## Create image

`$ openai images generate`

**post** `/images/generations`

Creates an image given a prompt. [Learn more](https://platform.openai.com/docs/guides/images).

### Parameters

- `--prompt: string`

  A text description of the desired image(s). The maximum length is 32000 characters for the GPT image models, 1000 characters for `dall-e-2` and 4000 characters for `dall-e-3`.

- `--background: optional "transparent" or "opaque" or "auto"`

  Allows to set transparency for the background of the generated image(s).
  This parameter is only supported for GPT image models that support
  transparent backgrounds. Must be one of `transparent`, `opaque`, or
  `auto` (default value). When `auto` is used, the model will
  automatically determine the best background for the image.

  `gpt-image-2` and `gpt-image-2-2026-04-21` do not support
  transparent backgrounds. Requests with `background` set to
  `transparent` will return an error for these models; use `opaque` or
  `auto` instead.

  If `transparent`, the output format needs to support transparency,
  so it should be set to either `png` (default value) or `webp`.

- `--model: optional string or ImageModel`

  The model to use for image generation. One of `dall-e-2`, `dall-e-3`, or a GPT image model (`gpt-image-1`, `gpt-image-1-mini`, `gpt-image-1.5`, `gpt-image-2`, or `gpt-image-2-2026-04-21`). Defaults to `dall-e-2` unless a parameter specific to the GPT image models is used.

- `--moderation: optional "low" or "auto"`

  Control the content-moderation level for images generated by the GPT image models. Must be either `low` for less restrictive filtering or `auto` (default value).

- `--n: optional number`

  The number of images to generate. Must be between 1 and 10. For `dall-e-3`, only `n=1` is supported.

- `--output-compression: optional number`

  The compression level (0-100%) for the generated images. This parameter is only supported for the GPT image models with the `webp` or `jpeg` output formats, and defaults to 100.

- `--output-format: optional "png" or "jpeg" or "webp"`

  The format in which the generated images are returned. This parameter is only supported for the GPT image models. Must be one of `png`, `jpeg`, or `webp`.

- `--partial-images: optional number`

  The number of partial images to generate. This parameter is used for
  streaming responses that return partial images. Value must be between 0 and 3.
  When set to 0, the response will be a single image sent in one streaming event.

  Note that the final image may be sent before the full number of partial images
  are generated if the full image is generated more quickly.

- `--quality: optional "standard" or "hd" or "low" or 3 more`

  The quality of the image that will be generated.

  - `auto` (default value) will automatically select the best quality for the given model.
  - `high`, `medium` and `low` are supported for the GPT image models.
  - `hd` and `standard` are supported for `dall-e-3`.
  - `standard` is the only option for `dall-e-2`.

- `--response-format: optional "url" or "b64_json"`

  The format in which generated images with `dall-e-2` and `dall-e-3` are returned. Must be one of `url` or `b64_json`. URLs are only valid for 60 minutes after the image has been generated. This parameter isn't supported for the GPT image models, which always return base64-encoded images.

- `--size: optional string or "auto" or "1024x1024" or "1536x1024" or 5 more`

  The size of the generated images. For `gpt-image-2` and `gpt-image-2-2026-04-21`, arbitrary resolutions are supported as `WIDTHxHEIGHT` strings, for example `1536x864`. Width and height must both be divisible by 16 and the requested aspect ratio must be between 1:3 and 3:1. Resolutions above `2560x1440` are experimental, and the maximum supported resolution is `3840x2160`. The requested size must also satisfy the model's current pixel and edge limits. The standard sizes `1024x1024`, `1536x1024`, and `1024x1536` are supported by the GPT image models; `auto` is supported for models that allow automatic sizing. For `dall-e-2`, use one of `256x256`, `512x512`, or `1024x1024`. For `dall-e-3`, use one of `1024x1024`, `1792x1024`, or `1024x1792`.

- `--style: optional "vivid" or "natural"`

  The style of the generated images. This parameter is only supported for `dall-e-3`. Must be one of `vivid` or `natural`. Vivid causes the model to lean towards generating hyper-real and dramatic images. Natural causes the model to produce more natural, less hyper-real looking images.

- `--user: optional string`

  A unique identifier representing your end-user, which can help OpenAI to monitor and detect abuse. [Learn more](https://platform.openai.com/docs/guides/safety-best-practices#end-user-ids).

### Returns

- `images_response: object { created, background, data, 4 more }`

  The response from the image generation endpoint.

  - `created: number`

    The Unix timestamp (in seconds) of when the image was created.

  - `background: optional "transparent" or "opaque"`

    The background parameter used for the image generation. Either `transparent` or `opaque`.

    - `"transparent"`

    - `"opaque"`

  - `data: optional array of Image`

    The list of generated images.

    - `b64_json: optional string`

      The base64-encoded JSON of the generated image. Returned by default for the GPT image models, and only present if `response_format` is set to `b64_json` for `dall-e-2` and `dall-e-3`.

    - `revised_prompt: optional string`

      For `dall-e-3` only, the revised prompt that was used to generate the image.

    - `url: optional string`

      When using `dall-e-2` or `dall-e-3`, the URL of the generated image if `response_format` is set to `url` (default value). Unsupported for the GPT image models.

  - `output_format: optional "png" or "webp" or "jpeg"`

    The output format of the image generation. Either `png`, `webp`, or `jpeg`.

    - `"png"`

    - `"webp"`

    - `"jpeg"`

  - `quality: optional "low" or "medium" or "high"`

    The quality of the image generated. Either `low`, `medium`, or `high`.

    - `"low"`

    - `"medium"`

    - `"high"`

  - `size: optional "1024x1024" or "1024x1536" or "1536x1024"`

    The size of the image generated. Either `1024x1024`, `1024x1536`, or `1536x1024`.

    - `"1024x1024"`

    - `"1024x1536"`

    - `"1536x1024"`

  - `usage: optional object { input_tokens, input_tokens_details, output_tokens, 2 more }`

    For `gpt-image-1` only, the token usage information for the image generation.

    - `input_tokens: number`

      The number of tokens (images and text) in the input prompt.

    - `input_tokens_details: object { image_tokens, text_tokens }`

      The input tokens detailed information for the image generation.

      - `image_tokens: number`

        The number of image tokens in the input prompt.

      - `text_tokens: number`

        The number of text tokens in the input prompt.

    - `output_tokens: number`

      The number of output tokens generated by the model.

    - `total_tokens: number`

      The total number of tokens (images and text) used for the image generation.

    - `output_tokens_details: optional object { image_tokens, text_tokens }`

      The output token details for the image generation.

      - `image_tokens: number`

        The number of image output tokens generated by the model.

      - `text_tokens: number`

        The number of text output tokens generated by the model.

### Example

```cli
openai images generate \
  --api-key 'My API Key' \
  --prompt 'A cute baby sea otter'
```

#### Response

```json
{
  "created": 0,
  "background": "transparent",
  "data": [
    {
      "b64_json": "b64_json",
      "revised_prompt": "revised_prompt",
      "url": "https://example.com"
    }
  ],
  "output_format": "png",
  "quality": "low",
  "size": "1024x1024",
  "usage": {
    "input_tokens": 0,
    "input_tokens_details": {
      "image_tokens": 0,
      "text_tokens": 0
    },
    "output_tokens": 0,
    "total_tokens": 0,
    "output_tokens_details": {
      "image_tokens": 0,
      "text_tokens": 0
    }
  }
}
```