image_generation()

Complete API reference for the image_generation() function

Overview

Generate images from text prompts using any of LiteLLM’s supported image generation providers. Returns responses in OpenAI format.

Function Signature

def image_generation(
    prompt: str,
    model: Optional[str] = None,
    n: Optional[int] = None,
    quality: Optional[Union[str, ImageGenerationRequestQuality]] = None,
    response_format: Optional[str] = None,
    size: Optional[str] = None,
    style: Optional[str] = None,
    user: Optional[str] = None,
    timeout: float = 600,
    api_key: Optional[str] = None,
    api_base: Optional[str] = None,
    api_version: Optional[str] = None,
    custom_llm_provider: Optional[str] = None,
    **kwargs
) -> ImageResponse

Parameters

Required Parameters

prompt · string · required

Text description of the desired image(s).

prompt="A serene landscape with mountains and a lake at sunset"

Optional Parameters

model · string

The model to use for image generation.

Examples:

• dall-e-3 (OpenAI)
• dall-e-2 (OpenAI)
• stability-ai/stable-diffusion-xl-base-1.0 (Bedrock)
• imagegeneration@006 (Vertex AI)

n · int · default: "1"

Number of images to generate.

Note: dall-e-3 only supports n=1

size · string

Size of generated images.

For DALL-E 3:

• "1024x1024" (default)
• "1792x1024"
• "1024x1792"

For DALL-E 2:

• "256x256"
• "512x512"
• "1024x1024"

quality · string · default: "standard"

Quality of the image (DALL-E 3 only).

Options:

• "standard": Standard quality
• "hd": Higher quality, more detailed

style · string · default: "vivid"

Style of generated images (DALL-E 3 only).

Options:

• "vivid": Hyper-real and dramatic images
• "natural": More natural, less hyper-real

response_format · string · default: "url"

Format of the returned image.

Options:

• "url": Returns a URL to the image
• "b64_json": Returns base64 encoded JSON

user · string

Unique identifier for your end-user.

timeout · float · default: "600"

Request timeout in seconds (default 10 minutes).

API Configuration

api_key · string

API key for the provider.

api_base · string

Base URL for the API endpoint.

api_version · string

API version to use.

custom_llm_provider · string

Override provider detection.

Response

ImageResponse

created · int

Unix timestamp of when the image was created.

data · List[ImageObject]

List of generated image objects.

Show ImageObject

url · string

URL of the generated image (if response_format=“url”).

b64_json · string

Base64 encoded image (if response_format=“b64_json”).

revised_prompt · string

The revised prompt used by DALL-E 3 (if applicable).

Usage Examples

Basic Image Generation

import litellm

response = litellm.image_generation(
    prompt="A cute baby sea otter",
    model="dall-e-3"
)

print(response.data[0].url)

High Quality Image

import litellm

response = litellm.image_generation(
    prompt="A futuristic cityscape at night",
    model="dall-e-3",
    quality="hd",
    size="1792x1024",
    style="vivid"
)

print(response.data[0].url)
print(response.data[0].revised_prompt)  # See how DALL-E revised your prompt

Multiple Images (DALL-E 2)

import litellm

response = litellm.image_generation(
    prompt="A white siamese cat",
    model="dall-e-2",
    n=4,
    size="512x512"
)

for i, image in enumerate(response.data):
    print(f"Image {i+1}: {image.url}")

Async Image Generation

import litellm
import asyncio

async def main():
    response = await litellm.aimage_generation(
        prompt="A serene mountain landscape",
        model="dall-e-3"
    )
    print(response.data[0].url)

asyncio.run(main())

Base64 Response

import litellm
import base64
from PIL import Image
from io import BytesIO

response = litellm.image_generation(
    prompt="A colorful abstract painting",
    model="dall-e-2",
    response_format="b64_json"
)

# Decode and save the image
image_data = base64.b64decode(response.data[0].b64_json)
image = Image.open(BytesIO(image_data))
image.save("generated_image.png")

Provider Examples

OpenAI DALL-E

import litellm

# DALL-E 3
response = litellm.image_generation(
    prompt="A photorealistic cat",
    model="dall-e-3",
    size="1024x1024",
    quality="hd"
)

# DALL-E 2
response = litellm.image_generation(
    prompt="A photorealistic cat",
    model="dall-e-2",
    n=2,
    size="512x512"
)

Azure OpenAI

import litellm

response = litellm.image_generation(
    prompt="A beautiful sunset",
    model="azure/dall-e-3",
    api_key="your-azure-key",
    api_base="https://your-endpoint.openai.azure.com/",
    api_version="2024-02-01"
)

AWS Bedrock

import litellm

response = litellm.image_generation(
    prompt="A majestic eagle in flight",
    model="bedrock/stability.stable-diffusion-xl-v1",
    # Bedrock-specific params
    width=1024,
    height=1024,
    cfg_scale=7.0,
    steps=50
)

Vertex AI

import litellm

response = litellm.image_generation(
    prompt="A cyberpunk city",
    model="vertex_ai/imagegeneration@006",
    # Vertex-specific params
    number_of_images=1,
    aspect_ratio="1:1"
)

Replicate

import litellm

response = litellm.image_generation(
    prompt="A fantasy castle",
    model="replicate/stability-ai/sdxl",
    custom_llm_provider="replicate"
)

Saving Images

Save from URL

import litellm
import requests
from PIL import Image
from io import BytesIO

response = litellm.image_generation(
    prompt="A peaceful garden",
    model="dall-e-3"
)

# Download and save
image_url = response.data[0].url
image_response = requests.get(image_url)
image = Image.open(BytesIO(image_response.content))
image.save("generated_image.png")

Save from Base64

import litellm
import base64

response = litellm.image_generation(
    prompt="An abstract artwork",
    model="dall-e-2",
    response_format="b64_json"
)

# Save directly
with open("image.png", "wb") as f:
    f.write(base64.b64decode(response.data[0].b64_json))

Error Handling

import litellm
from litellm import (
    BadRequestError,
    AuthenticationError,
    RateLimitError,
    ContentPolicyViolationError
)

try:
    response = litellm.image_generation(
        prompt="A beautiful landscape",
        model="dall-e-3"
    )
except ContentPolicyViolationError as e:
    print(f"Content policy violation: {e}")
except AuthenticationError as e:
    print(f"Authentication failed: {e}")
except RateLimitError as e:
    print(f"Rate limit exceeded: {e}")
except BadRequestError as e:
    print(f"Bad request: {e}")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"An error occurred: {e}")

Supported Providers

LiteLLM supports image generation from:

• OpenAI: DALL-E 2, DALL-E 3
• Azure OpenAI: DALL-E 2, DALL-E 3
• AWS Bedrock: Stable Diffusion, Titan Image Generator
• Google Vertex AI: Imagen 2, Imagen 3
• Replicate: Stable Diffusion XL, Flux, and more
• Together AI: Various Stable Diffusion models

See Image Generation Providers for the complete list.

Related

• aimage_generation() - Async version
• Completion API
• Image Generation Guide