AI image styles tested on 3 models
Each style below went to Nano Banana 2.1, GPT Image 2 and Seedream 5 Pro with the exact same prompt and the same scene: an old fisherman mending a net beside a red boat called "MARA". Copy any prompt, and see which model gets that style right. Every image is real model output, two per model, no edits.
Scorecard
| Model | Best for the style | Style match (avg of 3) | "MARA" spelled right | Cost per image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPT Image 2 | 4 of 10 | 3.0 | 19 of 20 | $0.20 |
| Nano Banana 2.1 | 1 of 10 | 2.7 | 18 of 20 | $0.06 |
| Seedream 5 Pro | 0 of 10 | 2.7 | 19 of 20 | $0.09 |
"Best for the style" counts styles where both of our reviewers, judging blind, picked this model's image. Style match averages both reviewers' 0–3 scores for the listed style traits. Two images per model per style can't show everything; treat it as a guide.
- Watercolour
- Ukiyo-e woodblock print
- Comic book
- Claymation
- 35mm film photo
- Worm's-eye view (low angle)
- Neon night lighting
- Art deco poster
- Isometric 3D diorama
- Die-cut sticker
Watercolour
A loose watercolour painting of an old fisherman mending a net beside a small red boat named "MARA" in a quiet harbour. Soft wet-on-wet washes, visible paper texture, colour bleeding at the edges, white paper left for highlights.
What makes it this style: transparent washes, not opaque paint; colours bleed or bloom at edges; visible paper grain or white paper highlights; loose, unfinished edges rather than hard outlines.
Ukiyo-e woodblock print
A Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print of an old fisherman mending a net beside a small red boat named "MARA" in a quiet harbour. Bold black key lines, flat areas of colour, stylised wave patterns, limited palette of indigo, red and cream, subtle wood grain.
What makes it this style: bold black outlines (key block); flat colour areas, little or no shading; stylised, patterned water or clouds; limited palette with a printed, slightly grainy look.
Reviewers split GPT Image 2 / Seedream 5 Pro
Comic book
A classic comic book panel of an old fisherman mending a net beside a small red boat named "MARA" in a quiet harbour. Inked outlines, halftone dot shading, bright flat colours, dramatic shadows.
What makes it this style: inked black line art; halftone dots or Ben-Day shading; flat bright colours; reads as a single comic panel.
Claymation
A claymation stop-motion scene of an old fisherman mending a net beside a small red boat named "MARA" in a quiet harbour. Everything sculpted from plasticine, visible fingerprints and tool marks, miniature set, soft studio lighting.
What makes it this style: figures and set look sculpted from clay or plasticine; fingerprints, tool marks or slightly lumpy surfaces; miniature set scale; soft, even studio lighting.
35mm film photo
A 35mm film photograph of an old fisherman mending a net beside a small red boat named "MARA" in a quiet harbour. Natural light, visible film grain, slightly warm colour cast, shallow depth of field, candid moment.
What makes it this style: photographic realism; visible film grain; film-like colour (warm cast, soft contrast); candid, unposed framing.
Reviewers split GPT Image 2 / Nano Banana 2.1
Worm's-eye view (low angle)
A worm's-eye view photo looking up from the ground at an old fisherman mending a net beside a small red boat named "MARA" in a quiet harbour. Camera at ground level pointing upward, the fisherman towering against the sky.
What makes it this style: camera clearly below the subject looking up; sky dominates the background; subject appears tall or towering; strong upward perspective lines.
Neon night lighting
An old fisherman mending a net beside a small red boat named "MARA" in a quiet harbour at night, lit by pink and cyan neon signs. Coloured reflections on wet ground and water, deep shadows, glowing highlights on his face and hands.
What makes it this style: night scene; light comes from neon in saturated pink/cyan or similar; coloured reflections on water or wet surfaces; strong contrast with deep shadows.
Art deco poster
An art deco travel poster of an old fisherman mending a net beside a small red boat named "MARA" in a quiet harbour. Geometric shapes, streamlined forms, symmetrical composition, gold and navy palette, sunburst rays.
What makes it this style: geometric, streamlined shapes; symmetry or strong formal composition; poster-like flat rendering; deco motifs such as sunbursts, chevrons or stepped forms.
Reviewers split Nano Banana 2.1 / GPT Image 2
Isometric 3D diorama
An isometric 3D diorama of an old fisherman mending a net beside a small red boat named "MARA" in a quiet harbour, on a small square floating base. Clean 3D render, soft shadows, no perspective distortion.
What makes it this style: isometric angle (parallel lines, no vanishing point); self-contained diorama on a base or tile; clean 3D-rendered look; soft, even shadows.
Reviewers split Nano Banana 2.1 / Seedream 5 Pro
Die-cut sticker
A die-cut sticker design of an old fisherman mending a net beside a small red boat named "MARA". Thick white border around the whole shape, bold simple shapes, flat colours, plain background.
What makes it this style: thick white die-cut border following the outline; plain or empty background; bold simplified shapes; flat colour, sticker-ready.
Reviewers split GPT Image 2 / Seedream 5 Pro
How we tested
Each style has one prompt, written by us, on the same scene, so the only thing that changes is the style. Every model got the same text and no reference image, through the Runway developer API, on November 7, 2026. We asked each model for two square images and kept both, including the bad ones. Output sizes: Nano Banana 2.1 2048×2048, GPT Image 2 1920×1920, Seedream 5 Pro 2048×2048. Images on this page are compressed copies; tap one for the full-size version.
Two reviewers scored every image without knowing which model made it, in a shuffled order: how many of the style's listed traits it shows, whether it follows the scene, whether "MARA" is spelled right, and any obvious defects. We name a "best for this style" model only when both reviewers picked the same one; otherwise the style shows "Reviewers split". Style judgement is partly taste, so look at the images yourself.
Midjourney isn't included: it has no public API, and its terms don't allow automated use. Flux will be added when we run it.
All images are AI-generated tests, not artwork by a person. Style names describe techniques and movements; no living artists or studios are named.
Questions
Which AI image model handles styles best?
In this test, GPT Image 2 was picked best by both reviewers for 4 of 10 styles. Reviewers agreed on a winner for 5 styles (Watercolour: Nano Banana 2.1; Comic book: GPT Image 2; Claymation: GPT Image 2; Worm's-eye view (low angle): GPT Image 2; Neon night lighting: GPT Image 2). Two images per model per style is a small sample, so treat it as a guide.
Can these models write words in images?
We asked for the boat name "MARA" in every image. Both reviewers read it correctly in 19 of 20 GPT Image 2 images, 18 of 20 Nano Banana 2.1 images, 19 of 20 Seedream 5 Pro images.
How much did it cost?
$7.00 for all 60 images at Runway's API prices on November 7, 2026. Per image: GPT Image 2 $0.20, Nano Banana 2.1 $0.06, Seedream 5 Pro $0.09.
Why isn't Midjourney here?
Midjourney has no public API, and its terms don't allow automated use, so it can't be tested the same way as the others.
Are these images edited?
No. Each image is exactly what the model returned. The page shows compressed WebP copies; tap an image for the full-size version.