# GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst

> GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst is one of the two API models OpenAI released with Images 2.6 on November 4, 2026. OpenAI positions it for detailed image generation and editing: at medium or high quality, it says Sunburst produces higher-quality images and keeps characters, products and brand details more consistent across edits. For fast iteration, OpenAI points to GPT Image 2.6 Flare instead. They are separate model ids, so you choose by name.

Canonical: https://routemux.com/openai/gpt-image-2.6-sunburst
Provider: OpenAI

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Model ID | openai/gpt-image-2.6-sunburst |
| Official model ID | gpt-image-2.6-sunburst |
| Input modalities | text |
| Output modalities | image |
| Capabilities | Image Generation |
| Upstream release | 2026-11-04 |
| Availability | available |

## Pricing

- RouteMux: $24 per 1M tokens
- Official: $30 per 1M tokens
- Saving vs official: 20%
- Official price source: https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/pricing, verified 2026-11-05

Billing is prepaid wallet, charged per successful request only.

## API access

Base URL: https://api.routemux.com

Supported protocols:

- openai_images

## What is GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst

GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst is one of the two API models OpenAI released with Images 2.6 on November 4, 2026. OpenAI positions it for detailed image generation and editing: at medium or high quality, it says Sunburst produces higher-quality images and keeps characters, products and brand details more consistent across edits. For fast iteration, OpenAI points to GPT Image 2.6 Flare instead. They are separate model ids, so you choose by name.

The headline addition is GIF output. Set output_format to gif and a single request returns a complete looping GIF, with no frame assembly on your side. On RouteMux a GIF is 512×512, frame_count is 2 to 16, frame_duration_ms is 20 to 2000 in steps of 10, and n must be 1. In our runs on November 6, 2026, a 9-frame GIF at low quality used 1,172 image output tokens and took Sunburst 29 to 35 seconds, slower than Flare. You can pick GIF in the try-it panel on this page and run one.

Still images come back as PNG, with size given in pixels such as 1024x1024, 2048x2048 or 3840x2160; unlike 2.5, the literal "2K" and "4K" values are not accepted. Quality runs from auto through low, medium, high and xhigh to max, and complexity (low, medium, high) sets how much planning goes into each image. Billing is per token, with separate rates for text input and image output that stay the same at standard, 2K and 4K, so larger images and higher quality simply produce more output tokens.

Requests use the OpenAI Images protocol at /v1/images/generations and return synchronously, with the image as base64 in data[0].b64_json. OpenAI's 2.6 also supports edits and SVG export; RouteMux has not opened those yet.

## Key capabilities

- **GIFs in one request** — Set output_format to gif for a complete looping GIF: 512×512, 2 to 16 frames, 20 to 2000 ms per frame.
- **Detail and consistency** — OpenAI says Sunburst delivers higher quality and keeps characters and products consistent across edits at medium or high quality.
- **2K / 4K stills** — Give size in pixels, up to 3840×2160; standard, 2K and 4K share one set of token rates.
- **20% below official rates** — Billed per token on RouteMux, with text input and image output each 20% below OpenAI list price.

## Use cases

- **Reaction GIFs and memes** — The first use OpenAI lists in its launch post: reactions and memes for social media.
- **Consistent mascots** — OpenAI mentions animating a brand mascot for a campaign while keeping character, product and brand details consistent.
- **Animated storyboards** — Explore character movement with animated storyboards before video production, an example from the launch post.

## Other variants in this family

- GPT Image 2.6 Flare (`openai/gpt-image-2.6-flare`)

## Sources

- [OpenAI — Introducing Images 2.6](https://openai.com/index/introducing-images-2-6/)
- [OpenAI — GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst model page](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/models/gpt-image-2.6-sunburst)
- [OpenAI — Image generation guide](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/image-generation)
- [OpenAI — API pricing](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/pricing)