NewAnimated GIFs from a prompt or a photo

GPT Image
2.6

OpenAI's newest image model, live on imageat. Everything GPT Image 2.5 does, plus animated GIF output: type a prompt or upload a photo and get a looping GIF back.

Try GPT Image 2.6Make a GIF
Cartoon character GIF made with GPT Image 2.6GIF · 9 frames
Animated neon sign GIF made with GPT Image 2.6GIF · 12 frames
Reaction sticker GIF made with GPT Image 2.6GIF · 9 frames

The short answer

GPT Image 2.6 is OpenAI's latest image model and the successor to GPT Image 2.5. It keeps 2.5's five quality tiers, 16 reference images, transparent cut-outs and 1K to 4K output, and adds animated GIFs: from a text prompt, or from an uploaded photo that it animates while keeping the scene. GIFs have 2 to 16 frames with adjustable speed.

It comes in two variants: Flare (fast, the default) and Sunburst (slower, finer detail), at the same price. Stills start at 3 credits; a GIF costs 3 to 16 credits depending on quality, 4 on the default Medium tier. Use it in the web app, through the API with model ids gpt-image-2.6 and gpt-image-2.6-sunburst, or from AI assistants over MCP.

2–16Frames per animated GIF
3Credits for a still or a Low GIF
16Reference images per edit
5Quality tiers, Low to Max
New in 2.6

GPT Image 2.6 GIFs

Every animation below came straight out of GPT Image 2.6 as a GIF. No video model, no frame editing.

Cartoon character GIF generated with GPT Image 2.6: A cute cartoon orange tabby cat sitting and waving its paw at the viewer, bold outlines, plain white background, looping GIF
Cartoon character9 frames
Animated neon sign GIF generated with GPT Image 2.6: A blue and pink neon sign on a dark brick wall that flickers on letter by letter to spell "HELLO", then glows fully lit
Animated neon sign12 frames
Photo to GIF GIF generated with GPT Image 2.6: Animate this scene as a gentle looping GIF: steam rising from the tea glasses, the cat slowly blinking and flicking its tail
Photo to GIF8 frames · from a photo
Cinematic loop GIF generated with GPT Image 2.6: A red vintage convertible driving along a coastal road at sunset, ocean and palm trees beside it, camera tracking alongside, warm film look
Cinematic loop12 frames
Product spin GIF generated with GPT Image 2.6: A matte black wireless earbud case rotating slowly on a plain beige background, soft studio light, smooth product turntable
Product spin12 frames
Reaction sticker GIF generated with GPT Image 2.6: A cute cartoon avocado jumping up in excitement with the text "OMG!" popping above it and little sparkles, sticker style on white
Reaction sticker9 frames
Pixel-art sprite GIF generated with GPT Image 2.6: Pixel-art knight in silver armor with a blue plume and cape, side view walk cycle, 16-bit game sprite on a dark background
Pixel-art sprite8 frames
Open the AI GIF generatorUse it in the image studio
Photo to GIF

Bring a photo to life

Upload an image and describe the motion. GPT Image 2.6 animates that picture and keeps the composition, the colors and the details, so it reads as your photo moving rather than a new image.

Animate a photo
Still photo of a cozy Istanbul street cafe at golden hour with tea glasses and a cat, before animationYour photo
The same Istanbul cafe photo animated into a GIF by GPT Image 2.6: steam rising and the cat blinkingGIF · 8 frames

Prompt: Animate this scene as a gentle looping GIF: steam rising from the tea glasses, the cat slowly blinking and flicking its tail

Everything in 2.5, plus motion

Animated GIFs

Switch the output to GIF and get a looping animation instead of a still: 2 to 16 frames, slow, normal or fast.

Photo to GIF

Upload a picture and describe the motion. 2.6 animates that image and keeps the scene, like a cinemagraph.

Clean text

Signs, posters, labels and stickers come out legible, in stills and inside GIF frames.

Transparent cut-outs

Turn on a transparent background for a PNG with nothing behind the subject, ready for any layout.

16 references

Edit with up to 16 reference images. The change you describe is applied and the rest of the frame stays put.

1K, 2K and 4K

Draft at 1K, then render the keeper at 4K for print, product pages and large screens.

Two variants

Flare or Sunburst

Same prompt, both variants. They cost the same, so choose by speed versus detail.

Istanbul street cafe generated with GPT Image 2.6 FlareFast · default

Flare

gpt-image-2.6

Quick turnaround for drafts, GIFs and most finished work. The right first pick.

Use Flare
Istanbul street cafe generated with GPT Image 2.6 SunburstDetailed

Sunburst

gpt-image-2.6-sunburst

Spends longer per image for finer texture and small detail. Worth it for hero shots.

Use Sunburst

Prompt: A cozy Istanbul street cafe at golden hour, steam rising from tea glasses, a cat on a chair, hand-painted sign reading IMAGEAT CAFE

GPT Image 2.6
pricing

Credits per result, the same for Flare and Sunburst. A GIF draws all of its frames in one pass and is priced as one 4K image at the quality you pick.

QualityImage 1KImage 4KGIF
Low3 credits3 credits3 credits
Medium3 credits4 credits4 credits
High4 credits6 credits6 credits
Extra high6 credits9 credits9 credits
Max10 credits16 credits16 credits

2K images cost the same as 1K. Sign-up is free; credits are used only when a result is generated.

See plans Open the studio

How to use GPT Image 2.6

1

Open GPT Image 2.6

In the image studio, pick GPT Image 2.6. Flare is selected by default; switch to Sunburst for extra detail.

2

Prompt or upload

Describe the image, or upload up to 16 references to edit. Choose ratio, resolution and quality tier.

3

Still or GIF

Keep a still, or set the output to GIF with 2 to 16 frames and a speed. Generate and download.

Start with GPT Image 2.6
API and MCP

GPT Image 2.6 API

One JSON request with model gpt-image-2.6 or gpt-image-2.6-sunburst. Add outputFormat: "gif" with a frame count and speed for an animation; leave it out for a still. AI assistants can call the same models through the imageat MCP server.

API docsMCP setup
curl -X POST "https://imageat.com/api/v1/images" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer iat_live_YOUR_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "gpt-image-2.6",
    "prompt": "A cartoon cat waving its paw, bold outlines, white background",
    "outputFormat": "gif",
    "gifFrames": 9,
    "gifFrameMs": 160
  }'
Free sign-up

Stills and GIFs,
one model

Generate, edit and animate with GPT Image 2.6 from 3 credits per result.

Try GPT Image 2.6Make a GIF

GPT Image 2.6 FAQ

GPT Image 2.6 is OpenAI's latest image model and the successor to GPT Image 2.5. It generates images from text, edits uploaded photos, and is the first GPT Image model that can return an animated GIF. On imageat you get both of its variants, Flare and Sunburst, in the image studio, through the API and over MCP, with no OpenAI account or setup.

GPT Image is developed by OpenAI. imageat is not affiliated with OpenAI.

Explore more

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