Black Forest Labs' flagship image generation model delivering state-of-the-art quality with exceptional realism, precision, and consistency for both text-to-image and advanced image editing
Settled by community votes across 13 shared challenges, with an AI judge weighing in on each.
FLUX.2 [max]
25.8
arena score
#10 of 62 in Text-to-Image
Skill signature
· Text-to-Image
Recraft V4
25.6
arena score
#11 of 62 in Text-to-Image
Vote tally
Where the votes landed
FLUX.2 [max]
100.0%
win rate
Ties
0.0%
Recraft V4
0.0%
win rate
100.0%
0.0% ties
0.0%
Shared challenges
13
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.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Excellent adherence to lighting instructions with clear soft light from the left side.
- + The glass cube physics and reflections, especially the mirrored base, look very realistic.
- + The plant in the background is realistically blurred, creating a great sense of depth.
- − The glass cube is missing a top panel, as the book appears to be resting directly on the vertical edges.
Recraft V4
- + Successfully rendered the plant behind the cube as requested.
- + The texture of the old book and the thick glass cube feels tangible and weighty.
- + The sphere and plant are clearly visible through the glass.
- − The blue sphere appears to be floating unnaturally in the center of the cube rather than resting on the bottom.
- − The perspective of the plant leaves relative to the sphere's refraction is slightly disjointed.
- − The lighting is more diffuse and less directional than specifically requested.
Verdict: Both models followed the complex spatial instructions well. FLUX.2 [max] produced a more aesthetically pleasing image with superior lighting and realistic material rendering, although it missed the top panel of the cube. Recraft V4 captured a more solid 'block-like' cube and placed the plant more accurately per the prompt, but the floating sphere and flatter lighting make it less visually compelling than the output from FLUX.2 [max].
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.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Excellent details on the bicycle and tools
- + Stronger adherence to the 'natural skin texture' prompt with high facial detail
- + Effective use of shallow depth of field to draw focus to the subject
- − The bike geometry is slightly nonsensical with how the frame connects to the front fork
- − Less motion blur on the car compared to the other model
Recraft V4
- + Excellent depiction of motion blur from passing cars
- + Stronger environmental storytelling with pedestrians and umbrellas
- + Wet pavement reflections are more pronounced and atmospheric
- − The subject's face is largely obscured and lacks the 'natural skin texture' requested
- − The red bicycle is partially missing its rear half, making the composition feel clipped
Verdict: Both models followed the complex prompt well, but FLUX.2 [max] produced a more compelling portrait with superior skin texture and focus. Recraft V4 captured the 'motion blur' and 'rainy atmosphere' more effectively, but the anatomical and mechanical details were weaker than those in the FLUX image.
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.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Exceptional photographic realism in skin texture and eyes.
- + Superior rendering of complex ornate engravings on the armor.
- + Natural integration of bokeh elements and warm lighting.
- − The braids are somewhat blended into the background and less distinct.
Recraft V4
- + Successfully incorporates multiple braids with beads as requested.
- + Good representation of the cloth underlayer and leather straps.
- + Balanced composition with visible torches in the background.
- − The skin texture appears slightly muddy or over-processed in some areas.
- − The sparks appear as static lines rather than soft bokeh circles.
Verdict: FLUX.2 [max] produced a much more photorealistic and high-fidelity image with superior armor engraving detail and lifelike eyes. While Recraft V4 followed the prompt regarding braids and cloth layers more literally, the overall image quality and lighting of FLUX.2 [max] make it the more impressive and aesthetically pleasing result.
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.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Excellent use of color-coded sections for organization
- + Includes social media icons and a more comprehensive layout
- + High-quality, vibrant food photography that fills the grid properly
- − Text consists of gibberish/nonsense words
- − The food images are misaligned with the category text (e.g., sandwiches appearing under Appetizers)
Recraft V4
- + Clear, readable, and meaningful English text for titles and descriptions
- + Isolated food images create a very clean and professional minimalist look
- + Perfect adherence to all categories (Appetizers, Pizza, Mains) with relevant imagery
- − The grid is slightly less dense, leaving significant white space at the bottom
- − Composition is a bit repetitive compared to a real multi-page menu
Verdict: Recraft V4 is the clear winner because it generates fully legible, appropriate English text and descriptions that match the food items. While FLUX.2 has a more complex graphic design with vibrant colors, its failure to generate sensible text and its mismatching of food types to categories makes it non-functional as a menu design.
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.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Excellent typography with a cohesive 'fiery' glowing effect as requested.
- + Very professional layout and composition suitable for a high-end food advertisement.
- + Superior lighting consistency across the ingredients and the background.
- − The 'exploded' effect is slightly more rigid and stacked compared to the more dynamic spread of model B.
Recraft V4
- + Features a very dynamic and natural 'exploded' arrangement of ingredients.
- + The currency and price rendering is very creative, especially the small floating cents.
- + Good high-contrast lighting on the burger patty.
- − Failed to apply the 'fiery, glowing effect' to the starburst and small text.
- − Includes a distracting white plate at the bottom which wasn't requested.
- − The cheese rendering looks somewhat artificial and blocky.
Verdict: FLUX.2 [max] followed the prompt more closely by applying the fiery glow to all requested text elements and maintaining a high level of photorealism across the entire frame. While Recraft V4 offered a more dynamic physical explosion of the burger, it failed to execute the specific glowing effects for the secondary text and price starburst, making it feel less like a cohesive ad.
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.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Excellent chalk texture throughout the letters and the board surface.
- + Strict adherence to the requested handwritten cursive style for the header.
- + Perfect spelling and numeric accuracy including the full item list and date.
- − The warm lighting at the top causes a slight yellow tint to the upper text.
Recraft V4
- + Includes creative chalk illustrations for each menu item.
- + Good composition showing the chalkboard within a wider cafe environment.
- − The text appears more like a digital font than natural handwriting, lacking the requested 'slant' and variations.
- − The header is in a blocky print style rather than the requested 'elegant cursive'.
- − The smudging on the board feels a bit excessive, occasionally distracting from the text legibility.
Verdict: FLUX.2 [max] followed the stylistic instructions much more closely, delivering a perfect representation of chalk handwriting with natural slants and variations. Recraft V4 ignored the cursive requirement for the title and provided text that looks too much like a uniform digital font, although it did add charming illustrations not explicitly requested.
The Reversed Rodeo
Text-to-Image“Horse riding astronaut in space — horse on top, not vice versa. Surreal, highly detailed, cinematic.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Excellent high-detail rendering of the spacesuit and horse fur
- + Vibrant cinematic lighting with a clear galaxy background
- + Great composition with the subjects balanced on an asteroid
- − Failed the specific spatial instruction for the horse to be on top of the astronaut
Recraft V4
- + Strong cinematic atmosphere and dynamic movement
- + Impressive detail on the rock textures and lighting
- + Realistic integration of the horse into the space environment
- − Failed the specific spatial instruction for the horse to be on top of the astronaut
- − The horse's anatomy appears slightly stretched in the midsection
Verdict: Both models failed the negative constraint to have the horse on top of the astronaut, instead defaulting to the common trope of an astronaut riding a horse. FLUX.2 [max] produced a cleaner, more vibrant image with better lighting, while Recraft V4 offered a more gritty, action-oriented composition.
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.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Excellent internal lighting and bokeh in the background
- + Captures the bored expression of the passenger perfectly
- + Highly detailed taxi dashboard and interior textures
- − The capybara has human hands, which is a significant anatomical error
- − The scale of the capybara head to the body seems slightly inconsistent
Recraft V4
- + The capybara correctly has paws on the steering wheel instead of human hands
- + Strong composition with a clear 'NYC TAXI' label on the hat
- + Great atmosphere with rain on the window adding to the realism
- − The passenger is less bored and looks somewhat more concerned/distracted
- − The interior light on the capybara's head is a bit harsh and flat
Verdict: Both models followed the prompt well, but Recraft V4 is the winner because it successfully rendered capybara paws on the steering wheel, whereas FLUX.2 substituted them with unsettlingly realistic human hands. Recraft V4 also included relevant text on the hat and captured a more authentic New York atmosphere with the rainy night effects.
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.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Excellent typography with a glowing effect that matches the cinematic lighting.
- + High-quality, realistic textures on the scroll banner and parchment border.
- + Clear and intentional layout that feels like a professional invitation.
- − The parchment texture is a bit subtle compared to the request.
Recraft V4
- + Very detailed and atmospheric background with rain and many bats.
- + Strong adherence to the 'webs and thorns' border request.
- + Creative artistic style that feels more illustrative.
- − The 'scroll banner' is reduced to a flat, modern ribbon which clashes with the gothic theme.
- − Text spacing at the bottom is slightly cramped.
- − The pumpkin's lighting is less 'cinematic' and more painterly compared to Model A.
Verdict: FLUX.2 [max] produced a cleaner, more professional invitation with superior typography and lighting, perfectly capturing the 'polished' requirement. Recraft V4 had great atmospheric details like the thorny border and rain, but failed to deliver a convincing scroll banner and had less elegant text integration.
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.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
100% wins
0% ties
0% wins
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Excellent adherence to the '3D cartoon' and 'miniature' style requests.
- + Clean and bold text rendering with perfect placement of the flag icon.
- + Strong isometric composition with a clear diorama base.
- − The sushi models are slightly simplified, though consistent with the cartoon style.
- − The chopsticks are not placed on a rest, floating slightly above the board.
Recraft V4
- + High-quality realistic PBR materials for the salmon and tuna fish.
- + Intricate rice grain detail and realistic ginger textures.
- + Clean typography that fits the minimalist aesthetic.
- − Ignored the '3D cartoon' style request in favor of photorealism.
- − The 'diorama base' looks like a block of salt or ice, which may not be the intended interpretation.
- − The text is positioned very high, pushing the flag icon to the top edge.
Verdict: FLUX.2 [max] followed the stylistic instructions much more closely, delivering a cohesive cartoon 3D miniature that matches the requested isometric perspective and diorama structure. Recraft V4 produced a more photorealistic image with impressive textures, but it failed to capture the 'cartoon' aesthetic specified in the prompt. FLUX.2 is preferred for its superior balance of typography and style adherence.
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.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Excellent anatomical accuracy for all four animals.
- + Beautiful lighting with clearly visible 'god rays' and dew sparkles as requested.
- + Wide composition that allows the meadow and background to feel expansive.
- − The fox's eyes appear slightly less 'big and expressive' compared to the other animals.
Recraft V4
- + Successfully captures the requested 'big expressive eyes' for a very cute effect.
- + Dynamic composition with animals running directly toward the viewer.
- + High level of fur detail on the puppy and fox.
- − The bunny has serious anatomical issues, appearing to have three ears or a distorted head shape.
- − Some butterflies appear to be floating or clipping awkwardly in the foreground.
Verdict: FLUX.2 [max] is the winner due to its superior anatomical correctness and technical execution of lighting effects like dew sparkles and god rays. While Recraft V4 captures the 'expressive eyes' very well, it suffers from a significant anatomical glitch on the rabbit and a more cluttered foreground.
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.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Excellent typography following the curve of the emblem
- + Contains all requested elements including the 'Est. 1720' banner
- + Authentic vintage paper texture on the background
Recraft V4
- + Strong minimalist vector aesthetic
- + Sophisticated use of negative space and shading on the cloche
- + Elegant custom serif typography
- − Failed to include a 'banner' as requested in the prompt
- − Missing the requested subtle background texture
- − Layout feels slightly bottom-heavy compared to the circular emblem style requested
Verdict: FLUX.2 [max] followed the prompt more meticulously, incorporating the specific circular vector emblem style and the required banner for the date. While Recraft V4 produced a very stylish minimalist logo with better font weights, it missed the banner and the specific background texture requested. FLUX.2 [max] is the winner for its superior prompt adherence and balanced composition.
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.”
FLUX.2 [max]
Recraft V4
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [max]
- + Excellent integration of the trajectory arc between the panels.
- + Consistently follows the NASA-inspired color palette with a modern aesthetic.
- + Includes accurate names of the three crew members with distinct icons.
- − Confusing text labels where 'Earth Orbit' is repeated three times at the top of panels.
- − The rocket design is more generic than a Saturn V specifically requested.
Recraft V4
- + Perfect logical flow of images matching all six requested steps 1 through 6.
- + Highly legible typography with clear headers and sub-headers.
- + Strict adherence to the flat-vector style with professional, clean iconography.
- − The 'Lunar Module' icon for descent and landing is quite abstract and less representative of the actual vehicle.
- − Composition is a bit scattered across the white space compared to a standard poster layout.
Verdict: Recraft V4 is the winner because it successfully followed the sequential instructions for all six mission steps without repeating labels, whereas FLUX.2 [max] failed at the labeling logic by repeating 'Earth Orbit' across different phases. Recraft V4 also captured a cleaner, more authentic flat-vector infographic style that resembles an actual educational poster.
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