# Grok Imagine Quality

> Run Grok Imagine Quality by xai online or via API. $0.01 per input image, $0.05 per 1K image, $0.07 per 2K image, no setup.

**URL:** https://inference.sh/apps/xai/grok-imagine-image-quality
**Last updated:** 2026-10-08

---

Generate and edit high-quality images using xAI's Grok Imagine Quality model. Supports 1K and 2K output resolutions with text-to-image and image editing.

- app: `xai/grok-imagine-image-quality`
- maker: [xai](https://inference.sh/apps/xai.md)
- category: [image](https://inference.sh/apps/category/image.md)
- input → output: text → image
- tasks: [text to image](https://inference.sh/apps/tag/text-to-image.md), [image editing](https://inference.sh/apps/tag/image-editing.md)
- price: $0.01 per input image, $0.05 per 1K image, $0.07 per 2K image
- runs via: api, javascript and python sdk, belt cli, mcp

## grok-imagine-image-quality API Guide

### About
generate and edit high-quality images using xai's grok imagine quality model. supports 1k and 2k output resolutions with text-to-image and image editing.

### Get an API Key
Create one in [settings → api keys](https://app.inference.sh/settings/keys). The examples read it from `INFERENCE_API_KEY`.

```bash
export INFERENCE_API_KEY="inf_your_key"
```

### 1. Calling the API

#### Install the Client

```bash
pip install inferencesh
```

#### Run and Get Result
Submit a request and wait for the final result.

```python
import os
from inferencesh import inference

client = inference(api_key=os.environ["INFERENCE_API_KEY"])

## version @4mttmwzx pinned
result = client.run({
        "app": "xai/grok-imagine-image-quality@4mttmwzx",
        "input": {
            "prompt": "A cat in a tree"
        }
    })

print(result["output"])
```

#### Stream Live Updates
Get real-time progress updates as the task runs.

```python
import os
from inferencesh import inference

client = inference(api_key=os.environ["INFERENCE_API_KEY"])

## version @4mttmwzx pinned
## stream=True yields updates as they arrive
for update in client.run({
        "app": "xai/grok-imagine-image-quality@4mttmwzx",
        "input": {
            "prompt": "A cat in a tree"
        }
    }, stream=True):
    if update.get("progress"):
        print(f"progress: {update['progress']}%")
    if update.get("output"):
        print(f"output: {update['output']}")
```

#### Run in the Background
Start the task and get its id back right away, then check on it with `GET /tasks/{id}`. It is done when `status` is 10 (completed), 11 (failed) or 12 (cancelled).

```python
import os
from inferencesh import inference, TaskStatus

client = inference(api_key=os.environ["INFERENCE_API_KEY"])

## returns as soon as the task is created
task = client.run({
        "app": "xai/grok-imagine-image-quality@4mttmwzx",
        "input": {
            "prompt": "A cat in a tree"
        }
    }, wait=False)

## later: read its current state
state = client.tasks.get(task["id"]).data
if state["status"] == TaskStatus.COMPLETED:
    print(state["output"])
```

### 2. Files

#### Automatic Upload

```python
## local file paths are automatically uploaded
result = client.run({
    "app": "xai/grok-imagine-image-quality@4mttmwzx",
    "input": {
        "image": "/path/to/local/image.png",  # detected & uploaded
        "audio": "https://example.com/audio.mp3",  # url passed through
    }
})
```

#### Manual Upload

```python
## upload and get a hosted URL
file = client.files.upload("/path/to/file.png")
print(file.uri)  # https://cloud.inference.sh/...
```

### 3. Schema

#### Input
- **prompt** (string) *required*: Text prompt describing the desired image content.
- **image** (string): Optional input image for image editing. When provided, the model will edit this image based on the prompt.
- **aspect_ratio** (string): Aspect ratio of the generated image. Use 'auto' to automatically match the input image's aspect ratio.
- **resolution** (string): Output resolution. '1k' = 1024x1024 base ($0.05/image), '2k' = 2048x2048 base ($0.07/image).
- **n** (integer): Number of images to generate (1-10).

#### Output
- **images** (array): The generated image files. Excludes images withheld by xAI content moderation.
- **moderated_count** (integer): Number of generated images withheld by xAI content moderation.
- **notice** (string): Set when xAI content moderation withheld some or all images.

## other image apps

- [Gemini Nano Banana 2.1](https://inference.sh/apps/google/gemini-nano-banana-2-1.md): $1.50/M input, $0.0336–$0.1134/image (1K–4K), +$0.014/query Google Search
- [Grok Imagine Image 2.0](https://inference.sh/apps/xai/grok-imagine-image-2-0.md): $0.04/img low 1k, $0.06/img low 2k, $0.06/img med 1k, $0.08/img med 2k; $0.01/source img (edits)
- [GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst](https://inference.sh/apps/openai/gpt-image-2-5-sunburst.md): $0.006-$0.21 per 1024x1024 image: low $0.006, medium $0.013, high $0.053, xhigh $0.094, max $0.21. Larger sizes cost more; edits add ~$0.008 per reference image.
- [GPT Image 2.5 Flare](https://inference.sh/apps/openai/gpt-image-2-5-flare.md): $0.006-$0.21/image at 1024x1024: low $0.0059, medium $0.0132, high $0.0527, xhigh $0.0937, max $0.2107. Larger sizes cost more; edits add ~$0.0083 per reference image.
- [Image Resize & Crop](https://inference.sh/apps/eval/resize.md): from $0.00000277/sec

## faq

### how much does Grok Imagine Quality cost?

$0.01 per input image, $0.05 per 1K image, $0.07 per 2K image. you pay per run from your inference shell credits. no subscription is required.

### how do I run Grok Imagine Quality via api?

call xai/grok-imagine-image-quality with the javascript or python sdk, the rest api, or `belt app run xai/grok-imagine-image-quality` from a terminal. the api reference on this page lists every input.

### who makes Grok Imagine Quality?

Grok Imagine Quality is made by xai and runs on inference shell. every xai app is listed at https://inference.sh/apps/xai.

### can my agent use Grok Imagine Quality?

yes. agents call it as a tool through the inference shell mcp server (https://api.inference.sh/mcp), the belt cli or the sdk, and pay per run like you do.

### what are the alternatives to Grok Imagine Quality?

other image apps on inference shell include Gemini Nano Banana 2.1, Grok Imagine Image 2.0, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst, GPT Image 2.5 Flare. they run through the same api, so switching is a one-line change.