Choosing a generation model
Each product type lets you pick the AI model that generates your images. Cheaper models are faster and cost less per piece; premium models give better composition and detail. Here's how to choose.
The model picker sits in the right sidebar of the create form. It’s a radio list — pick one. Each model shows its per-image credit cost inline so you can see the trade-off before you launch.
Where the picker appears (and where it doesn’t)
| Product type | Model picker |
|---|---|
| Wall Art | Yes — multiple models |
| Poster | Yes — multiple models |
| Clipart | Yes — multiple models |
| Sticker | No — single fixed model (fofr/sticker-maker) |
| SVG | No — single fixed model (Recraft V4 SVG) |
| Custom | No — no image generation |
For sticker and SVG, the form omits the picker because there’s only one good model on the market for that format. Same logic for custom — you upload your own images, nothing to generate.
What changes when you pick a different model
Only one thing changes: the model that generates your images. Everything else is identical:
- The same design-option fields are available (art medium, color palette, mood, room/setting, composition, negative prompts). There’s no longer a tiered “feature unlock” gating these — every model gets all options.
- The same brief and prompt LLM logic runs.
- The same upscale, processing, and delivery pipeline runs downstream.
The old tier system (Creator / Studio / Signature) was retired in May 2026. The launch payload still includes a qualityTier field for backward compatibility but it no longer drives the UI.
Picking by intent
Without naming specific models (they rotate as the market changes — the picker always shows what’s currently available), the trade-off is:
- Cheaper models (low credit cost) are best for prototyping, batch volume, and styles where composition matters less than throughput — e.g. abstract patterns, simple clipart, mood-board pieces.
- Mid-tier models are the workhorse for most listings. Good composition, reasonable cost, predictable output.
- Premium models (high credit cost) are worth it for hero pieces where you need cleaner detail, better text rendering, or more reliable adherence to specific style cues (vintage botanical, fine-line illustration, specific photography styles).
If you’re unsure, start with a cheaper model on the first 1-2 pieces in a new direction. If the composition holds together, scale up; if not, you’ve spent less to learn it.
Credit cost is per image, not per project
For clipart bundles, the per-image credit cost is multiplied by the number of images in the bundle. A 20-image clipart bundle on a model that costs 2 credits per image costs 40 credits total. The sidebar shows the total credit cost for the launch — always look at that number, not the per-image one.
Upscale and infrastructure models stay hidden
Only the generation model is user-facing. The upscaler (AlexGenovese ×10 for wall art/poster, ESRGAN for clipart/sticker), background removal (WaveSpeed), and other infrastructure models stay out of the UI — you can’t pick or swap them. That’s intentional: the model behind a step like “background removal” is an implementation choice, not a creative one.
Related
- How credits are used per tool — the credit cost breakdown across the full pipeline.
- Tips for better AI-generated images — what you can change in the prompt to get more out of any model.
Related
- Tips for Better AI-Generated ImagesGet better results from Elistit's AI image generation with these practical prompting tips.
- How Credits Are Used Per ToolA detailed breakdown of credit costs for each Elistit tool: AI generation, upscaling, mockups, and more.
- Aspect ratios — which one to pickWall art uses 3:4 or 4:3. Posters use 2:3 or 3:2. Clipart, stickers, and SVG are always 1:1. Here's why each product type is locked to its own set of ratios.