AI image generation has grown from novelty art tools into production-ready assistants for professionals. But not all systems are built equally—some excel at generation, others at editing—or even at data visualization through diagrams. Choosing the right one depends on your workflow requirements: creative flexibility, diagramming, editing control, or licensing clarity.
Here’s an in-depth comparison of seven leading tools:
Prompt-Based LLMs: Quick Generation, Prompt-Driven Edits
These platforms generate images with text prompts and support limited revisions via prompts.
1. GPT‑4o (OpenAI)
- Strengths: High realism, excellent text-in-image quality, accurate style control
- Editing: Prompt-based only; supports basic inpainting (e.g. change background, swap objects)
- Manual tools: ❌ None
- Download: PNG with transparency
- Commercial Use: Yes under OpenAI’s terms
- Best for: Social media visuals, ad mockups, fast ideation
2. Gemini (Google / Imagen 4)
- Strengths: Coherent photo-realism with strong spatial awareness and scene composition
- Editing: Multi-turn prompt refinement within conversational interface
- Manual tools: ❌ None
- Download: PNG, JPEG
- Commercial Use: Yes via Google Cloud license
- Best for: Story-driven visuals, product showcases, illustration concepts
3. Grok 4 (xAI)
- Strengths: Creative, expressive style; fewer content restrictions
- Editing: Prompt-based only; regenerates the image for each change
- Manual tools: ❌ None
- Download: PNG, JPEG
- Commercial Use: Likely allowed; policy still evolving
- Best for: Social content, memes, stylized illustration
Claude (Anthropic): Visualizations via code, not images
Claude does not generate free-form images—but it natively supports charts and diagrams via code.
- Chart capabilities: Generates Mermaid diagrams, flowcharts, pie/line charts, and SVG outputs using Claude Artifacts and code tools .
- Editing: Modify chart code (e.g. Mermaid syntax) to alter the diagram
- Export Formats: SVG diagrams or embedded code; PNG via third-party Image‑Charts plugins or script exporters
- Commercial Use: Allowed via Claude licensing; third-party chart tools have separate terms
- Best for: Technical documentation, data visualization, structured diagrams, reporting workflows
DeepSeek R1 (Open Source)
- Image Generation: ❌ Not built-in
- Workflow: Developers can integrate external models like Stable Diffusion or ComfyUI
- Editing: Depends on external tool support
- Formats & Control: Varies by tool (PNG, WebP, EXR, etc.)
- Commercial Use: Apache 2.0 license for LLM; image tool usage governed separately
- Best for: Custom image pipelines, privacy-sensitive deployments, offline generative workflows
Hybrid Tools: AI Plus Pixel-Level Control
Ideal for professionals who need precision and manual editing beyond prompt-based generation.
Adobe Firefly / Photoshop
- Strengths: Seamless integration of AI and manual editing within Photoshop and Illustrator
- Editing: Generative fill + brushes, masks, layers, object manipulation
- Prompt use: Yes, e.g. “Replace sky with stormy clouds”
- Manual tools: ✅ Full Photoshop-level control
- Export Formats: PSD, PNG, JPEG, SVG, AI
- Commercial Use: Permitted under Adobe Firefly license
- Best for: Branding, packaging, print, professional design workflows
RunwayML
- Strengths: Advanced AI-enabled video and image editing with timeline features
- Editing: Region-based inpainting, masking, object tracking, and prompt-based adjustments
- Manual tools: ✅ Yes (timeline, layers, filters)
- Export Formats: PNG, MP4, layered project files
- Commercial Use: Allowed per Runway’s terms
- Best for: Video content creation, branded short-form visuals, studio workflows
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | GPT‑4o | Gemini | Grok 4 | Claude (Artifacts) | DeepSeek R1 | Adobe Firefly | RunwayML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native Image Generation | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Chart/Diagram Code Support | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Yes | ✅ via integration | ✅ via plugins | ✅ via plugins |
| Prompt-Based Edits | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ via external | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Manual Editing Tools | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Depends | ✅ Full | ✅ Full |
| Inpainting/Object Swap | ✅ Basic | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ via external | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Advanced |
| Multi-Turn Refinement | Partial | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | N/A | N/A | ➖ Limited | ✅ Yes |
| Transparent PNG Support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ | via integration | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Vector / Layered Export | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ SVG (code) | Depends on tool | ✅ Yes (PSD, SVG) | ✅ Yes |
| Commercial Use | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Likely | ✅ Yes (variable) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
*DeepSeek R1 and Claude require external services for image pipelines.
Choosing the Right Tool for Your Workflow
- Fast concept art or marketing visuals? → GPT‑4o, Gemini, or Grok 4
- Need structured charts or flowcharts? → Claude with Artifacts and Mermaid output
- Require pixel-level precision and layered edits? → Adobe Firefly or Photoshop
- Working on rich video/image productions? → RunwayML
- Building a customized or offline pipeline? → DeepSeek R1 with SD/InvokeAI
About File Formats, Editing, and Ownership
- Formats: LLM tools export mainly PNG and JPEG. Adobe Firefly and RunwayML support PSD, SVG/vector, and video formats. Claude exports SVG diagrams or PNG via integrations.
- Editing Workflow: LLMs use prompt-based revision. Claude uses code to adjust charts. Hybrid platforms provide direct editing control.
- Licensing: GPT‑4o, Gemini, Firefly, and Runway allow commercial use under their respective licenses. Claude and DeepSeek use open-source or policy-based terms; third-party tools have separate usage policies.
Final Take
Prompt-first models like GPT‑4o, Gemini, and Grok 4 are ideal for rapid creation and idea exploration. For those needing diagram generation via code, Claude stands out. For professionals requiring full manual editing control, especially for design, publishing, or video, Adobe Firefly and RunwayML offer unmatched precision and flexibility.
The ideal workflow? Use a prompt-based model for drafting visuals or diagrams, then refine using a hybrid tool for polish and final output, ensuring both speed and quality.
