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Qwen Image Alibaba Recraft V4.1 Pro Recraft AI

Settled by community votes across 13 shared challenges, with an AI judge weighing in on each.

Qwen Image

21.4 arena score

#34 of 62 in Text-to-Image

Skill signature · Text-to-Image

Recraft V4.1 Pro

20.7 arena score

#38 of 62 in Text-to-Image

Vote tally

Where the votes landed

Qwen Image

0%

win rate

Ties

0%

Recraft V4.1 Pro

0%

win rate

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.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Excellent adherence to the 'plant behind the cube visible through the glass' instruction
  • + Clean and distinct spatial arrangement of all objects
  • + Highly realistic soft window lighting and depth of field
  • The glass cube has some internal reflections that look like extra structural panes

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + Beautiful texture on the red book cover
  • + Very realistic glass refraction and light play on the sphere
  • + Strong contrast and high-quality wood grain
  • The plant is barely visible through the cube, failing that specific prompt detail
  • The sphere appears more black/dark navy than the requested blue

Verdict: Qwen Image followed the complex spatial instructions perfectly, ensuring the plant was visible through the glass cube as requested. While Recraft V4.1 Pro produced a more tactile image with superior textures on the book and table, it failed to clearly render the plant through the glass and the sphere was too dark.

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.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Excellent handling of reflections on the wet pavement
  • + Very high technical clarity for a cinematic look
  • + Anatomically correct hands and a more complete bicycle structure
  • Missed the request for motion blur on passing cars
  • Framing is very clean and centered, lacking the 'imperfect' candid feel requested

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + Successfully captured the requested motion blur on passing cars
  • + Effective use of 'imperfect framing' with a tighter crop that feels like a candid street snapshot
  • + Stronger adherence to the requested aesthetic of natural skin texture and no stylization
  • Noticeable anatomical distortion around the man's neck and hands
  • The rain effect looks like a static overlay rather than integrated environmental moisture

Verdict: Recraft V4.1 Pro followed the complex prompt instructions much more closely, delivering the motion blur and imperfect framing that Qwen Image ignored. While Qwen Image is technically cleaner with better reflections, it lacks the 'candid street' atmosphere and specific photographic effects requested.

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.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Strong adherence to the 'torchlight' prompt with a visible light source
  • + Detailed engraving on the plate armor
  • + Clear depiction of the braided hair and beads
  • The scars look a bit like digital paint or face paint rather than integrated flesh
  • Skin texture is slightly smoothed compared to the armor
  • The beads look a bit modern/plastic

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + Exceptional lifelike skin texture and realistic scarring/dirt
  • + Superb detail on leather straps and cloth layers
  • + Cinematic shallow depth of field and beautiful bokeh
  • The warm torchlight effect is more subtle and less directional than model A
  • Armor engravings are slightly less sharp than the facial details

Verdict: Recraft V4.1 Pro produces a significantly more lifelike and gritty image, excelling in the 'battle-worn' aesthetic and skin texture. While Qwen Image provides a very clear interpretation of the prompt with a literal torch light source, Recraft V4.1 Pro feels more professional and cinematic, with superior rendering of materials like leather and hair.

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.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Excellent grid layout of images
  • + Strong bold sans-serif typography that fits the minimalist brand
  • + Clean white background with pops of vibrant color
  • Nonsensical text and gibberish menu item names
  • Lack of actual food descriptions

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + Perfectly legible, high-quality text for all menu items and descriptions
  • + Accurate sections for appetizers, pizza, and mains
  • + Professional use of color accents to categorize food types
  • The grid of photos is less structured than Image A
  • The text-dense layout leans more towards a traditional flyer than a high-concept minimalist grid

Verdict: Recraft V4.1 Pro is the clear winner due to its ability to render perfect, legible text and logical menu sections that look like a real-world design. While Qwen Image captured the artistic minimalist grid aesthetic slightly better, its failure to generate readable text makes it less functional for a design task.

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.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Vibrant, warm lighting that perfectly matches the fiery ember background.
  • + Excellent rendering of the burger texture, particularly the bun seeds and the charred patty.
  • + The glowing neon text effect for 'MAGIC BURGER' is highly appealing and fits the commercial theme.
  • The 'exploded' effect is less literal, with the core burger remaining largely intact while small pieces fly off.
  • The starburst for the price is a bit cartoony compared to the rest of the realistic textures.

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + Perfectly captures the 'exploded burger' prompt with clear air gaps between every main component.
  • + The price starburst is rendered as a realistic explosion, which is very creative.
  • + Text for 'MAGIC BURGER' uses a complex, fiery texture that adheres closely to the prompt.
  • The composition feels slightly more static despite the separated layers.
  • The background is mostly dark smoke rather than the requested 'fiery background with glowing embers'.

Verdict: Recraft V4.1 Pro followed the structural instructions for an 'exploded' burger much better, creating clear separation between all requested ingredients. However, Qwen Image produced a more visually cohesive and appetizing commercial aesthetic with superior lighting and a more balanced layout. While Recraft V4.1 Pro wins on prompt technicalities like the starburst explosion and text texture, Qwen Image feels like a more polished final advertisement.

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.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Excellent layout with a clean wooden frame and cafe background.
  • + The text is very legible and follows the requested menu items almost perfectly.
  • Includes a major spelling/logic error in the year ('20026').
  • The 'chalk' texture looks more like a digital marker or clean font rather than realistic dusty chalk.

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + Highly realistic chalk texture with genuine dusty artifacts and smudges.
  • + Captured the correct date ('2026') perfectly.
  • + The handwriting looks truly manual with natural variations in letter size and slant.
  • The 'Today's Specials' title is less 'elegant cursive' than requested, appearing more like casual print.
  • Slightly tighter cropping on the chalkboard compared to Model A.

Verdict: Recraft V4.1 Pro is the clear winner because it achieved a much more realistic chalk-on-blackboard aesthetic, whereas Qwen Image looks like a digital font overlay. Recraft V4.1 Pro also followed the chronological detail of the prompt accurately, while Qwen Image added an extra zero to the year.

The Reversed Rodeo

Text-to-Image

“Horse riding astronaut in space — horse on top, not vice versa. Surreal, highly detailed, cinematic.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Clean and clear composition
  • + Rider and horse are well-proportioned
  • + High-quality lighting on the astronaut suit
  • The horse's hooves are rendered incorrectly, looking like human feet or stumps
  • The horse's rear legs has anatomical issues

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + Stunning cinematic background with realistic nebulae and stars
  • + Dynamic sense of motion and better textures overall
  • + Correct anatomical rendering of the horse's hooves
  • The horse's front legs are slightly awkwardly tucked
  • The astronaut's posture is a bit stiff

Verdict: Both models failed the specific prompt instruction to place the horse on top of the astronaut, instead defaults to the standard 'astronaut riding a horse'. Between the two, Recraft V4.1 Pro produces a significantly more cinematic and detailed image with superior background elements and correct horse anatomy, whereas Qwen Image suffers from glaring issues with the horse's hooves.

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.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Excellent fur lighting and texture detail.
  • + Perfectly captures the 'bored' expression of the passenger.
  • + The taxi sign and interior look more realistic and cleaner.
  • The capybara's hands/paws look slightly too primate-like rather than anatomical capybara paws.
  • The 'YOXI' text on the roof sign is slightly distorted.

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + High cinematic quality with natural bokeh in the background.
  • + Good anatomical representation of the capybara's paws on the wheel.
  • + Accurate text on the taxi roof sign.
  • The passenger's face is quite blurry compared to the driver.
  • The capybara's hat looks a bit more like a casual flat cap than a specific taxi driver uniform hat.

Verdict: Both models followed the prompt exceptionally well, capturing the surreal humor of the scene with photorealistic execution. Qwen Image produced a cleaner, sharper image with a better realization of the bored passenger, whereas Recraft V4.1 Pro offered a more cinematic atmosphere and better paw anatomy, though it lost some focus on the passenger.

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.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Successfully includes the thorn and web border as requested.
  • + The scroll banner is well-integrated into the design.
  • + Excellent atmospheric lighting on the Jack-O-Lantern and trees.
  • The main title has a spelling error ('Hallow Party' instead of 'Halloween Party').
  • The border feels a bit flat and more like a modern graphic overlay rather than vintage parchment.

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + Perfect text rendering for both the title and the event details.
  • + Highly detailed textures on the pumpkin, trees, and parchment background.
  • + Sophisticated gothic typography that fits the 'elegant' prompt description.
  • The thorn border is less distinct compared to the web elements.
  • The banner is smaller and less central than in Image A.

Verdict: Recraft V4.1 Pro is the clear winner due to its superior text rendering, correctly spelling 'Halloween' and providing a more polished, professional layout. While Qwen Image captures a nice spooky atmosphere, the significant typo in the main header and the simpler graphic style make it less effective as a functional invitation.

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.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Excellent miniature 3D cartoon aesthetic with soft, clay-like textures.
  • + Perfectly follows the 45-degree isometric camera angle and diorama base request.
  • + Clean, bold typography that integrates well with the overall design.
  • The flag icon next to the text is slightly distorted into a square with a central dot rather than a standard flag.
  • The placement of the large flag pole on the diorama feels slightly cluttered.

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + Very high-quality PBR materials, especially on the fish textures and individual rice grains.
  • + Accurate recreation of the Japanese flag icon next to the text.
  • + Clean and modern typography with professional spacing.
  • The camera angle is more vertical than the requested 45-degree isometric perspective.
  • The diorama base filled with loose rice looks a bit messy compared to the 'ultra-clean' requirement.

Verdict: Qwen Image better captures the specific 'isometric miniature cartoon' style requested, featuring a cohesive diorama aesthetic and the correct 45-degree perspective. Recraft V4.1 Pro has superior material realism and better flag icons, but it misses the specific isometric framing and stylistic charm of the 3D cartoon prompt.

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.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Excellent centered composition with all animals clearly visible.
  • + Strong lighting effects with prominent god rays and dew sparkles.
  • The animals have a slightly smoother, painterly 'clay' look rather than true photorealistic fur.
  • The dog is static while the prompt requested 'tumbling and chasing'.

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + Successfully captures the dynamic 'tumbling' and 'chasing' action requested in the prompt.
  • + Superior textures in fur and plants, appearing much more like a high-resolution photograph.
  • The fox is partially cropped and located at the very edge of the frame.
  • The lighting looks a bit harsh/blown out in the top left corner.

Verdict: Recraft V4.1 Pro is the winner because it successfully captured the 'tumbling' action and hyper-photorealistic texture requested, whereas Qwen Image felt more like a posed, stylized illustration. While Qwen Image had a cleaner composition, Recraft V4.1 Pro felt more alive and technically impressive in its rendering of light and fur.

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.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Excellent adherence to the 'vintage' and 'retro' style through texture and color.
  • + Bold and clear 'Est. 1720' banner.
  • + Strong vector aesthetic with a nice cream-toned background.
  • Text rendering for 'Caffè Florian' is messy with overlapping and jumbled letters.

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + Perfectly rendered typography that is sharp and professional.
  • + Clean, minimalist composition that fits the 'logo' request well.
  • + Accurate interpretation of the cloche dome and steam.
  • The 'Est. 1720' text is very small and lacks the 'banner' prominence requested.
  • Colors are slightly less 'warm' than requested, leaning more toward a standard brown.

Verdict: Recraft V4.1 Pro is the clear winner because it produces legible, professional typography, whereas Qwen Image's main text is unintelligible and poorly composed. While Qwen Image captured the vintage texture and banner style better, Recraft V4.1 Pro's clean vector appearance and perfect spelling make it far more usable as a logo.

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.”

Qwen Image
Recraft V4.1 Pro

AI Judge Analysis

Qwen Image

  • + Successfully used the requested navy background color.
  • + Captures a playful, modern vector style with good iconography for the lunar module.
  • Included internal prompt instructions like '(Stop at landing)' and 'Wicon)' in the actual text.
  • Text spelling is poor, with errors like 'Sarth', 'Aldlin', and 'Arnnstrong'.
  • Failed to follow the numbered sequence correctly, jumping from 2 to 4.

Recraft V4.1 Pro

  • + Excellent text rendering with no spelling errors and clean typography.
  • + Perfect adherence to the flat-vector infographic style and color palette.
  • + Followed the logical flow of the requested mission steps accurately with high-quality icons.
  • Numbered two sections as '05' instead of '05' and '06'.
  • The white background makes the composition feel slightly less 'NASA-inspired' than a dark-mode design might have.

Verdict: Recraft V4.1 Pro is the clear winner as it produced a professional, usable infographic with correct spelling and high-quality iconography. Qwen Image failed significantly by including parts of the prompt text (like 'Stop at landing') inside the image and suffered from numerous spelling hallucinations.

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