An image workflow you can start here
Nano Banana 2.1 is an image generation and editing tool for turning a written brief into a visual you can evaluate, revise, and download. Use the workspace above to start from text or upload reference images when you want to work from something you already have. Both workflows are available free in 1K without an account. Choose the input that best explains your idea, then describe the visual details that matter. If your project needs larger output, choose 2K or 4K and sign in. These options cost 12 and 20 credits per image respectively. Think of the page as a working desk rather than a collection of finished templates: you describe the subject, decide which details matter, and check the result against your intended use.
Start with the decision your image needs to support
Before you write a long prompt, decide what you want the image to help you choose. Are you comparing a product background, planning an editorial illustration, or exploring a scene for a later video? A clear purpose keeps the first draft manageable. For a product concept, you might ask for a ceramic bottle on pale stone, gentle window light from the left, and generous empty space on the right. For a story scene, define the person, the place, and the moment before adding decorative details. Nano Banana 2.1 can be part of these workflows without replacing your judgment about the result. Keep a short checklist beside your prompt: subject shape, color, framing, lighting, and any element that must remain recognizable. Check that list before deciding whether to revise, export, or try a different direction.
Choose text or reference images in one workspace
The free 1K option supports both text-to-image creation and reference-image editing without sign-in. It is a useful place to test whether a composition communicates your idea before you spend credits on larger output. Select your input mode and resolution before pressing Generate, so the request matches the draft you want to make. For 2K and 4K, sign in before submitting. The workspace lets you generate from text or upload references for editing in either resolution, just as in 1K. Uploading a photo does not mean that every detail will be reproduced exactly: explain what the photo represents and which features you want retained. Nano Banana 2.1 supports up to 10 reference images, but a small, well-chosen set is usually easier to describe than a mixed collection.
Write a brief with clear visual priorities
A useful prompt reads like a brief to a designer. Begin with the main subject, then describe its surroundings, the light, and the framing. Add constraints only where they make a difference. For example: create a square editorial image of a folded paper bird on a wooden desk, soft morning light, muted blue and cream colors, close framing, no lettering. This gives the composition a direction without burying the important subject beneath adjectives. If you need space for a headline, name its position and ask for a quiet background in that area. Nano Banana 2.1 accepts prompts of up to 20,000 characters, but the maximum is not a target. Use a shorter brief first, then add detail in response to something you actually see in the draft. Keep unrelated requirements out of the same sentence and make the most important instruction explicit.
Use references to explain what should stay and change
Reference-image editing is available in the same workspace as text-to-image creation. Choose 1K to try it free without signing in, or sign in for 2K or 4K. Upload images that you have permission to use and that make the intended subject easy to identify. A well-lit product photo is often more useful than a busy collage, especially when you want to change the setting while keeping the product recognizable. Describe the role of each reference if you use more than one: one might show the subject, another the desired color palette. A practical instruction is to keep the bottle shape and cap from the first reference, place it on a matte beige surface, and use soft light from a nearby window. Review the new image for changes to labels, proportions, and small features. The page does not provide a mask-painting control, so do not plan a pixel-specific repair that depends on selecting an exact painted region.
Set the shape before refining small details
Choose an aspect ratio that suits the destination rather than cropping whatever comes out later. A square image can work for a product tile; a vertical composition can leave room for a subject and a caption; a wide scene can support a banner. The ratio changes the available space, but it does not tell the tool how to arrange that space. State whether the subject should be centered, pushed to one side, shown close up, or surrounded by context. With Nano Banana 2.1, keep the same brief while comparing a couple of compositions so you can see the effect of framing rather than the effect of several changes at once. Leave enough breathing room around important details. If you are planning to add typography in a separate design tool, ask for clear negative space and apply the final copy yourself after reviewing the image.
Inspect the draft at its intended viewing size
Do not judge an image only by the small preview. Look at the downloaded result and inspect the areas your audience will notice first. Check hands, repeated objects, straight edges, reflections, and any text that appears in the scene. For a product image, compare the proportions and visible markings with the source photo. For an illustration, ask whether the viewer can understand the main action without reading your prompt. Nano Banana 2.1 output may need another attempt or manual finishing; a larger resolution does not automatically correct an inaccurate detail. If a draft has the right mood but the wrong object shape, change the shape instruction before increasing the output size. Keep notes on the specific problem so your next request describes a correction rather than simply asking for something better. This makes review useful instead of turning it into an endless sequence of vague retries.
Keep revisions small and move toward a final deliverable
Start with one brief, one ratio, and one purpose. Save the prompt alongside the result so you know what led to that image. On your next request, change one meaningful variable: the lighting direction, the camera distance, the position of the subject, or the background. Changing all of them together makes it difficult to identify which instruction helped. Once you have a promising direction, decide whether the intended use needs 2K or 4K output. A larger export can be useful for a bigger layout, but choose it because of the deliverable rather than because it sounds more professional. If you want to animate the image later, prepare a clean starting frame with a clear subject and enough space for motion. Nano Banana 2.1 on this page creates still images; the models hub is where you can explore the site's separate video workflows.
Know the credit cost before starting another request
The pricing on this page is straightforward: a 1K request costs 0 credits, a 2K request costs 12 credits, and a 4K request costs 20 credits. The free 1K route supports both text-to-image creation and reference-image editing without signing in. Pick the resolution for the job rather than assuming that every draft needs the largest output. Sign in when choosing 2K or 4K, and make sure you have enough credits before submitting. A paid subscription is not a separate requirement for using those options; the request still needs the applicable credit balance. Each new generation is a separate request, so compare drafts deliberately and review the site's pricing page if you need to add credits for a larger batch. Keep useful prompts alongside the results to make your next revision more focused.
How to use Nano Banana 2.1
How do I create my first free image?
Choose 1K and either describe a new image or upload references to edit an existing one. Select an aspect ratio and press Generate. You do not need to sign in for either free 1K workflow. Review the finished image in the workspace before deciding whether to revise or download it.
How do I edit a photo with Nano Banana 2.1?
Choose reference-image editing in the workspace, upload the relevant images, and explain what should change and what should remain recognizable. You can use up to 10 references. Try it free in 1K without signing in, or sign in for 2K or 4K. Check important details before using the result.
What should I change if the image misses my idea?
Name the mismatch precisely: the subject is too small, the light is too harsh, or the background is too crowded. Revise that instruction while keeping the rest of the brief stable. For lettering, compare every word with your intended text and consider adding final typography in your design tool.
What happens when I select 2K or 4K?
If you are signed out, choosing 2K or 4K prompts you to sign in. Both modes stay in the same workspace and support text or references. Each 2K image costs 12 credits and each 4K image costs 20 credits; a paid subscription is not required. Switching the selector does not itself create an image or spend credits.
How do I view and download my generated image?
The finished image appears in the workspace preview. Inspect the subject, framing, and important details, then use the Download button to save it. If something does not match your idea, refine the description and make another version before choosing the image for your project.