Head to head: Krea 3 Edit vs OpenAI: GPT-5.4 Image 2
Krea 3 Edit vs OpenAI: GPT-5.4 Image 2
By Ryan Merket · Published
A head-to-head across eight image-editing challenges tests framing, composition, anatomy, counting, and exact text. The results turn on a familiar trade-off: disciplined prompt matching versus more polished, legible scenes.
OpenAI: GPT-5.4 Image 2 takes the matchup, but this is a lean verdict, not a rout: it leads 62.8 to 60.2 and wins five tasks to Krea 3 Edit’s three. The limited confidence rating fits the narrow score gap. The advantage comes from a handful of stronger results, not dominance across the board. OpenAI’s clearest edge is in text-heavy work. Its jazz poster gives the event copy more room and a stronger vertical hierarchy, while its three-line navy poster makes the title crisp and prominent. It also wins the tambourine-singer scene, where the face, both hands, instrument, and candlelit club read together as a coherent performance. On the seven-cup task, both models get the count right; OpenAI’s cups are visibly filled, while Krea better respects the requested overhead, wide layout. Krea earns its wins by following the brief’s composition more faithfully. Its bracelet-maker shows both hands at work in the requested 16:9 close-up; its stage layout places the specified objects clearly; and its campsite better matches the wide, restrained dusk scene. Across several OpenAI wins, the same weakness recurs: square framing where the prompt asked for 16:9. The images can be polished and readable, but that format drift costs it points. The split is useful: OpenAI is the stronger pick when legibility, scene completeness, or finish matters most; Krea is more dependable when the requested framing and object placement are the assignment. **Call: OpenAI: GPT-5.4 Image 2 wins on balance, narrowly—Krea 3 Edit is the better choice for exact wide-frame composition.**
Hands & anatomy
A natural candid photo of a person tying a friendship bracelet, both hands clearly visible with anatomically correct fingers and a plausible grip on the threads, soft daylight, shallow depth of field, 16:9.
OpenAI: GPT-6 Luna: Model A better matches the requested 16:9 candid close-up, with both hands visibly working the threads and soft, shallow-focus daylight. Model B is polished and shows a plausible grip, but its square framing departs from the requested format and gives more space to the torso than the bracelet-making action. (Second judge pass, order swapped — scores are the average of both: Model A better matches the requested 16:9 framing and clearly shows both hands working the bracelet threads, while Model B | Anthropic: Claude Fable 5.1: Model A delivers a convincing 16:9 candid close-…
Readable jazz poster
A sharply focused street-side poster for a midnight concert, designed in elegant Swiss International Style typography and fully legible: the poster text must read exactly 'LUMA VALE' on the first line, 'ONE NIGHT ONLY' on the second line, and 'NOV 14 — 22:30' on the third line. The poster is mounted in a brushed aluminum frame outside a narrow jazz bar, with a saxophonist silhouette photo occupying the lower half, generous grid-based spacing, clean sans-serif type, black text on a warm ivory background with one ultramarine accent bar. Nighttime drizzle, reflections on pavement, cinematic side lighting, vertical composition.
OpenAI: GPT-6 Luna: Model B makes the exact event text larger and more legible, with a stronger vertical poster layout, brushed-metal frame, ultramarine bar, and prominent saxophonist silhouette. Model A is also cinematic and captures the rainy street atmosphere, but its landscape composition gives the poster less prominence. (Second judge pass, order swapped — scores are the average of both: Model B more closely matches the requested vertical, grid-based poster and gives the exact three lines of text generous spac | Anthropic: Claude Fable 5.1: Both render the three text lines exactly and in…
Precise stage layout
An oil painting of a quirky rehearsal stage viewed straight on: a copper tuba sits on a red rug at center; to the left of the tuba is a blue snare drum, and to the right of the tuba is a wooden metronome; a silver flute lies directly in front of the tuba; behind the tuba stands a tall black microphone stand; a green violin case is placed between the snare drum and the tuba; a brass trumpet rests on top of the violin case; a folding chair is behind the snare drum; and a small glass of water is on the floor just to the right of the metronome. Warm spotlighting, dark backstage surroundings, balanced 16:9 composition.
OpenAI: GPT-6 Luna: Model A follows the precise object placement closely and delivers the requested balanced 16:9 stage composition. Model B includes most of the instruments and props, but its nearly square framing and added wall signage distract from the requested layout. (Second judge pass, order swapped — scores are the average of both: Model A presents the requested objects in a clearer, more balanced straight-on stage layout, with the rug and instrument positions especially easy to read. Model B is richly pain | Anthropic: Claude Fable 5.1: Model A places every object exactly as specifie…
Restricted palette
A flat-vector illustration of a mountain campsite at dusk using ONLY four colors — cream, burnt orange, teal, and charcoal — with no gradients and no stray off-palette colors, balanced composition, 16:9.
OpenAI: GPT-6 Luna: Model A better matches the requested 16:9 dusk campsite, with a moon, stars, tent, and fire, though its lake shading appears gradient-like. Model B is a crisp flat-vector scene with a clear campsite, but its square format and busier composition diverge from the prompt. (Second judge pass, order swapped — scores are the average of both: Model A better matches the requested 16:9 framing and has a clean, balanced campsite-at-dusk composition. Both use gradient-like shading despite the no-gradients | Anthropic: Claude Fable 5.1: Model A delivers the requested 16:9 frame, a cle…
Tambourine singer hands
A realistic oil-painted close three-quarter view of a folk singer mid-performance on a small candlelit club stage, shown from knees up with natural anatomy and relaxed posture: she holds a round tambourine in her left hand with all five fingers visible wrapping the frame, while her right hand is open near the microphone with five clearly separated fingers and a natural thumb position; her face is turned slightly toward the audience, shoulders even, elbows proportionate, and both forearms fully visible. She wears a rust velvet jacket over a black dress, a narrow silver ring on the right index finger, and ankle boots; a double bass and dim audience tables blur in the background. Soft amber stage light, realistic skin texture, shallow depth of field, 16:9.
OpenAI: GPT-6 Luna: Model B better matches the requested performance scene, showing the singer’s face, both hands, tambourine, double bass, and candlelit audience with convincing anatomy and a coherent oil-painted style. Model A has attractive lighting and the requested outfit, but its severe head crop and less clear tambourine grip weaken the composition and prompt adherence. (Second judge pass, order swapped — scores are the average of both: Model B better captures the singer’s face, performance, candlelit club, | Anthropic: Claude Fable 5.1: Model A matches the 16:9 ratio and places the op…
Exact counting
A clean overhead flat lay on white marble of EXACTLY seven identical espresso cups arranged in a single straight row, each clearly separate and individually countable, even soft lighting, 16:9.
OpenAI: GPT-6 Luna: Model A shows exactly seven separate cups in a straight row and matches the requested 16:9 overhead marble layout. Model B is polished and also has seven clearly countable cups, but its square format departs from the requested aspect ratio. (Second judge pass, order swapped — scores are the average of both: Model B shows exactly seven clearly separated, identical espresso cups with espresso visible, while Model A also has seven cups but they appear empty. Model A matches the requested 16:9 aspec | Anthropic: Claude Fable 5.1: Both Model A and Model B show exactly seven ide…
Legible multi-line text
A minimalist event poster with three lines of crisp, correctly-spelled text stacked and centered: 'NIGHT MARKET' large on top, 'Fridays · 6–11pm' in the middle, 'Riverside Pier 4' at the bottom, on a deep navy background, clean sans-serif, subtle grain.
OpenAI: GPT-6 Luna: Model B makes the title more prominent while keeping all three centered lines legible and correctly rendered on a subtly textured navy background. Model A is clean and faithful, but its text block feels comparatively small and less impactful. (Second judge pass, order swapped — scores are the average of both: Model B presents all three lines crisply and correctly on a textured deep navy background, with a strong centered poster composition. Model A is also legible and restrained, but its text is | Anthropic: Claude Fable 5.1: Both render all three lines correctly spelled,…
Memphis synth lobby
A boutique synthesizer showroom rendered faithfully in 1980s Memphis design style: a young keyboardist in a teal jumpsuit leans on a mint-green analog synth while geometric squiggles, terrazzo patterns, zigzags, dots, and asymmetrical pastel blocks cover the walls and floor; a chrome floor lamp arcs over the scene, two tiny cube speakers sit on a coral pedestal, and a lemon-yellow keytar hangs on the back wall. Bright flash-lit editorial look, crisp edges, playful flat shapes, high color contrast, wide interior composition, 16:9.
OpenAI: GPT-6 Luna: Model B delivers a more convincing synth showroom, with a detailed mint keyboard, clear Memphis styling, and polished editorial lighting, though its square framing misses the requested 16:9 composition. Model A matches the wide layout and most specified props, but its synth and overall showroom feel less developed. (Second judge pass, order swapped — scores are the average of both: Model B more fully realizes the prompt with a convincing Memphis showroom, clear synth and keytar details, terrazzo | Anthropic: Claude Fable 5.1: Model A delivers every requested element—teal j…
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