> Markdown copy of https://makernice.com/models/seedream-5-5/ for AI tools. The HTML page is the canonical version. # Seedream 5.5 — Generate and edit, with transparent backgrounds Makernice serves ByteDance's Seedream 5.5 for text-to-image and image-to-image at 1k (the default) or 2k. Seedream 5.5 offers eight aspect ratios, from 9:16 to 21:9. Image-to-image takes up to 10 reference images. Set background to transparent to get a PNG with no background. Highlights 1K / 2K · Text to image · Image to image Best for Teams that need product cutouts, stickers or layered assets, and anyone editing with several reference images. Input Text, up to 10 reference images Output Image ## Pricing Prepaid in US dollars. The hold is converted to a charge when the run completes. If a run fails or times out, the hold is released in full.\* Prices as of November 11, 2026 (price list v14). Note: if a finished output is blocked by output moderation for a policy violation, the run is still charged. You can contact support for a manual review. Cost of your first test $0.02 One 1K text-to-image image. What your top-up buys [Top up](https://makernice.com/console/wallet/) $15 ≈ 961 test runs $50 ≈ 3205 test runs $100 ≈ 6410 test runs Top-ups are $15–$1,000. No free tier, no subscription. | Model | Mode | Resolution | Our price | Official | You save | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Seedream 5.5 · ByteDance | Text to image | 1K | $0.0156/img | | | | Seedream 5.5 · ByteDance | Text to image | 2K | $0.0273/img | | | | Seedream 5.5 · ByteDance | Image to image | 1K | $0.0156/img\+ $0.00624 per reference image | | | | Seedream 5.5 · ByteDance | Image to image | 2K | $0.0273/img\+ $0.00624 per reference image | | | ## What is the Seedream 5.5 API? The Seedream 5.5 API generates and edits images with ByteDance's Seedream 5.5 model through one Makernice key. Text-to-image is priced per image. Image-to-image is priced per image plus a rate for each reference image you send. The first reference image counts too. A one-image edit therefore costs less than a ten-image one. ## Spec sheet Parameters, limits and billing rules to check before you call it. \[MODEL\] Model id `seedream-5.5` · ByteDance \[MODES\] Modes `t2i` Text to image · `i2i` Image to image \[RES\] Resolution 1K (default) · 2K \[FRAMING\] Aspect ratio (t2i, i2i) 1:1 · 4:3 · 3:4 · 16:9 · 9:16 · 2:3 · 3:2 · 21:9 \[REFS\] Reference images Up to 10, in `reference_images` \[INPUT\] Image input JPEG / PNG / WebP, up to 10 MB each, or an https link. Uploaded images can be used for 6 days. \[SIZE\] Image size at least 15 px per side, up to 36 MP in total, aspect ratio 1:16–16:1 \[OUTPUT\] Output Image. Files are kept about 30 days, so download them promptly. \[PRICE\] Price From $0.0156/img · Quotes are locked for 12 minutes. Per-resolution prices are in the table above. \[GUARANTEE\] Failed runs Failed, timed-out or canceled-while-queued runs release the hold in full. ## 2 ways to generate, one endpoint Set mode, send the inputs it needs — that's it. ### Text to image mode: "t2i" · prompt Describe the image you want in the prompt. ### Image to image mode: "i2i" · reference\_images (≤ 10) Add up to 10 reference images, then describe the edit or the new image. ## What you can build with this model Workflows this model is a good fit for. 01 ### Product cutouts Generate a product shot with background set to transparent and drop it straight onto any layout. [Try it in the playground](https://makernice.com/models/seedream-5-5/#playground) 02 ### Multi-reference editing Combine up to 10 reference images to keep a product, character or style consistent in one edit. [Try it in the playground](https://makernice.com/models/seedream-5-5/#playground) 03 ### Wide banners and posters Use 21:9 or 16:9 for headers and 9:16 for stories, at 1k for drafts and 2k for finals. [Try it in the playground](https://makernice.com/models/seedream-5-5/#playground) ## Why run Seedream 5.5 on Makernice ### Quote before you pay Every run gets an exact quote first, locked for 12 minutes. You're charged that amount — never more. ### Failed runs are free The hold is converted to a charge when the run completes. If a run fails or times out, the hold is released in full, and so does canceling while it's queued. Note: if a finished output is blocked by output moderation for a policy violation, the run is still charged. You can contact support for a manual review. ### Switch models with one field Same request, key, balance and console for all 19 models. Not happy with the result? Change model and run it again. ### Prepaid, no subscription Top up a US-dollar balance and pay per run. No monthly fee, no subscription. ### Your balance never expires Topped-up balance stays in your account indefinitely. No inactivity fees, no decay. ### Automatic failover If an upstream channel goes down, your request is routed to a backup channel automatically — no code changes on your side. ## Which should you pick: Seedream 5.5, Seedream 5.0 Pro, Seedream 5.0? Compare modes, length, resolution and references, then run the same prompt on each. | | Seedream 5.5 | Seedream 5.0 Pro | Seedream 5.0 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Modes | Text to image · Image to image | Text to image · Image to image | Text to image · Image to image | | Resolution | 1K / 2K | 1K / 2K | 2K (single tier) | | Reference images | Up to 10 | Up to 10 | Up to 14 | | 1K price | $0.0156/img | From $0.0351/img | — | | 2K price | $0.0273/img | From $0.0702/img | From $0.0336/img | Comparing with MiniMax H3-Image? Full comparison → [MiniMax H3-Image vs Seedream 5.5](https://makernice.com/blog/minimax-h3-image-vs-seedream-5-5/) ## Integrate Seedream 5.5 in three steps Quote, hold, charge or release — each step shows how billing works. \[01\] ### Create an API key Sign in, top up and create a key in the console. Set a spend limit per key so nothing runs away. // Console → API keys \[02\] ### Quote and create POST the input to /v1/generations/quote with the model field set to seedream-5.5. The price is locked for 12 minutes; creating the generation with the quote id holds that amount from your balance. // POST /v1/generations/quote// POST /v1/generations \[03\] ### Poll the result GET /v1/generations/{id} until the status is succeeded, then download the output. You're charged the quoted amount on success; failed, timed-out or canceled-while-queued runs release the hold in full. // GET /v1/generations/{id} Retrying with the same `Idempotency-Key` returns the same generation instead of charging twice. Docs/API/SEEDREAM-5-5 ## API reference Copy-paste requests for this model. The full parameter reference is in the docs. ``` curl https://api.makernice.com/v1/generations/quote \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $MAKERNICE_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "model": "seedream-5.5", "mode": "t2i", "prompt": "A ceramic coffee mug with a speckled glaze, studio product shot, soft shadow, transparent background.", "resolution": "1k" }' ``` ### Invalid request 400 invalid\_request names each failing field. Fields the mode doesn't use are rejected too. Nothing is held. ### Key or balance 401 means a missing or invalid key; 402 means the balance or the key's spend limit isn't enough. ### Quote problems A changed price-affecting field returns 422 quote\_mismatch; an expired quote 410; a used one 409. Get a new quote. ### Failed generation A failed generation is never charged — the hold is released in full. Note: if a finished output is blocked by output moderation for a policy violation, the run is still charged. You can contact support for a manual review. Keep the generation id and retry when you're ready. ## Frequently asked questions Common questions about this model. #### What is Seedream 5.5? Seedream 5.5 is an AI image generation model from ByteDance, available through the Makernice API with one key and one prepaid balance. ByteDance's Seedream 5.5: generate or edit images at 1K or 2K, with up to 10 reference images and an optional transparent background. #### How many reference images does Seedream 5.5 support? Up to 10 reference images, sent in reference\_images in image to image mode. #### How much does Seedream 5.5 cost per image? Seedream 5.5 costs, per image: text to image $0.0156 at 1K and $0.0273 at 2K; image to image $0.0156 + $0.00624 per reference image at 1K and $0.0273 + $0.00624 per reference image at 2K (price list v14, as of November 11, 2026). Call POST /v1/generations/quote to get the exact amount before you run it. Failed runs are never charged. Note: if a finished output is blocked by output moderation for a policy violation, the run is still charged. You can contact support for a manual review. #### Seedream 5.5 vs Seedream 5.0 Pro: which should I use? Choose Seedream 5.5 for transparent backgrounds, 21:9 output and edit pricing that follows how many reference images you send. Choose Seedream 5.0 Pro when you want a flat image-to-image price; both take up to 10 reference images at 1k or 2k. #### How do transparent backgrounds work on Seedream 5.5? Set background to transparent and the image comes back as a PNG with no background. Transparent backgrounds on Seedream 5.5 work in text-to-image and image-to-image. The default, auto, lets the model decide; opaque always fills the background. #### How are reference images priced on Seedream 5.5? Image-to-image costs a base rate per image plus a rate for each reference image, including the first. The price table on this page lists both, and POST /v1/generations/quote returns the exact amount for the number of images you send. #### Which aspect ratios does Seedream 5.5 support? 1:1, 4:3, 3:4, 16:9, 9:16, 2:3, 3:2 and 21:9, in both text-to-image and image-to-image. ## More Posts [MiniMax H3-Image vs Seedream 5.5: Ratios, References and Price](https://makernice.com/blog/minimax-h3-image-vs-seedream-5-5/) ## Related models [Compare all models](https://makernice.com/models/) Similar models worth comparing. Image ### Seedream 5.0 Pro \-22% ByteDance's Seedream 5.0 Pro: generate or edit images at 1K or 2K, guided by up to 10 reference images. By ByteDanceFrom $0.0351/img https://makernice.com/models/seedream-5-0-pro/ Image ### Seedream 5.0 \-4% Blend up to 14 reference images into one: Seedream 5.0 is built for character sheets, collages and style fusion, priced as a single 2K tier. By ByteDanceFrom $0.0336/img https://makernice.com/models/seedream-5-0/ Image ### Qwen3 Image \-21% Everyday images and quick edits: Alibaba's Qwen3 Image at 1K or 2K, eight aspect ratios, up to 3 references. By AlibabaFrom $0.0236/img https://makernice.com/models/qwen3-image/ Image ### Qwen3 Pro Image \-17% Qwen3's higher-tier model for polished finals — same 1K/2K, aspect ratios and 3 references as Qwen3 Image. By AlibabaFrom $0.0328/img https://makernice.com/models/qwen3-pro-image/ ● Start building ## See what it does with your prompt Test it in the playground, or grab an API key and ship it today. [Try Seedream 5.5 →](https://makernice.com/models/seedream-5-5/#playground)[Read the API docs](https://makernice.com/docs/) - Quote before you pay - Failed runs are free - Prepaid, no subscription - Balance never expires