ByteDance

Seedream 5.0 Lite

Name: Seedream 5.0 Lite
Brand: ByteDance
Price: 0.035 USD
Availability: InStock

AI Image Editing Model

Image Featured #6 Image-to-Image

ByteDance's image generation model with built-in reasoning, example-based editing, and deep domain knowledge, supporting up to 3K resolution

Try Model Benchmark examples

3072 x 3072

Max Resolution

Supported Modes

Text to Image Image Edit

Active

Details

Model ID

seedream-5-lite

Also known as: seedream-5.0-lite

Creator

ByteDance

Family

seedream

Max Input Images

Ready to integrate?

Access seedream-5-lite via our unified API.

Create Account

Available at 3 providers

Starting from

$0.035 /image via BytePlus, fal.ai, Replicate

Prices shown are in USD

See all providers

Provider Performance

Fastest generation through replicate at 44,770ms median latency with 91.2% success rate.

Aggregated from real API requests over the last 30 days.

Generation Time

replicate

p95: 60,152ms

Success Rate

replicate

91.2%

93 / 102 requests

Time to First Byte

replicate

43,246ms

p95: 57,483ms

Provider Rankings

#	Provider	p50 Gen Time	p95 Gen Time	Success Rate	TTFB (p50)
1	replicate	44,770ms	60,152ms	91.2%	43,246ms

Data updated every 15 minutes. Based on all API requests through Lumenfall over the last 30 days.

Providers & Pricing (3)

Seedream 5.0 Lite is available from 3 providers, with per-image pricing starting at $0.035 through BytePlus.

BytePlus

Text to Image Image Edit

byteplus/seedream-5-lite

Provider Model ID: seedream-5-0-lite

$0.035 /image

View pricing details

fal.ai

Image Edit

fal/seedream-5-lite-edit

Provider Model ID: fal-ai/bytedance/seedream/v5/lite/edit

$0.035 /image

View pricing details

Replicate

Text to Image Image Edit

replicate/seedream-5-lite

Provider Model ID: bytedance/seedream-5-lite

$0.035 /image

View pricing details

seedream-5.0-lite API OpenAI-compatible

Lumenfall provides an OpenAI-compatible API to generate 3K resolution images and perform example-based image editing using Seedream 5.0 Lite. This unified integration allows developers to programmatically access ByteDance's text-to-image and image-to-image capabilities with a single endpoint.

Base URL

https://api.lumenfall.ai/openai/v1

Model

seedream-5-lite

Code Examples

Text to Image

/v1/images/generations

curl -X POST \

  https://api.lumenfall.ai/openai/v1/images/generations \

  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LUMENFALL_API_KEY" \

  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \

  -d '{

    "model": "seedream-5-lite",

    "prompt": "",

    "size": "1024x1024"

}'

# Response:

# { "created": 1234567890, "data": [{ "url": "https://...", "revised_prompt": "..." }] }

import OpenAI from 'openai';

const client = new OpenAI({

  apiKey: 'YOUR_API_KEY',

  baseURL: 'https://api.lumenfall.ai/openai/v1'

});

const response = await client.images.generate({

  model: 'seedream-5-lite',

  prompt: '',

  size: '1024x1024'

});

// { created: 1234567890, data: [{ url: "https://...", revised_prompt: "..." }] }

console.log(response.data[0].url);

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(

    api_key="YOUR_API_KEY",

    base_url="https://api.lumenfall.ai/openai/v1"

response = client.images.generate(

    model="seedream-5-lite",

    prompt="",

    size="1024x1024"

# { created: 1234567890, data: [{ url: "https://...", revised_prompt: "..." }] }

print(response.data[0].url)

Image Edit

/v1/images/edits

curl -X POST \

  https://api.lumenfall.ai/openai/v1/images/edits \

  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LUMENFALL_API_KEY" \

  -F "model=seedream-5-lite" \

  -F "[email protected]" \

  -F "prompt=Add a starry night sky to this image" \

  -F "size=1024x1024"

# Response:

# { "created": 1234567890, "data": [{ "url": "https://...", "revised_prompt": "..." }] }

import OpenAI from 'openai';

import fs from 'fs';

const client = new OpenAI({

  apiKey: 'YOUR_API_KEY',

  baseURL: 'https://api.lumenfall.ai/openai/v1'

});

const response = await client.images.edit({

  model: 'seedream-5-lite',

  image: fs.createReadStream('source.png'),

  prompt: 'Add a starry night sky to this image',

  size: '1024x1024'

});

// { created: 1234567890, data: [{ url: "https://...", revised_prompt: "..." }] }

console.log(response.data[0].url);

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(

    api_key="YOUR_API_KEY",

    base_url="https://api.lumenfall.ai/openai/v1"

response = client.images.edit(

    model="seedream-5-lite",

    image=open("source.png", "rb"),

    prompt="Add a starry night sky to this image",

    size="1024x1024"

# { created: 1234567890, data: [{ url: "https://...", revised_prompt: "..." }] }

print(response.data[0].url)

Parameter Reference

Required Supported Not available

Core Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description	Modes
`prompt`	string	Required. Text prompt for image generation	T2I Edit

Size & Layout

Parameter	Type	Description	Modes
`size`	string	Image dimensions as WxH pixels (e.g. "1024x1024") or aspect ratio (e.g. "16:9") WxH determines both shape and scale (aspect_ratio and resolution are ignored when size is provided). W:H format is equivalent to aspect_ratio.	T2I Edit
`aspect_ratio`	string	Aspect ratio of the output image (e.g. "16:9", "1:1") Controls shape independently of scale. Use with resolution to control both. If size is also provided, size takes precedence. Any ratio is accepted and mapped to the nearest supported value.	T2I Edit
`resolution`	string	Output resolution tier (e.g. "1K", "4K") `auto` `1K` Controls scale independently of shape. Higher tiers produce larger images and cost more. If size is also provided, size takes precedence for scale. Any tier is accepted and mapped to the nearest supported value.	T2I Edit

Output	`size`		`aspect_ratio` + `resolution`
Flexible
Auto	`"auto"`	—	Model chooses optimal dimensions
Custom 1–14142px per side	`"WxH"`	—	Any pixel dimensions within model constraints

1K 8 sizes

Output	`size`		`aspect_ratio` + `resolution`
1183 × 887	`"1183x887"`	or	`"4:3"` + `"1K"`
1024 × 1024	`"1024x1024"`	or	`"1:1"` + `"1K"`
887 × 1182	`"887x1182"`	or	`"3:4"` + `"1K"`
836 × 1254	`"836x1254"`	or	`"2:3"` + `"1K"`
1254 × 836	`"1254x836"`	or	`"3:2"` + `"1K"`
768 × 1365	`"768x1365"`	or	`"9:16"` + `"1K"`
1365 × 768	`"1365x768"`	or	`"16:9"` + `"1K"`
1563 × 670	`"1563x670"`	or	`"21:9"` + `"1K"`

How these parameters work

size

Exact pixel dimensions

"1920x1080"

aspect_ratio

Shape only, default scale

"16:9"

resolution

Scale tier, preserves shape

"1K"

Priority when combined

size › aspect_ratio + resolution › aspect_ratio › resolution

size is most specific and always wins. aspect_ratio and resolution control shape and scale independently.

How matching works

Shape matching – we pick the closest supported ratio. Ask for 7:1 on a model with 4:1 and 8:1, you get 8:1.

Scale matching – providers use different tier formats: K tiers (0.5K 1K 2K 4K) or megapixel tiers (0.25 1). If the exact tier isn't available, you get the nearest one.

Dimension clamping – if a model has pixel limits, we clamp dimensions to fit and keep the aspect ratio intact.

Media Inputs

Parameter	Type	Description	Modes
`image`	file	Required. Input image(s) to edit Supports PNG, JPEG, WebP.	T2I Edit

Output & Format

Parameter	Type	Description	Modes
`response_format`	string	How to return the image `url` `b64_json` Default: `"url"`	T2I Edit
`output_format`	string	Output image format `png` `jpeg` `gif` `webp` `avif` Gateway converts to requested format if provider doesn't support it natively.	T2I Edit
`output_compression`	integer	Compression level for lossy formats (JPEG, WebP, AVIF)	T2I Edit
`n`	integer	Number of images to generate Default: `1` Gateway generates multiple images in parallel even if provider only supports 1.	T2I Edit

Additional Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description	Modes
`enable_safety_checker` fal	boolean	If set to true, the safety checker will be enabled.	T2I Edit
`sequential_image_generation` replicate	string	Group image generation mode. 'disabled' generates a single image. 'auto' lets the model decide whether to generate multiple related images (e.g., story scenes, character variations). `disabled`	T2I Edit
`sync_mode` fal	boolean	If `True`, the media will be returned as a data URI and the output data won't be available in the request history.	T2I Edit

Parameter Normalization

How we handle parameters across different providers

Not every provider speaks the same language. When you send a parameter, we handle it in one of four ways depending on what the model supports:

Behavior	What happens	Example
`passthrough`	Sent as-is to the provider	style, quality
`renamed`	Same value, mapped to the field name the provider expects	prompt
`converted`	Transformed to the provider's native format	size
`emulated`	Works even if the provider has no concept of it	n, response_format

Parameters we don't recognize pass straight through to the upstream API, so provider-specific options still work.

Full API Reference Authentication, endpoints, and more

Seedream 5.0 Lite Benchmarks

Seedream 5.0 Lite holds the #8 rank for image editing with a 1215 Elo and the #15 rank for text-to-image generation with a 1239 Elo. These rankings reflect its strength in modifying existing visuals while maintaining competitive performance in general image creation.

Lumenfall Arena

Image Editing

1217 Elo

Lumenfall Arena

#13

Text-to-Image

1250 Elo

Image Editing Landscape

Elo vs Cost

Elo vs Speed

1 without speed data omitted.

Text-to-Image Landscape

Elo vs Cost

Elo vs Speed

10 without speed data omitted.

Competition Results

Image Editing

Photorealism

View leaderboard

Seedream 5.0 Lite edited result for Bald man challenge

Original image before Seedream 5.0 Lite editing

Before After

Bald man challenge

15 models

Image Editing

Edit instruction

“Give the person a full, thick head of natural hair with realistic texture, density, and a natural hairline. Preserve facial features and lighting.”

Seedream 5.0 Lite edited result for Neutral Expression to Genuine Smile

Before After

Neutral Expression to Genuine Smile

14 models

Image Editing

Edit instruction

{
  "action": "image_edit",
  "reference": "uploaded neutral portrait",
  "change": "Warm genuine Duchenne smile: lips curved up, slight natural teeth, soft eye crinkles, subtle cheek raise",
  "details": "Realistic smiling skin (dimples if present, soft cheek shadows), slightly brighter eyes; keep exact eye shape/color/iris",
  "preserve_exact": "Face identity/structure, eyes/nose/lips/eyebrows, hair, skin texture/pores/freckles, makeup, clothing, head pose, background, lighting, shadows, framing",
  "no_changes": "No face shape change, no new features, no gaze shift, no hair/clothing/lighting/background edits",
  "style": "Ultra-photorealistic 8K portrait, sharp face focus, natural soft lighting, realistic skin glow"
}

Seedream 5.0 Lite edited result for Night Sky Transformation

Before After

Night Sky Transformation

16 models

Image Editing

Edit instruction

“Change the scene to night: a deep, dark sky with subtle, glistening stars visible behind the mountain.”

#11

Man and Car in California

13 models

Image Editing

Source

Edit instruction

“Make a photo of the man driving the car down the California coastline”

Golden Hour Stroll

13 models

Image Editing

Source

Edit instruction

“Add dynamic motion to this photo: make hair blow in the wind, add leaves flying, energetic and lively feel.”

Text-to-Image

Text Rendering

View leaderboard

Modern Clean Menu

19 models

Text-to-Image

Prompt

“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.”

Vintage Cafe Logo

21 models

Text-to-Image

Prompt

“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.”

#15

Apollo 11: Journey to Tranquility

19 models

Text-to-Image

Prompt

“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.”

Image Editing

Anime

View leaderboard

#11

Studio Ghibli Anime Style

14 models

Image Editing

Source

Edit instruction

“Transform this photo into a Studio Ghibli–inspired illustration. Use soft pastel colors, hand-painted textures, gentle lighting, dreamy backgrounds, and a warm, nostalgic mood”

Image Editing

Portrait

View leaderboard

Before After

Bald man challenge

15 models

Image Editing

Edit instruction

“Give the person a full, thick head of natural hair with realistic texture, density, and a natural hairline. Preserve facial features and lighting.”

Before After

Neutral Expression to Genuine Smile

14 models

Image Editing

Edit instruction

{
  "action": "image_edit",
  "reference": "uploaded neutral portrait",
  "change": "Warm genuine Duchenne smile: lips curved up, slight natural teeth, soft eye crinkles, subtle cheek raise",
  "details": "Realistic smiling skin (dimples if present, soft cheek shadows), slightly brighter eyes; keep exact eye shape/color/iris",
  "preserve_exact": "Face identity/structure, eyes/nose/lips/eyebrows, hair, skin texture/pores/freckles, makeup, clothing, head pose, background, lighting, shadows, framing",
  "no_changes": "No face shape change, no new features, no gaze shift, no hair/clothing/lighting/background edits",
  "style": "Ultra-photorealistic 8K portrait, sharp face focus, natural soft lighting, realistic skin glow"
}

Text-to-Image

Photorealism

View leaderboard

Candid Street Photography

24 models

Text-to-Image

Prompt

“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.”

Text-to-Image

Product, Branding & Commercial

View leaderboard

Vintage Cafe Logo

21 models

Text-to-Image

Prompt

Text-to-Image

Portrait

View leaderboard

#20

Fantasy Warrior

21 models

Text-to-Image

Prompt

“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.”

Uncategorized

Over-the-top cartoon caricature

13 models

Image Editing

Source

Edit instruction

“Create a caricature of me and my job. Make it exaggerated and humorous, incorporating my profession as a tv show anchor and my love for dogs and hockey.”

Intricate Floral Mandala

15 models

Text-to-Image

Prompt

“Perfectly symmetrical mandala made entirely of real flowers, petals, leaves, fruits, and seeds in vibrant natural colors, intricate layered patterns with radial symmetry, top-down view on a soft neutral background, hyper-detailed organic textures and subtle shadows, photorealistic, 8K masterpiece.”

Victorian Greenhouse Oasis

17 models

Text-to-Image

Prompt

“Hyper-photorealistic interior of a lush Victorian glass greenhouse filled with exotic tropical plants, vibrant blooming orchids, tall ferns, colorful butterflies in flight, sunlight filtering through ornate glass roof creating realistic caustics and dew on leaves, intricate iron framework visible, misty atmosphere, 8K masterpiece.”

#12

Isometric Miniature Diorama Scenes

21 models

Text-to-Image

Prompt

“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.”

#11

Adorable Baby Animals in Sunny Meadow

25 models

Text-to-Image

Prompt

“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.”

#20

Geometric Composition

22 models

Text-to-Image

Prompt

“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.”

#19

Heroic Super Hero Portrait

21 models

Text-to-Image

Prompt

“Hyper-photorealistic full-body portrait of a female superhero standing triumphantly on a New York skyscraper rooftop at golden sunset, wearing a classic modest superhero costume with flowing cape, chest emblem, gloves, and boots in red and blue colors, practical design, short hair, strong determined heroic expression looking into the distance, powerful confident stance with hands on hips and cape billowing dramatically in the wind, detailed urban cityscape background, warm natural sunlight with sharp shadows and fabric highlights, ultra-sharp textures on suit, hair, and concrete, 8K masterpiece, empowering family-friendly style.”

Top Matchups

See how Seedream 5.0 Lite performs head-to-head against other AI models, ranked by community votes in blind comparisons.

vs Nano Banana 2

Challenge: Studio Ghibli Anime Style

33% W · 33% L · 33% T

vs Nano Banana

Challenge: Neutral Expression to Genuine Smile

50% W · 50% L

vs Nano Banana Pro

Challenge: Victorian Greenhouse Oasis

50% W · 50% L

vs Nano Banana Pro

Challenge: Bald man challenge

0% W · 100% L

vs Nano Banana 2

Challenge: Over-the-top cartoon caricature

50% W · 50% L

Seedream 5.0 Lite is best for

See all Use Cases

Seedream 5.0 Lite excels in artistic categories, ranking #2 in Portrait with a 74.2% win rate and #3 in Anime with a 70.0% win rate. It shows lower competitive performance in photorealism, where it currently ranks #20 with a 20.0% win rate.

#2 of 15

Portrait

Edit · 74.5% win rate

#3 of 14

Anime

Edit · 66.7% win rate

#7 of 23

Text Rendering

Gen · 60.7% win rate

#6 of 16

Photorealism

Edit · 51.9% win rate

Gallery

View all 23 images

Seedream 5.0 Lite FAQ

How much does Seedream 5.0 Lite cost?

Seedream 5.0 Lite starts at $0.035 per image through Lumenfall. Pricing varies by provider. Lumenfall does not add any markup to provider pricing.

How do I use Seedream 5.0 Lite via API?

You can use Seedream 5.0 Lite through Lumenfall's OpenAI-compatible API. Send requests to the unified endpoint with model ID "seedream-5-lite". Code examples are available in Python, JavaScript, and cURL.

Which providers offer Seedream 5.0 Lite?

Seedream 5.0 Lite is available through Replicate, BytePlus, and fal.ai on Lumenfall. Lumenfall automatically routes requests to the best available provider.

What is the maximum resolution for Seedream 5.0 Lite?

Seedream 5.0 Lite supports images up to 3072x3072 resolution.

Overview

Seedream 5.0 Lite is a diffusion-based image generation model developed by ByteDance that integrates logical reasoning with high-fidelity visual synthesis. Unlike standard text-to-image models, it features native support for example-based editing and is capable of producing outputs at resolutions up to 3K. Its primary distinction lies in its ability to process complex instructions that require deep domain knowledge, bridging the gap between creative prompting and technical accuracy.

Strengths

High-Resolution Output: Native support for generating images at up to 3K resolution, reducing the reliance on external upscalers for detailed assets.
Structured Reasoning: The model utilizes built-in reasoning capabilities to better interpret complex prompts, ensuring that spatial Relationships and multi-subject interactions remain consistent with the input text.
Example-Based Editing: Beyond simple text-to-image, the model excels at image-to-image tasks where an existing image serves as a structural or stylistic reference for modifications.
Domain-Specific Knowledge: Demonstrates a high degree of accuracy when rendering subjects that require specialized knowledge, such as technical diagrams, specific architectural styles, or culturally nuanced details.

Limitations

Computational Latency: Due to the internal reasoning steps and high-resolution output capabilities, inference times may be longer compared to more streamlined, lower-resolution diffusion models.
Lite vs. Full Tradeoffs: As a “Lite” version, this model is optimized for a specific balance of speed and cost; it may lack some of the extreme atmospheric nuance or compositional complexity found in larger, non-lite iterations of the Seedream family.
Consistency in Sequence: While strong at individual image generation and editing, maintaining strict character or environmental consistency across a long sequence of many disparate images can still require significant prompt engineering.

Technical Background

Seedream 5.0 Lite belongs to the Seedream family of multimodal models, utilizing an architecture that accepts both text and image inputs. A key technical decision in its development was the integration of a reasoning module that pre-processes prompts to ensure logical consistency before the diffusion process begins. This allows the model to handle “long-tail” knowledge prompts that typically challenge general-purpose generators.

Best For

Seedream 5.0 Lite is best suited for professional design workflows where resolution and adherence to specific references are critical, such as concept art, marketing assets, and iterative image editing. It is particularly effective for users who need to perform “resynthesis” or stylistic transfers using an example image as a baseline.

You can experiment with Seedream 5.0 Lite and integrate it into your production environment through Lumenfall’s unified API and playground, which provides a consistent interface for testing its 3K output and reasoning capabilities.

Try Seedream 5.0 Lite in Playground

Generate images with custom prompts — no API key needed.

Open Playground