Grok Imagine
xAI's image model from Grok, in Quality mode: higher realism, stronger text and better creative control, with up to 4 pictures per run.
Whisperer's verdict: 4.1 / 5
What it nails
- Photos with real skin texture
- Readable labels and menus
- Same product or person in a new scene
Watch out for
- One picture per run when you add a reference
Grok Imagine is xAI's image model, the one inside Grok. The Lab runs it in Quality mode, which xAI launched on 6 May 2026 with a simple promise: "Higher realism. Stronger text rendering. Better creative control." It is especially good at photos that do not look AI-made: natural skin, pores and small imperfections, the look of a real phone or film camera.
At a glance: Grok Imagine. The live spec card, price calculator and Generate button show here on the site.
What Grok Imagine is secretly great at
Photos that look taken, not generated
Ask for "natural skin and pores, skin imperfections" and a real camera look. Grok keeps the texture instead of smoothing faces into plastic.
Photo of a woman with friends at the pool, wide shot, the woman is wearing a swimsuit that's all yellow toned and a matching cover up, looking relaxed, natural skin and pores, skin imperfections, Italian leisure aesthetic, warm afternoon sunlight, high-contrast dappled canopy shadows, deep forest green, terracotta orange, crisp canvas white, herringbone brick textures, medium format editorial photography, analogue film warmth, architectural framing, tranquil luxury vibe, deep depth of field.
Example by xAI · source ↗
Photo of [Influencer brewing morning coffee on tailgate with beautiful sunrise light], soft golden hour natural lighting with warm backlighting and subtle lens flares, warm earthy color palette with golden amber highlights and cool blue sky accents, serene contemplative atmosphere, realistic photographic rendering with natural material textures, balanced natural composition with leading lines, soft shadows and gentle highlights, crisp photorealistic details
Example by xAI · source ↗
Readable labels and menus
Quality mode was built for stronger text. A short request like "high end simple menu" comes back as a complete, readable menu.
High end simple menu of french chocolate deserts
Example by xAI · source ↗
A small perfume bottle with a minimalist label that says 'La Belle Vie', glass luxury perfume bottle with glass cap, standing on a stone villa window overlooking the ocean in warm sunlight, with Mediterranean retro-leisure aesthetic, green and brown hues against an expansive sea and wild flowers backdrop with hues of dark green, muted reds, vibrant greens, blues, pale yellows and natural retro film colors, light reflections cast from the bottle onto the stone, magazine style photo, quiet luxury aesthetic
Example by xAI · source ↗
It knows things
Grok can write a correct little summary of a historical figure, in red frosting, on a cake. Ask for content and let it supply the facts.
Picture of a white frosted cake with a message on it in red frosting explaining in a nutshell who Alexander the Great is.
Example by xAI · source ↗
The same product or person in a new scene
Upload one picture and describe the new scene. xAI shows the same bottle on a printed pamphlet, and the same woman and outfit in a new selfie, the kind of set brands need for social media.
Put this perfume bottle on a print pamphlet that a woman is holding in her hand, POV
Example by xAI · source ↗ · This is an edit: add your own product photo as a reference picture first.
Exact same woman, exact outfit from the reference image. Mirror selfie in a reflective stainless steel elevator, holding a silver iPhone in one hand taking the photo. Soft natural lighting, casual streetwear aesthetic, realistic UGC photography style, relaxed lean against elevator wall with subtle smile
Example by xAI · source ↗ · This is an edit: add your own photo of the person as a reference picture first.
Settings in the Lab
| Setting | What you get |
|---|---|
| Size | 1K or 2K |
| Pictures per run | Up to 4 (an edit with a reference picture returns 1) |
| Reference picture | 1, to edit it or keep a product or person |
Test at 1K, then re-run your favourite at 2K. The live card above shows both prices.
How to prompt Grok Imagine
xAI publishes example prompts rather than a full guide. They all follow the same pattern:
- Say it is a photo and who or what is in it, in the first words.
- Name the look: "medium format editorial photography", "UGC style", "magazine style photo".
- Give the palette as a list of named colours.
- Put label text in quotes: 'La Belle Vie'.
- For edits, write one direct instruction: "Put this perfume bottle on a print pamphlet".
Cinematic scenes
Cinematic shot of a couple on a picnic blanket in soft muted red and beige tones on hill, a picnic basket, wine, two glasses and book, soft diffused natural daylight, muted desaturated sage green and warm earth tone palette, gentle film grain, atmospheric haze, serene pastoral atmosphere, natural skin textures, intimate close-up or wide scenic composition, warm skin tones against cool backgrounds, contemplative mood
Example by xAI · source ↗
FAQ
Is this the same as Grok Imagine video?
No. This guide is about the picture model. Grok Imagine 1.5 is the video model, with its own guide.
Why do Grok photos look so real?
Quality mode keeps natural skin texture and small imperfections. Ask for them in the prompt ("natural skin and pores").
Can I edit my own photo?
Yes. Add one reference picture and describe the change or the new scene.
Do I need a Grok or X subscription?
No. It runs in the Lab and you pay per picture with credits that never expire.