Generate consistent characters

As of July 2025, advancements in image generation have simplified the process of creating consistent character images, moving away from complex workflows and trained models to using state-of-the-art image models that require only a single reference. The blog highlights four models available on Replicate: OpenAI’s gpt-image-1, Runway’s Gen-4 Image, Black Forest Labs’s FLUX.1 Kontext, and Bytedance’s SeedEdit 3, with additional models like Ideogram’s Character and Runway’s Gen-4 Image Turbo also being mentioned. Each model varies in price, speed, and quality, with gpt-image-1 being the most expensive and slowest, while Kontext Dev is the cheapest and fastest. The models are evaluated based on their ability to preserve a character's identity, handle photographic accuracy, and perform creative transformations. Runway’s Gen-4 Image is noted for its adaptability and accuracy in photos, while Kontext Pro offers a balance between quality and speed for creative tasks. Despite some limitations, such as Gen-4's coherency issues in complex scenes and gpt-image-1's propensity to alter character identity, the blog provides recommendations on which models to use based on specific needs, suggesting Gen-4 for photos and Kontext Pro for creative tasks.