SeeDream Image Generation API: Generate High-Resolution Images in a Single Call, with Real Examples and Costs

SeeDream is a text-to-image / image-to-image model from ByteDance's Doubao series, strong in high resolution and image texture—it can generate images up to 2K/4K, making it well suited for scenarios that need to "look refined," such as product images, posters, and commercial-grade still life.

This article explains how to use the SeeDream API on Ace Data Cloud. The endpoint is POST https://api.acedata.cloud/seedream/images, and the documentation is at platform.acedata.cloud/documents/seedream-images. You can use it by getting a Token from the console, and the first application includes free credits.

First Look at Real Generated Images and Real Costs

The image below is a minimalist studio shot generated with doubao-seedream-5-0-lite-260128. The actual cost recorded by the platform for this call was 0.3404 credits (list_amount 0.37), not an estimate, but the amount actually charged.

Minimalist studio shot generated by SeeDream

Basic Usage: Text-to-Image

The simplest usage is action: generate + an English prompt:

curl -X POST 'https://api.acedata.cloud/seedream/images' \
  -H 'accept: application/json' \
  -H 'authorization: Bearer {token}' \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '{
    "action": "generate",
    "model": "doubao-seedream-5-0-lite-260128",
    "prompt": "A single matte blue cube centered on a clean white studio background, neutral lighting"
  }'

In the response, data[].image_url is the generated image, and size is the actual pixel size:

{
  "success": true,
  "task_id": "80ceeed1-17d4-4eb7-82e0-18b34290f36e",
  "trace_id": "96b7fdc8-0fc8-4e2e-82a9-83c0a82f0a08",
  "data": [
    {
      "prompt": "A single matte blue cube centered on a clean white studio background, neutral lighting",
      "size": "2048x2048",
      "image_url": "https://platform2.cdn.acedata.cloud/seedream/db93b46e-c302-4676-8a11-63f0ba638a27.jpg"
    }
  ]
}

Image generation takes a little time. If you do not want the request to remain waiting, adding "async": true will immediately return task_id, then poll /seedream/tasks:

curl -X POST 'https://api.acedata.cloud/seedream/tasks' \
  -H 'authorization: Bearer {token}' \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '{"id": "81246f86-05ff-4d7d-9553-1013e0c1cd32", "action": "retrieve"}'

Image-to-Image: Change Materials, Switch Styles, Unify Multiple Images

To modify based on an existing image, simply pass image (URL or Base64, multiple images are supported). For example, keep the model's pose unchanged and only change the clothing material from metal to transparent water:

{
  "model": "doubao-seedream-4-0-250828",
  "prompt": "Keep the model pose and the garment shape unchanged. Change the clothing material from silver metal to completely transparent water, showing skin details through the flow, refraction instead of reflection.",
  "image": ["https://.../source.png"]
}

How to Choose Models and Sizes

model must use the full model string (passing abbreviations such as doubao-seedream-5.0-lite will result in a 400 error). Some commonly used ones:

  • doubao-seedream-5-0-lite-260128 (5.0 Lite, default, latest) — supports 2K/3K/4K, image groups, streaming, and web search;
  • doubao-seedream-5-0-pro-260628 (5.0 Pro, flagship single image) — generates single images only, with the highest image quality, supports blending 1–10 input images;
  • doubao-seedream-4-5-251128 / doubao-seedream-4-0-250828 — support single-image/multi-image input, image editing, and image groups.

There are two ways to specify size, and they cannot be mixed:

  1. Preset resolutions (size: "2K" / "4K", etc.; the supported tiers differ by model), describe the aspect ratio in natural language in the prompt;
  2. Pixel values (such as size: "2048x2048"), where the total pixels and aspect-ratio range differ by model.

Other commonly used options: response_format (url by default / b64_json), watermark (true by default, can be turned off for commercial use), output_format (jpeg / png, supported only by the 5.0 series).

What to Do with It

  • E-commerce product images: Generate commercial-grade still-life/scenario images with one prompt, replacing some studio photography;
  • Posters and covers: Use high resolution directly for printing or large screens;
  • Image groups/series images: Use sequential_image_generation to generate a group of related images with a unified style at once, which is convenient for image collections for content accounts.

Among these use cases, "batch-generating high-quality product images" is a link that can be directly monetized—this is exactly what many small merchants lack. Put the tool link you use on your homepage, and use the Ace Data Cloud Revenue Alliance to earn commission from consumption by users who register through you; or package the above workflow into a small tool called "enter a description, generate product images with one click" and sell it to merchants. Your cost is the usage-based portion charged by the platform (for example, 0.34 credits for the image above).

First use the free credits to generate one image and see the texture, then decide which model and size to integrate into your workflow.