Supported values: 21:9, 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, 3:4, 9:16.

array

Up to 10 reference images as { url: string } objects.

object

Resolution defaults to 2K. Request 3K with {"piapi": {"input": {"size": "3K"}}}. Output format defaults to jpeg; set png via {"piapi": {"input": {"output_format": "png"}}}.

{
  "model": "seedream_5_lite",
  "prompt": "detailed isometric city map, pastel colors",
  "provider_options": { "piapi": { "input": { "size": "3K" } } }
}

Less-restriction variant

The route piapi:seedream-5-lite-less-restriction runs the same model with a more permissive content review at a small premium (~7 credits at 2K). It is explicit opt-in — its schema is identical to the strict route, so auto-routing never selects it; you must address it by exact model_key. Content involving minors, real-person identity or faces, graphic violence, and hate remains blocked. On rejection the job is not retried and your credits are refunded.

Pricing

Route	2K	3K
`piapi:seedream-5-lite`	~4 credits	~6 credits
`piapi:seedream-5-lite-less-restriction`	~7 credits	—

Seedream V4.5 Edit

Seedream V4.5 is ByteDance’s image editing model, designed for precise visual modifications to existing images.

import { createVarg } from "vargai/ai"

const varg = createVarg({ apiKey: process.env.VARG_API_KEY! })

const result = await varg.imageModel("seedream-v4.5/edit").generate({
  prompt: "change the sky to a dramatic sunset with orange and purple clouds",
  imageUrl: "https://example.com/landscape.jpg",
})

console.log(result.image.url)

curl -X POST https://api.varg.ai/v2/image \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VARG_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "seedream-v4.5/edit",
    "prompt": "change the sky to a dramatic sunset with orange and purple clouds",
    "files": [{ "url": "https://example.com/landscape.jpg" }]
  }'

Parameters

string

required

Text description of the edit to apply to the input image.

array

required

Array with the source image: [{ url: "image.jpg" }].

Pricing

Model	Credits	USD
`seedream-v4.5/edit`	10	$0.10

Tips

Seedream 5 Lite for generation, V4.5 for editing — generate new images with seedream_5_lite, then refine existing ones with seedream-v4.5/edit.
Use @imageN syntax with Seedream 5 Lite to control which reference maps to which element of the scene.
Default 2K is enough for most uses — reserve 3K for print or heavy cropping.
Pair with Seedance 2 for a full ByteDance pipeline: generate or edit images with Seedream, animate with Seedance.

Nano Banana Edit

More versatile editing at half the cost (5 credits).

Seedance 2

ByteDance’s video model — animate your Seedream images.

Get Started

Models

SDK

Templates

MCP

AI Agents

Comparisons

Overview

Seedream 5 Lite

Quick start

Reference images

Parameters

Less-restriction variant

Pricing

Seedream V4.5 Edit

Parameters

Pricing

Tips

Nano Banana Edit

Seedance 2

​Overview

​Seedream 5 Lite

​Quick start

​Reference images

​Parameters

​Less-restriction variant

​Pricing

​Seedream V4.5 Edit

​Parameters

​Pricing

​Tips

​Related models

Nano Banana Edit

Seedance 2

Overview

Seedream 5 Lite

Quick start

Reference images

Parameters

Less-restriction variant

Pricing

Seedream V4.5 Edit

Parameters

Pricing

Tips

Related models