Generate images from a face

Which models are the fastest?

For quick results that still preserve identity, black-forest-labs/flux-kontext-pro is one of the fastest and most reliable options. It processes single face images in seconds and works well for both photo-realistic and stylized outputs.
If you want even faster iterations, runwayml/gen4-image-turbo is built for speed, making it ideal for generating multiple variations or testing creative directions quickly.

Which models offer the best balance of cost and quality?

black-forest-labs/flux-kontext-pro provides the best tradeoff between quality and accessibility—it handles style changes and contextual edits while maintaining facial details and lighting consistency.
For slightly higher-end results, black-forest-labs/flux-kontext-max produces sharper textures and richer color tones, though it uses more compute. If you’re working on lightweight avatar generation, ideogram-ai/ideogram-character is efficient and consistent.

What works best for generating professional portraits or headshots?

For business-style photos or polished LinkedIn portraits, flux-kontext-apps/professional-headshot is tailored specifically for this use case. It generates realistic, well-lit headshots that still look like the original person.
You can upload a casual photo and get a professional studio look without additional tuning.

What works best for avatars, emojis, and stylized art?

If you want creative or artistic transformations, fofr/face-to-many is a fan favorite—it turns faces into emoji, claymation, pixel art, or video game-style avatars.
For painted or anime-inspired looks, tencentarc/photomaker-style and grandlineai/instant-id-artistic are great picks that produce detailed stylizations while keeping facial identity intact.

What's the difference between key subtypes or approaches in this collection?

There are two main types of models:

• Transformers and diffusion-based models (like black-forest-labs/flux-kontext-pro and runwayml/gen4-image-turbo): These can change lighting, pose, clothing, and background while preserving core facial structure.
• Avatar and style-transfer models (like fofr/face-to-many or tencentarc/photomaker-style): These focus more on artistic rendering, applying creative filters or fully reimagining the person’s look.
  The first group is better for realism; the second is ideal for stylistic or expressive projects.

What kinds of outputs can I expect from these models?

Most models output high-resolution images (usually portraits or busts) that preserve the input face’s key features. Some can also output multiple styles or perspectives at once.
Models like ideogram-ai/ideogram-character can create consistent characters for storytelling or design projects, while black-forest-labs/flux-kontext-pro and runwayml/gen4-image-turbo focus on single-image edits with natural results.

How can I self-host or push a model to Replicate?

You can self-host open-source models like black-forest-labs/flux-kontext-pro or tencentarc/photomaker-style using Cog or Docker.
To publish your own version on Replicate, include a replicate.yaml defining inputs (e.g., face image, prompt) and outputs (e.g., generated image), then push it to your Replicate account.

Can I use these models for commercial work?

Yes, many of these models allow commercial use, especially the black-forest-labs/flux-kontext-pro and runwayml/gen4-image-turbo families.
Always review the License section on each model page to confirm—some may have attribution or non-commercial clauses for specific derivatives.

How do I use or run these models?

Go to a model’s page on Replicate, upload a clear photo of a face, and describe your desired output (e.g., “in a Renaissance painting” or “wearing a leather jacket in a city street”).
The model will generate a new image while maintaining the subject’s likeness. You can iterate with new prompts or images to refine the style.

What should I know before running a job in this collection?

• Use well-lit, forward-facing photos for best identity preservation.
• Avoid heavily filtered or low-resolution inputs—these can confuse face alignment systems.
• Some models (like black-forest-labs/flux-kontext-pro) support masking or inpainting if you only want to change parts of an image, such as clothes or hair.
• For creative avatars, experiment with broader descriptive prompts—the more context you give, the better the output.

Any other collection-specific tips or considerations?

• For realism, prefer black-forest-labs/flux-kontext-pro, black-forest-labs/flux-kontext-max, or grandlineai/instant-id-photorealistic.
• For expressive styles, tencentarc/photomaker-style, fofr/face-to-many, or black-forest-labs/flux-pulid are better suited.
• If you need character consistency across multiple images, ideogram-ai/ideogram-character is built specifically for that.
• Some models like fofr/face-swap-with-ideogram or fofr/advanced-face-swap can combine multiple faces into one image for creative composites.