Recraft V4.1

Recraft V4.1 is the default model of the API, released in May 2026. It gives sharp, polished results with strong photorealism and prompt following, and returns raster or editable SVG images.

$0.035

per image, standard raster

1K / 2K

WebP, PNG, or SVG

10,000

characters of prompt

recraftv4_1

default model

Try it

Get an API token on your profile page (it needs a positive API units balance) and set it once per terminal session:

export RECRAFT_API_TOKEN=your_token

Then run:

curl https://external.api.recraft.ai/v1/images/generations \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RECRAFT_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "prompt": "two race cars on a track",
    "model": "recraftv4_1"
  }'

# pip install requests
import os

import requests

response = requests.post(
    'https://external.api.recraft.ai/v1/images/generations',
    headers={'Authorization': f"Bearer {os.environ['RECRAFT_API_TOKEN']}"},
    json={
        'prompt': 'two race cars on a track',
        'model': 'recraftv4_1',
    },
)
if not response.ok:
    raise SystemExit(f'{response.status_code}: {response.text}')
print(response.json()['data'][0]['url'])

# pip install openai
import os

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url='https://external.api.recraft.ai/v1',
    api_key=os.environ['RECRAFT_API_TOKEN'],
)

response = client.images.generate(
    prompt='two race cars on a track',
    model='recraftv4_1',
)
print(response.data[0].url)

// Node.js 18+, run as an ES module (file.mjs)
const response = await fetch('https://external.api.recraft.ai/v1/images/generations', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.RECRAFT_API_TOKEN}`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'two race cars on a track',
    model: 'recraftv4_1',
  }),
});
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(await response.text());
const result = await response.json();
console.log(result.data[0].url);

Response

{
  "created": 1759140000,
  "credits": 35,
  "data": [
    {
      "image_id": "0e6a1b8c-5b1f-4a8e-9f3a-2c7d4e8b9a10",
      "url": "https://..."
    }
  ]
}

data has one entry per image (n). Download each image from its url.
Image URLs are temporary: files are kept for about 24 hours, so download them. See Limits and sizes.
credits is the number of API units charged for the request.
Pass "response_format": "b64_json" to get the image bytes inline, or "multipart" for the lowest latency. See Image inputs and results.

Parameters

Parameter	Type, default	Description
`prompt`	string, required	What to generate. Up to 10,000 characters.
`model`	string, `recraftv4_1`	One of the variants below.
`size`	string, auto	Aspect ratio (`1:1`, `16:9`, `3:4`, …) or exact size (`1024x1024`). Picked from the prompt when omitted. See supported sizes.
`n`	integer, `1`	Number of images, 1 to 6.
`style_id`	UUID	Apply a custom style.
`response_format`	string, `url`	`url`, `b64_json`, or `multipart`.
`image_format`	string, `webp`	`webp` (lossless) or `png`. Ignored for vector output, which is always SVG.

More parameters

Parameter	Type, default	Description
`style_reference_urls`	array of strings	Up to 10 image URLs to use as style references instead of `style_id`. See Style references.
`style_match`	string	`flexible` or `precise`: how closely to follow the style. See Style match.
`random_seed`	integer	Seed for reproducible results.
`controls.colors`	array of colors	Preferred colors, e.g. `[{"rgb": [255, 102, 0]}]`. See Colors.
`controls.background_color`	color	Desired background color, e.g. `{"rgb": [255, 255, 255]}`.

Not supported by V4.1: negative_prompt, style (curated styles), text_layout, and the artistic_level and no_text controls.

Variants

`model`	Output	Price per image
`recraftv4_1`	Raster, 1K	$0.035
`recraftv4_1_vector`	Vector, SVG	$0.08
`recraftv4_1_pro`	Raster, 2K	$0.21
`recraftv4_1_pro_vector`	Vector, SVG	$0.30
`recraftv4_1_utility`	Raster, 1K	$0.035
`recraftv4_1_utility_vector`	Vector, SVG	$0.08
`recraftv4_1_utility_pro`	Raster, 2K	$0.21
`recraftv4_1_utility_pro_vector`	Vector, SVG	$0.30

Pro variants generate at 2K with finer detail, for print-ready and large-scale assets.
Utility variants trade the main line’s artistic point of view for predictability: flat lighting, front-facing composition, simple scenes. Use them for mockups and product listing photos.
Vector variants return editable SVG, built for logos, typography, and illustration.

Capabilities

Capability	Support
Generate image	Yes, default model
Image to image	Yes, default model
Create style	Yes
Vector output	Yes, `_vector` variants
Styles	Custom styles and style references
Controls	Partial: `colors` and `background_color`
Negative prompt, curated styles, text layout	No, see Recraft V3

For high-volume generation, see Recraft V4.1 Flash: about 1.3 seconds and $0.007 per image, raster only, no styles.

Examples

Vector logo

curl https://external.api.recraft.ai/v1/images/generations \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RECRAFT_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "prompt": "minimal fox logo, flat, two colors",
    "model": "recraftv4_1_vector",
    "size": "1:1"
  }'

The url points to an SVG file.

Product photo in 2K

curl https://external.api.recraft.ai/v1/images/generations \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RECRAFT_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "prompt": "ceramic coffee mug on a white table, soft daylight, product listing photo",
    "model": "recraftv4_1_utility_pro",
    "size": "4:3",
    "image_format": "png"
  }'

In brand colors

curl https://external.api.recraft.ai/v1/images/generations \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RECRAFT_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "prompt": "isometric illustration of a delivery van",
    "model": "recraftv4_1",
    "controls": {
      "colors": [{"rgb": [255, 102, 0]}, {"rgb": [30, 30, 30]}],
      "background_color": {"rgb": [255, 255, 255]}
    }
  }'

With a custom style

A style works only with the model it was created for, so create it with "model": "recraftv4_1". This creates the style ($0.005) and generates with it:

STYLE_ID=$(curl -s https://external.api.recraft.ai/v1/styles \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RECRAFT_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model": "recraftv4_1", "image_urls": ["https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/655727fe69827d9a402de12c/679b82f54ef9617939df9d8e_motorcycle--going-fast.png"]}' \
  | python3 -c 'import json, sys; print(json.load(sys.stdin)["id"])')

curl https://external.api.recraft.ai/v1/images/generations \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RECRAFT_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "prompt": "a cozy reading corner",
    "model": "recraftv4_1",
    "style_id": "'"$STYLE_ID"'"
  }'

Reuse the same STYLE_ID for later requests. To skip the separate step, pass style_reference_urls in the generation request instead.

All models

The whole lineup with prices and best-fit use cases.

Endpoints

Full request reference for every operation.

Pricing

API unit charges across every model and operation.

What's new in V4.1

What V4.1 changed, with side-by-side comparisons.

Get started

Models

Tools

Reference

$0.035

1K / 2K

10,000

recraftv4_1

Try it

Response

Parameters

Variants

Capabilities

Examples

All models

Endpoints

Pricing

What's new in V4.1

$0.035

1K / 2K

10,000

recraftv4_1

​Try it

​Response

​Parameters

​Variants

​Capabilities

​Examples

​Related

All models

Endpoints

Pricing

What's new in V4.1

Try it

Response

Parameters

Variants

Capabilities

Examples

Related