图像生成

OpenRoute supports image generation through models that have "image" in their output_modalities. These models can create images from text prompts when you specify the appropriate modality in your request.

Model Discovery

You can find image generation models in several ways:

On the Models Page

Visit the Models page and filter by output modalities to find models capable of image generation. Look for models that list "image" in their output modalities.

In the Chatroom

When using the Chatroom, click the Image button to automatically filter and select models with image generation capabilities. If no image-capable model is active, you'll be prompted to add one.

API Usage

To generate images, send a request to the /api/v1/chat/completions endpoint with the modalities parameter set to include both "image" and "text".

Basic Image Generation

import requests
import json

url = "https://openroute.cn/api/v1/chat/completions"
headers = {
    "Authorization": f"Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

payload = {
    "model": "google/gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview",
    "messages": [
        {
            "role": "user",
            "content": "Generate a beautiful sunset over mountains"
        }
    ],
    "modalities": ["image", "text"]
}

response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=payload)
result = response.json()

# The generated image will be in the assistant message
if result.get("choices"):
    message = result["choices"][0]["message"]
    if message.get("images"):
        for image in message["images"]:
            image_url = image["image_url"]["url"]  # Base64 data URL
            print(f"Generated image: {image_url[:50]}...")

const response = await fetch('https://openroute.cn/api/v1/chat/completions', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer YOUR_API_KEY`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: 'google/gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview',
    messages: [
      {
        role: 'user',
        content: 'Generate a beautiful sunset over mountains',
      },
    ],
    modalities: ['image', 'text'],
  }),
});

const result = await response.json();

// The generated image will be in the assistant message
if (result.choices) {
  const message = result.choices[0].message;
  if (message.images) {
    message.images.forEach((image, index) => {
      const imageUrl = image.image_url.url; // Base64 data URL
      console.log(`Generated image ${index + 1}: ${imageUrl.substring(0, 50)}...`);
    });
  }
}

Streaming Image Generation

Image generation also works with streaming responses:

import requests
import json

url = "https://openroute.cn/api/v1/chat/completions"
headers = {
    "Authorization": f"Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

payload = {
    "model": "google/gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview",
    "messages": [
        {
            "role": "user",
            "content": "Create an image of a futuristic city"
        }
    ],
    "modalities": ["image", "text"],
    "stream": True
}

response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=payload, stream=True)

for line in response.iter_lines():
    if line:
        line = line.decode('utf-8')
        if line.startswith('data: '):
            data = line[6:]
            if data != '[DONE]':
                try:
                    chunk = json.loads(data)
                    if chunk.get("choices"):
                        delta = chunk["choices"][0].get("delta", {})
                        if delta.get("images"):
                            for image in delta["images"]:
                                print(f"Generated image: {image['image_url']['url'][:50]}...")
                except json.JSONDecodeError:
                    continue

const response = await fetch('https://openroute.cn/api/v1/chat/completions', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer YOUR_API_KEY`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: 'google/gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview',
    messages: [
      {
        role: 'user',
        content: 'Create an image of a futuristic city',
      },
    ],
    modalities: ['image', 'text'],
    stream: true,
  }),
});

const reader = response.body?.getReader();
const decoder = new TextDecoder();

while (true) {
  const { done, value } = await reader.read();
  if (done) break;
  
  const chunk = decoder.decode(value);
  const lines = chunk.split('\n');
  
  for (const line of lines) {
    if (line.startsWith('data: ')) {
      const data = line.slice(6);
      if (data !== '[DONE]') {
        try {
          const parsed = JSON.parse(data);
          if (parsed.choices) {
            const delta = parsed.choices[0].delta;
            if (delta?.images) {
              delta.images.forEach((image, index) => {
                console.log(`Generated image ${index + 1}: ${image.image_url.url.substring(0, 50)}...`);
              });
            }
          }
        } catch (e) {
          // Skip invalid JSON
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Response Format

When generating images, the assistant message includes an images field containing the generated images:

{
  "choices": [
    {
      "message": {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "I've generated a beautiful sunset image for you.",
        "images": [
          {
            "type": "image_url",
            "image_url": {
              "url": "data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAA..."
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}

Image Format

Format: Images are returned as base64-encoded data URLs
Types: Typically PNG format (data:image/png;base64,)
Multiple Images: Some models can generate multiple images in a single response
Size: Image dimensions vary by model capabilities

Model Compatibility

Not all models support image generation. To use this feature:

Check Output Modalities: Ensure the model has "image" in its output_modalities
Set Modalities Parameter: Include "modalities": ["image", "text"] in your request
Use Compatible Models: Examples include:
- google/gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview
- Other models with image generation capabilities

Best Practices

Clear Prompts: Provide detailed descriptions for better image quality
Model Selection: Choose models specifically designed for image generation
Error Handling: Check for the images field in responses before processing
Rate Limits: Image generation may have different rate limits than text generation
Storage: Consider how you'll handle and store the base64 image data

Troubleshooting

No images in response?

Verify the model supports image generation (output_modalities includes "image")
Ensure you've included "modalities": ["image", "text"] in your request
Check that your prompt is requesting image generation

Model not found?

Use the Models page to find available image generation models
Filter by output modalities to see compatible models

import requests
import json

url = "https://openroute.cn/api/v1/chat/completions"
headers = {
    "Authorization": f"Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

payload = {
    "model": "google/gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview",
    "messages": [
        {
            "role": "user",
            "content": "Generate a beautiful sunset over mountains"
        }
    ],
    "modalities": ["image", "text"]
}

response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=payload)
result = response.json()

# The generated image will be in the assistant message
if result.get("choices"):
    message = result["choices"][0]["message"]
    if message.get("images"):
        for image in message["images"]:
            image_url = image["image_url"]["url"]  # Base64 data URL
            print(f"Generated image: {image_url[:50]}...")

const response = await fetch('https://openroute.cn/api/v1/chat/completions', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer YOUR_API_KEY`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: 'google/gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview',
    messages: [
      {
        role: 'user',
        content: 'Generate a beautiful sunset over mountains',
      },
    ],
    modalities: ['image', 'text'],
  }),
});

const result = await response.json();

// The generated image will be in the assistant message
if (result.choices) {
  const message = result.choices[0].message;
  if (message.images) {
    message.images.forEach((image, index) => {
      const imageUrl = image.image_url.url; // Base64 data URL
      console.log(`Generated image ${index + 1}: ${imageUrl.substring(0, 50)}...`);
    });
  }
}

Streaming Image Generation

Image generation also works with streaming responses:

import requests
import json

url = "https://openroute.cn/api/v1/chat/completions"
headers = {
    "Authorization": f"Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

payload = {
    "model": "google/gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview",
    "messages": [
        {
            "role": "user",
            "content": "Create an image of a futuristic city"
        }
    ],
    "modalities": ["image", "text"],
    "stream": True
}

response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=payload, stream=True)

for line in response.iter_lines():
    if line:
        line = line.decode('utf-8')
        if line.startswith('data: '):
            data = line[6:]
            if data != '[DONE]':
                try:
                    chunk = json.loads(data)
                    if chunk.get("choices"):
                        delta = chunk["choices"][0].get("delta", {})
                        if delta.get("images"):
                            for image in delta["images"]:
                                print(f"Generated image: {image['image_url']['url'][:50]}...")
                except json.JSONDecodeError:
                    continue

const response = await fetch('https://openroute.cn/api/v1/chat/completions', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer YOUR_API_KEY`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: 'google/gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview',
    messages: [
      {
        role: 'user',
        content: 'Create an image of a futuristic city',
      },
    ],
    modalities: ['image', 'text'],
    stream: true,
  }),
});

const reader = response.body?.getReader();
const decoder = new TextDecoder();

while (true) {
  const { done, value } = await reader.read();
  if (done) break;
  
  const chunk = decoder.decode(value);
  const lines = chunk.split('\n');
  
  for (const line of lines) {
    if (line.startsWith('data: ')) {
      const data = line.slice(6);
      if (data !== '[DONE]') {
        try {
          const parsed = JSON.parse(data);
          if (parsed.choices) {
            const delta = parsed.choices[0].delta;
            if (delta?.images) {
              delta.images.forEach((image, index) => {
                console.log(`Generated image ${index + 1}: ${image.image_url.url.substring(0, 50)}...`);
              });
            }
          }
        } catch (e) {
          // Skip invalid JSON
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Response Format

When generating images, the assistant message includes an images field containing the generated images:

{
  "choices": [
    {
      "message": {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "I've generated a beautiful sunset image for you.",
        "images": [
          {
            "type": "image_url",
            "image_url": {
              "url": "data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAA..."
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}

Image Format

Format: Images are returned as base64-encoded data URLs
Types: Typically PNG format (data:image/png;base64,)
Multiple Images: Some models can generate multiple images in a single response
Size: Image dimensions vary by model capabilities

Model Compatibility

Not all models support image generation. To use this feature:

Check Output Modalities: Ensure the model has "image" in its output_modalities
Set Modalities Parameter: Include "modalities": ["image", "text"] in your request
Use Compatible Models: Examples include:
- google/gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview
- Other models with image generation capabilities

Best Practices

Clear Prompts: Provide detailed descriptions for better image quality
Model Selection: Choose models specifically designed for image generation
Error Handling: Check for the images field in responses before processing
Rate Limits: Image generation may have different rate limits than text generation
Storage: Consider how you'll handle and store the base64 image data

Troubleshooting

No images in response?

Verify the model supports image generation (output_modalities includes "image")
Ensure you've included "modalities": ["image", "text"] in your request
Check that your prompt is requesting image generation

Model not found?

Use the Models page to find available image generation models
Filter by output modalities to see compatible models

Image Generation

Model Discovery

On the Models Page

In the Chatroom

API Usage

Basic Image Generation

Streaming Image Generation

Response Format

Image Format

Model Compatibility

Best Practices

Troubleshooting

On this page

Image Generation

Model Discovery

On the Models Page

In the Chatroom

API Usage

Basic Image Generation

Streaming Image Generation

Response Format

Image Format

Model Compatibility

Best Practices

Troubleshooting

On this page