GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst (max)

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst is a high-fidelity image generation and editing model released by OpenAI in September 2026. Part of the GPT Image 2.5 family, it is positioned as a precision-oriented variant designed for professional creative workflows. Unlike its speed-optimized counterpart, Flare, Sunburst prioritizes visual fidelity, intricate detail, and consistent adherence to complex instructions, making it suitable for production-level campaign assets and polished product imagery.

The model introduces significant advancements in subject preservation, allowing users to maintain the likeness of people or products from reference photos with high accuracy. It excels in multi-turn editing, where it can apply precise modifications to specific regions of an image while leaving the rest of the composition intact. Additionally, Sunburst supports high-resolution outputs up to 3840 pixels on the longest edge (4K class) and can generate images with transparent backgrounds natively in formats like PNG and WebP.

Operating at its highest capacity through the "max" quality setting, the model delivers enhanced lighting, richer textures, and improved typography compared to previous generations. This tier allows for the most detailed rendering of fine elements, such as legible text in infographics or subtle fabric textures in fashion photography. While this setting increases generation latency, it provides the tightest control over the final visual output.

For optimal results, OpenAI recommends a conversational approach to prompting. Users can initiate a generation with a descriptive text prompt and then refine the result through successive instructions. The model is designed to understand spatial relationships and can execute edits such as "change the lighting to golden hour" or "replace the coffee cup with a glass of water" without altering the underlying character or environment stability.