Black Forest Labs' compact, open-source image generation model with sub-second inference, optimized for production and near real-time applications with multi-reference support
Settled by community votes across 13 shared challenges, with an AI judge weighing in on each.
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
#32 of 62 in Text-to-Image
Recraft V4.1
#51 of 62 in Text-to-Image
Where the votes landed
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
0%
win rate
Ties
0%
Recraft V4.1
0%
win rate
Challenge by challenge
The strongest take from each model on every shared challenge, with the AI judge's read.
Geometric Composition
Text-to-Image“A glass cube on a wooden table. Inside the cube is a small blue sphere. On top of the cube sits a red book. A green plant is behind the cube, partially visible through the glass. Soft window light from the left.”
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
- + Excellent adherence to lighting instructions with clear soft window light from the left.
- + Highly realistic textures on the book cover and the wooden table grain.
- + Naturalistic interaction between the object and the plant in the background.
- − The blue sphere appears to be resting on a reflective base rather than being purely 'inside' an empty cube.
Recraft V4.1
- + Strong composition with a clear, sharp focus on the glass cube.
- + Professional photographic depth of field and color saturation.
- + The blue sphere is centered well within the volume of the cube.
- − The blue sphere appears to be levitating or submerged in an invisible liquid, which feels slightly surreal.
- − The plant is less visible through the glass compared to Model A.
Verdict: Both models followed the prompt perfectly, including the specific spatial relationships between the cube, sphere, book, and plant. FLUX.2 [klein] 4B is the winner due to its superior handling of the 'soft window light from the left,' which creates a much more convincing and natural atmosphere, whereas Recraft V4.1 has more generalized studio-style lighting.
Candid Street Photography
Text-to-Image“A candid street photo of an elderly Japanese man repairing a red bicycle in light rain, reflections on wet pavement, shallow depth of field, 50mm lens, natural skin texture, imperfect framing, motion blur from passing cars, cinematic but realistic, no stylization.”
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
- + Excellent full-body composition and clarity
- + Highly realistic wet pavement reflections
- + Accurate depiction of an elderly Japanese man
- − The bike anatomy is slightly distorted, particularly the chain and rear frame
- − Lacks the requested motion blur from passing cars
Recraft V4.1
- + Successfully captures the requested motion blur on the passing cars
- + Strong adherence to the 'imperfect framing' and 'candid' aspects of the prompt
- + Superior skin texture and wet surface details on the subject
- − The composition is very tight, cutting off much of the bicycle
- − The lighting on the man's face is quite dark, obscuring some detail
Verdict: Recraft V4.1 followed the technical requirements of the prompt more closely, successfully including motion blur and a convincing 'imperfect' candid framing. While FLUX.2 [klein] 4B produced a cleaner and more traditionally pleasing image, it failed to incorporate the specific motion blur and felt more like a posed portrait than a candid street snap.
Fantasy Warrior
Text-to-Image“Close portrait of a battle-worn paladin in ornate engraved plate armor, hair braided with small beads, faint scars and dirt on the skin, warm torchlight reflecting off metal, shallow depth of field, bokeh sparks, lifelike eyes, highly detailed texture on leather straps and cloth underlayer.”
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
- + Excellent symmetrical framing and clarity
- + Highly detailed and consistent armor engravings
- + Realistic facial texture with clear scars
- − Lighting feels a bit artificial/studio-like
- − Beads in the hair are very small and less noticeable
Recraft V4.1
- + Dramatic cinematic atmosphere and lighting
- + Superior interpretation of the beads in the braids
- + Excellent depth of field and bokeh effects
- − The character's expression is slightly vacant
- − Armor details are a bit softer compared to Model A
Verdict: Both images followed the prompt well, but they offer different styles. FLUX.2 [klein] 4B provides a very sharp, clear portrait with incredible texture on the metal, while Recraft V4.1 delivers a more cinematic and moody piece with better lighting and a more creative interpretation of the braided hair and beads.
Modern Clean Menu
Text-to-Image“Modern minimalist restaurant menu design, white background with colorful food photos in grid, sections for appetizers/pizza/mains, bold sans-serif fonts, vibrant accents, clean professional layout for casual dining.”
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
- + Features very vibrant food photography with high visual appeal.
- + Strong use of grid layouts for high-impact food presentation.
- + Professional logo and brand header integration.
- − Text is mostly gibberish with frequent spelling errors (e.g., 'TEANRTAR', 'FRAZZA').
- − The grid layout feels a bit cluttered and lacks functional spacing between items.
- − Headings for categories are inconsistent and poorly rendered.
Recraft V4.1
- + Exceptional text rendering with 100% correct spelling and descriptions.
- + Very clean, minimalist layout with professional whitespace management.
- + High prompt adherence for specific menu sections (Appetizers, Pizza, Mains).
- − Food photos are smaller and have less 'appetite appeal' compared to the other model.
- − The right-aligned grid of images feels slightly disconnected from the text on the left.
Verdict: Recraft V4.1 is the clear winner for this design task because it produces a fully legible and functional menu with perfect spelling and a sophisticated minimalist layout. While FLUX.2 [klein] 4B has more vibrant food photography, its inability to render sensible text makes it unusable for a graphic design prompt like a menu.
Magic Burger Explosion: Fiery Photorealism Challenge
Text-to-Image“Ad for 'Magic Burger'. Dynamic, exploded burger with all components (bun, patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sauce) suspended in mid-air. Emphasize photorealistic detail and a sense of motion. Dark, fiery background with glowing embers. Integrate text: 'MAGIC BURGER' as a prominent title, 'LIMITED TIME ONLY' as a secondary message, and '€6.99' in a starburst, all rendered with a fiery, glowing effect.”
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
- + Excellent photorealistic texture on the bun and patties.
- + The starburst element for the price is well-integrated and high quality.
- + Consistent lighting and ember effects throughout the frame.
- − Failed the 'exploded burger' prompt instruction, keeping the burger mostly assembled.
- − Severe text rendering errors in the primary title.
Recraft V4.1
- + Perfectly executed the 'exploded' layout with suspended components.
- + Accurate and legible text rendering for all requested strings.
- + High-quality fiery text effect that matches the prompt's stylistic requirement.
- − The price starburst looks a bit like a flat clip-art sticker compared to the rest of the scene.
- − The lighting on the cheese feels slightly less realistic than the other components.
Verdict: Recraft V4.1 is the clear winner as it followed every instruction, including the difficult 'exploded' layout and all text requirements perfectly. FLUX.2 [klein] 4B failed to separate the burger components and produced nonsensical text in the main title, despite having slightly better texture photorealism on the meat and bun.
Chalkboard Menu
Text-to-Image“Handwritten-style chalkboard menu in a cozy café, all text rendered in the exact same realistic chalk handwriting style with natural variations in letter size, slight slant, and chalk texture — no printed or digital fonts anywhere on the board. Title at the top in elegant cursive chalk handwriting: ‘TODAY’S SPECIALS – APRIL 30, 2026’. Below it, three menu items also in the same handwritten chalk style: ‘Truffle Mushroom Risotto – $24’, ‘Grilled Octopus with Lemon & Herbs – $28’, ‘Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies – $9’. At the very bottom, smaller text in the identical handwritten chalk style (slightly smaller but still clearly legible with the same handwriting characteristics): ‘All items made fresh daily • Ask about our gluten-free options’. Warm ambient café lighting, visible chalk dust and smudges, realistic handwriting imperfections, no clean printed text anywhere.”
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
- + Excellent chalk texture including realistic smudges and erased marks
- + Consistent cursive handwriting style across the board
- − Numerous spelling errors including 'Truffle', 'Mushroom', 'Grilled', and 'Octopus'
- − Extra 'S' in the title ('S SPECIALS')
Recraft V4.1
- + Perfect spelling on all menu items requested in the prompt
- + Superior chalk texture and realistic varied handwriting
- + Excellent adherence to the specific date and price details
- − The cursive in the title is less 'elegant' and more functional/casual compared to the prompt request
- − Composition is slightly tight at the top edge
Verdict: Recraft V4.1 is the clear winner as it successfully rendered all text with perfect spelling and high-quality chalk texture. FLUX.2 [klein] 4B followed the stylistic 'elegant cursive' prompt well, but failed significantly on legibility and spelling, producing several garbled words.
The Reversed Rodeo
Text-to-Image“Horse riding astronaut in space — horse on top, not vice versa. Surreal, highly detailed, cinematic.”
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
- + Excellent anatomical clarity of the horse and the astronaut's suit.
- + High-definition rendering of the Earth with realistic atmospheric glow.
- + Effective use of negative space in the starfield background.
- − Failed the specific spatial instruction; the astronaut is on top of the horse, not vice versa.
- − The horse's legs interacting with the 'dust' on the atmospheric plane is a bit confusing.
Recraft V4.1
- + Dynamic composition with floating asteroids adding to the space theme.
- + Beautiful cinematic lighting and glowing nebula effects.
- + Good sense of movement and action in the horse's gallop.
- − Failed the specific spatial instruction; the astronaut is on top of the horse, not vice versa.
- − The horse's mane appears to have wind physics which is illogical in a vacuum.
Verdict: Both models failed the specific prompt instruction to place the 'horse on top' of the astronaut, instead defaulting to the common trope of an astronaut riding a horse. FLUX.2 [klein] 4B provides a cleaner, more realistic render and better suit details, while Recraft V4.1 offers a more imaginative and visually complex scene with asteroids and nebulae.
The Capybara Taxi Driver
Text-to-Image“Photorealistic scene inside a yellow New York taxi at night. A capybara is driving, wearing a yellow taxi driver cap and a dark jacket. It has a calm, professional expression and both front paws on the steering wheel. In the back seat sits a human businesswoman in a coat, looking at her phone with a completely normal, bored expression (as if this is just another normal ride). Through the windows you can see the streets of Manhattan at night with blurred lights. Realistic taxi interior, photorealistic, detailed fur and fabric, 35mm lens, night lighting with reflections, shallow depth of field.”
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
- + Excellent photorealism in the capybara's fur and the human's features.
- + Follows the clothing requirements perfectly, including the dark jacket for the capybara.
- + Great framing that captures the interior details and the city lights through the back window.
- − The scale of the capybara and woman suggests a very small car rather than a standard New York taxi.
Recraft V4.1
- + Strong cinematic composition with a side-profile view of both characters.
- + Accurately places the capybara's paws on the steering wheel in a realistic driving posture.
- + Effective use of the 'taxi' light on the roof to establish the scene.
- − Failed to include the dark jacket on the capybara as requested.
- − The capybara's head is clipping through the car ceiling/sunroof area.
Verdict: FLUX.2 [klein] 4B followed the prompt more closely by including the specific clothing for the capybara and providing a more centered, balanced photorealistic scene. While Recraft V4.1 had a nice cinematic angle and good steering wheel interaction, it missed the jacket requirement and suffered from minor clipping issues with the capybara's head.
The Halloween Invitation
Text-to-Image“Vintage gothic Halloween party invitation. Dark parchment poster, spooky border with webs and thorns, central glowing jack-o-lantern, bats, twisted trees, moody night sky. Add elegant gothic title text saying "Halloween Party Invitation", a small scroll banner saying "You are invited to a night of frights", and event details at the bottom: Date: 30.10.2026 Time: 7pm Location: The Arches, NYC Spooky but polished, cinematic lighting, square format.”
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
- + Excellent composition with a focused central subject
- + Clean and readable scroll banner
- + The border with spikes and webs is very well-defined
- − Major spelling errors in the main title
- − Incorrect date '30.10.206' and mispelled 'Location'
Recraft V4.1
- + Perfect text accuracy for both the title and the event details
- + Highly detailed and weathered 'vintage' parchment texture
- + Atmospheric background with moon and clouds
- − The scroll banner text is very small and slightly difficult to read
- − The jack-o-lantern carving is a bit more aggressive and less 'polished' than Model A
Verdict: Recraft V4.1 is the clear winner because it correctly spells all requested text, including the complex title and event details. While FLUX.2 [klein] 4B has a strong illustrative style, it fails significantly on the typography, which is a critical failure for an invitation design.
Isometric Miniature Diorama Scenes
Text-to-Image“Create a clear, 45° top-down isometric miniature 3D cartoon scene of Japan's signature dish: sushi, with soft refined textures, realistic PBR materials, gentle lighting, on a small raised diorama base with minimal garnish and plate. Solid light blue background. At top-center: 'JAPAN' in large bold text, 'SUSHI' below it, small flag icon. Perfectly centered, ultra-clean, high-clarity, square format.”
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
- + Excellent 3D toy-like texture and soft lighting
- + Good interpretation of the requested 45° isometric angle
- − Text is incorrect with 'SUSHI' missing the 'I'
- − Flag icon is incorrect and resembles the Austrian flag instead of Japan
- − Missing the requested diorama base
Recraft V4.1
- + Perfect text rendering for both 'JAPAN' and 'SUSHI'
- + Accurate Japanese flag icon
- + Follows the diorama base requirement with realistic PBR materials
- − The diorama surface texture is slightly noisy
- − Lighting is a bit harsher compared to the soft request
Verdict: Recraft V4.1 is the clear winner as it adhered to every specific detail of the prompt, including the diorama base and accurate text/flag iconography. FLUX.2 [klein] 4B failed on the text spelling and the flag representation, and omitted the diorama element.
Adorable Baby Animals in Sunny Meadow
Text-to-Image“Hyper-photorealistic scene of fluffy baby animals—a golden retriever puppy, tabby kitten, baby bunny, and red fox kit—with big expressive eyes and ultra-detailed soft fur, playfully chasing butterflies and tumbling together in a lush wildflower meadow, warm golden sunrise light with god rays and dew sparkles, joyful wholesome vibe, 8K masterpiece.”
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
- + Excellent fur texture and lighting on the animals.
- + Strong vibrant colors that match the wholesome vibe requested.
- + Beautiful soft-focus background with atmospheric sparkles.
- − Missed the rabbit completely, substituting it with a second kitten.
- − The foxes anatomy is slightly uncanny with a very feline face.
- − The animals are standing still rather than 'tumbling together'.
Recraft V4.1
- + Included all four requested animals correctly.
- + Dynamic composition with animals actively leaping and interacting with butterflies.
- + Outstanding lighting with visible dew sparkles on the grass as requested.
- − The fox kit has unusual blue eyes and black paws that look slightly painterly.
- − The puppy's open mouth has some minor anatomical blurring.
Verdict: While FLUX.2 has beautiful lighting and fur rendering, it failed the prompt by omitting the baby bunny and adding an extra kitten. Recraft V4.1 followed the prompt perfectly, including all four specific animals in a more dynamic and playful composition with superior lighting effects.
Vintage Cafe Logo
Text-to-Image“Vintage minimalist restaurant logo for "Caffè Florian", retro cloche dome with steam and "Est. 1720" banner, classic typography, warm brown and cream tones, subtle texture on light background, vector emblem style.”
AI judge analysis unavailable for this challenge.
Apollo 11: Journey to Tranquility
Text-to-Image“Create a clean, modern vector infographic poster about the Apollo 11 mission. NASA-inspired palette (navy, white, muted red, light gray). Flat-vector style, crisp lines, consistent iconography, subtle gradients only. Steps (stop at landing): 1. Launch (Saturn Vicon) 2. Earth Orbit (Earth + orbit ring icon) 3. Translunar (trajectory arc icon) 4. Lunar Orbit (Moon + orbit ring icon) 5. Descent (lunar module descending icon) 6. Landing (lunar module on the surface icon) Small supporting elements (minimal text): • Crew strip: three silhouette icons with only last names: Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins. • Landing site marker: Moon pin labeled "Tranquility" only. Layout constraints: generous margins, large readable labels, clean background with subtle stars. Vector-only, print-poster look, high resolution.”
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B
- + Features more detailed vector illustrations for the Saturn V and Lunar Module.
- + Includes recognizable silhouettes of the astronauts.
- − Text rendering is severely garbled and illegible throughout the poster.
- − Composition is cluttered and lacks a clear logical flow for the mission steps.
Recraft V4.1
- + Excellent typography with perfectly legible text and correct spellings.
- + High adherence to the requested 'flat-vector' style with a clean, organized grid layout.
- + Consistent iconography that follows the requested NASA-inspired color palette perfectly.
- − The step numbering contains a minor error, using '04' twice instead of '05'.
- − The Saturn V icon is a bit simplified compared to the detail in Model A.
Verdict: Recraft V4.1 is the clear winner as it successfully creates a professional-grade infographic with perfect text and a cohesive design language. While FLUX.2 [klein] 4B has slightly more complex illustrations, its failure to generate legible text and its messy layout make it unusable for an infographic task.
Explore each model
Recraft's V4.1 standard tier text-to-image model — refines V4's photorealism with more natural lighting, softer gradients, and sharper illustration styles for everyday creative work