Text-to-Image vs Image-to-Image: Which Should You Use?
Two of the most-used AI tools sound similar but do different jobs. Knowing which to reach for saves credits and gets you to the result faster.
Text-to-image: start from nothing
Text-to-image creates a brand-new image from a written prompt. Use it when you don't have a reference and want to explore — concepts, scenes, characters from scratch. You control composition entirely through the prompt and aspect ratio.
Image-to-image: transform what you have
Image-to-image takes an existing photo and reshapes it with a prompt — new outfit, new background, new style — while keeping the subject consistent. Use it when you have a reference and want variations, or to keep one character consistent across a whole set.
A simple rule
- No reference, exploring ideas → text-to-image.
- Have a photo, want edits or variations → image-to-image.
- Building a consistent character across many shots → image-to-image (or the AI Character tool).
Both cost 1 credit per generation on FavMe and run, so you can move between them freely as your idea develops.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use text-to-image or image-to-image?
Use text-to-image when you have no reference and want to explore an idea. Use image-to-image when you have a photo and want edits, variations, or to keep a character consistent.
Does image-to-image keep the same face?
Yes — it preserves the subject's identity while changing the outfit, background or style, which is why it's used to build consistent characters.