Stability AI: Stable Image Core

Stable Image Core is a general image-generation option for everyday visual work. It is useful for concept drafts, illustrations, and design exploration where a clear prompt should quickly become a usable visual starting point.

Compare models

stable-image-core

AvailableStability AIImageSync

Price: From $0.03
Modalities: Image

About Stable Image Core

Stable Image Core is Stability AI's flagship text-to-image service for everyday visual work, described by Stability as the starting point for creating original images from text. It turns a clear prompt into a usable concept, illustration, or design draft. It sits below Stable Image Ultra, which targets realism and fine detail, and is the lighter choice when you want volume of drafts.

Where it works well

Stability presents it as its flagship image service, so it is a sensible default for generic prompts.
Fits early exploration: clear prompts quickly become drafts to choose from.
Text-only input keeps requests simple; no reference image is needed.

When to choose another model

Complex scenes with exact lighting and materials are better handled by Stable Image Ultra.
It has no image input, so editing and style transfer need the Control, Style Guide, or Inpaint services.

Getting started

Create API key
Create a key in Console, then use it with every model on the platform.

Send your first request

Copy the example for your language and run it against the endpoint.

Text to imageTokenLab endpoint

POST/v1/images/generations

curl -X POST "https://api.tokenlab.sh/v1/images/generations" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-xxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "operation": "text-to-image",
  "model": "stable-image-core",
  "prompt": "A minimalist product photo of matte black headphones on a soft blue background."
}'

Parameters

Text to image

Parameter	Values and limits	Default	Notes
`aspect_ratio`	Not provided	Not provided	Model-specific aspect-ratio values and the default are not yet verified for this public operation.
`prompt`	Not provided	Not provided	Not provided

Official Stability Stable Image Core public contract.

Pricing

The Verified price applies to Verified, which costs less on most models. The Official price is the model maker's published price and applies to the more reliable Official route. Auto bills the route that completes the request.

Text to image

per image

Official price: $0.03
Verified price: —
Discount: —

	Official priceper image	Verified priceper image	Discount
Text to image	$0.03	—	—

Usage & activity

Success rate is the share of requests that completed. Latency is how long a full response takes; P95 means 95% of requests finished within that time.

Usage & availability

Last 24 hours

Requests
Success rate
P95 latency
Total tokens

Model performance

Last updated Nov 1, 2026, 6:31 AM UTC

Metrics appear once privacy and data volume thresholds are met.

Data is based on aggregate user requests, excluding status checks.

Open in Console

Open Stable Image Core in Console with a prompt ready to edit or send.

Help me create an image with stable-image-core using text-to-image at /v1/images/generations. Show the result, cost, and any limits I should know.

Use cases

Best for

Text to Image

Concept drafts
Generate several directions for a poster, game scene, or app illustration to pick one for refinement.
Blog and slide imagery
Produce on-topic illustrations for articles, newsletters, and presentation decks from a short description, without searching stock libraries for a close match.
Design exploration
Test colour schemes, subject ideas, and visual metaphors in quantity before briefing a designer or locking the direction of a larger project.
Placeholder art
Fill a prototype or storefront mock-up with consistent images while the real brand assets are still being produced by a studio.

Prompt examples

A flat vector illustration of a hot-air balloon over a patchwork countryside, pastel colours.

Isometric cutaway of a small coffee shop with plants and warm lights.

A watercolour fox curled up in autumn leaves, white background.

FAQ

What is Stable Image Core?

A text-to-image service from Stability AI for general image creation. Describe what you want and it returns an image; it suits drafts, illustrations, and exploration.

How is Core different from Ultra?

Ultra is positioned for realism, fine detail, and complex composition in polished assets. Core covers broader everyday generation where speed to a usable starting point matters more.

Does it accept images as input?

No, it is text-to-image only. Use Control Structure, Control Sketch, Style Guide, or Inpaint when an existing image must guide or be changed by the result, since those services take an image alongside the prompt.

Can I use it for final artwork?

Yes for many uses, but review each output before publishing. Detailed scenes, exact text inside the image, or demanding lighting may need a retry or the Ultra service, which is positioned for polished and complex results.

How much does Stable Image Core cost?

On TokenLab, Stable Image Core costs $0.03 per image. The pricing table above shows the full breakdown. Rates depend on the billing unit, specification, and usage. Compare matching conditions in the model's detailed pricing; a single rate does not determine the total cost.

Which endpoint should Stable Image Core use?

Use https://api.tokenlab.sh/v1/images/generations for Stable Image Core. The request example below shows the matching code shape.

Which operations does Stable Image Core support?

Stable Image Core supports Text to image. Select an operation above to see its endpoint and request example.