Seedream 4.0: New Dreamina AI Image Editor and Generator

I initially thought it would be hard for any tool to beat Nano Banana. However, that changed with the release of Seedream 4.0 by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok. This tool has proven to be even more powerful, offering both image editing and image generation features.

In this guide, I will walk you through everything I learned while testing Seedream 4.0, including comparisons with other top tools like Nano Banana and GPT40. By the end, you will know exactly how Seedream works, how to access it, and how to use it step-by-step.

What is Seedream 4.0?

Seedream 4.0 is an AI-powered image generation and editing platform. It allows you to:

• Edit existing images with high precision
• Generate completely new images from scratch using text prompts
• Preserve original styles, objects, and characters while making changes
• Handle complex tasks like style transfer, colorization, and poster design

It’s especially well-known for its character consistency, world understanding, and multi-view editing capabilities, which are superior to most other models on the market.

ByteDance has positioned Seedream 4.0 as a direct competitor to other popular image tools, including Nano Banana by Google and GPT40. While Nano Banana excels at editing, Seedream offers both editing and generation features, making it more versatile.

Official Demo Highlights

1. Multiple Camera Views

You can input a single photo and ask Seedream to generate three different perspectives:

• A 360° overhead view
• An elevated view
• A back view

Result: Seedream accurately preserves every detail of the original image while understanding different camera angles.

2. Brand Product Design

Upload a logo, and Seedream will generate products aligned with your brand style, such as:

• Packaging bags
• Hats
• Cards

This feature is incredibly useful for companies wanting to quickly see mockups of branded products.

3. Merging Multiple Photos

You can upload multiple photos and merge them into one cohesive image. Seedream fully understands the prompt and produces an output that aligns with the reference images you provided.

4. Poster Editing

Take any poster and:

• Change the text to new words or dates
• Adjust lighting for a completely different atmosphere

5. Colorizing Black & White Photos

Seedream excels at restoring and colorizing black-and-white images while maintaining natural tones.

6. Style Transfer

Transform an image into various styles such as:

• Bronze
• Knitted patterns
• Origami
• Building blocks

This makes it ideal for creative projects or artistic transformations.

7. Complex Infographics

Unlike other AI models limited to photography-style images, Seedream can generate:

• Diagrams
• Charts
• Educational posters
• Step-by-step tutorials

For instance:

• Create a timeline of Chinese dynasties with icons and descriptions.
• Generate a poster about the harm of staying up late.
• Build a hand-drawn ice cream tutorial, complete with accurate text and illustrations.

Table: Seedream 4.0 vs Competitors

Key Features of Seedream 4.0

• Preserves Original Style & Characters
  Keeps the look, pose, and details of the original images intact.
• Multiple Camera Perspectives
  Generate overhead, back, or ultra-wide-angle shots from a single input.
• Logo & Brand Design Generation
  Create packaging, cards, and more by inputting a brand logo or style guide.
• Poster and Text Editing
  Change text while maintaining the original style and layout.
• Colorization and Restoration
  Fix old photos by removing scratches, tears, and fading.
• World Understanding for Complex Designs
  Generate charts, diagrams, and educational posters with accurate information.

Getting Started with Seedream 4.0

Follow these steps to start using Seedream 4.0 effectively.

Step 1: Access the Official Platform

• Visit the official Seedream 4.0 webpage.
• Create an account or log in using your existing ByteDance credentials.
• Ensure you are using a stable internet connection for faster processing.

Step 2: Prepare Your Input

• Upload the image you want to edit or use a text prompt to generate something new.
• For editing tasks, ensure that:
• The image has good resolution.
• The subject is clear and not overly cluttered.

Step 3: Select Your Task

Seedream 4.0 allows you to:

1. Edit Existing Images — Modify specific elements like text, colors, or backgrounds.
2. Generate New Images — Create designs, posters, or diagrams directly from a text prompt.

Step 4: Provide Instructions

• Use simple, descriptive prompts for the best results.
• Example prompts:

• “Turn this day photo into nighttime with a blizzard.”
• “Translate all text into Chinese while keeping the original font.”
• “Generate a water cycle diagram with accurate labels.”

Step 5: Review and Download

• After processing, review the generated options.
• Choose the best version and download it in your preferred format.

Comparing Seedream 4.0 with Other Models

Editing Features in Detail

1. Character Consistency

Seedream maintains the details of uploaded characters, even during complex edits like:

• Changing poses
• Adding backgrounds
• Merging multiple characters into a single scene

In my tests, other models like GPT40 failed to maintain facial details or armor patterns, while Seedream preserved them perfectly.

2. Day-to-Night and Night-to-Day Changes

Seedream excels at transforming the time of day in photos.

• Day to Night: Adds realistic lighting effects, keeping all details intact.
• Night to Day with Explosion: Even adds elements like explosions while logically adjusting surroundings, such as turning off street lamps during daytime conversions.

3. Camera Perspective Adjustments

Seedream understands complex camera perspectives:

• Fisheye overhead views
• Ultra-wide shots from below
• Accurate detail preservation of background characters

4. Text Editing and Translation

Seedream is extremely effective at handling text:

• Change existing text while preserving style and alignment.
• Translate text into different languages accurately, including Chinese.
• Maintain font consistency during translations.

5. Clothes and Object Swapping

Swap elements between characters or objects:

• Exchange outfits between two people.
• Replace animal heads or other elements without distorting the rest of the image.

6. Photo Restoration and Colorization

Seedream can:

• Remove scratches, folds, and fading from old photos.
• Restore missing details while preserving original facial features.
• Colorize black-and-white images accurately.

7. Style Transfer

Transform the overall style of an image:

• Convert real photos into anime-style artwork.
• Change textures, like turning plain text into knitted or bronze designs.
• Apply consistent artistic themes across multiple images.

Image Generation Capabilities

Educational Diagrams

• Generate accurate diagrams, like the water cycle, with correctly labeled elements.
• Create educational posters with charts, infographics, and illustrations.

Posters and Campaign Designs

• Quickly produce marketing posters for events or products.
• Adjust text, layout, and theme based on a simple prompt.

Practical Examples

Step-by-Step: Translating Text in an Image

One of the most impressive features is text translation.

1. Upload the Original Image
   Example: An English event poster.
2. Prompt Example:
   “Translate all text into Chinese while preserving the original font and layout.”
3. Review the Output
   • Ensure all characters are correct.
   • Confirm the style matches the original.
4. Download the Final Poster

Seedream outperformed other models like Nano Banana and GPT40 in this test.

Poster Creation Workflow

Here’s how to create a sports day poster:

1. Upload a reference poster.
2. Provide clear instructions:

• Change event name: Sports Day
• Update venue: Main Stadium
• Replace images with sports-related visuals.

1. Review and make minor tweaks if needed.
2. Download and share the final design.

Limitations Observed

While Seedream 4.0 is powerful, I noticed a few minor issues:

• Small text can sometimes appear distorted during dark mode conversions.
• In rare cases, random extra elements may appear in the output.
• Complex multi-view tasks like 3D model sheets may not be perfectly accurate.

FAQs

1. Is Seedream 4.0 free to use?

Seedream offers a free trial, but certain features may require a paid subscription.

2. Can it translate any language in images?

Yes, Seedream can translate text in images accurately while preserving fonts and layouts.

3. How does it compare to Nano Banana?

• Editing: Both are excellent, but Seedream provides more consistent results.
• Generation: Seedream outperforms Nano Banana, which focuses mainly on editing.

4. Can it create diagrams or educational posters?

Yes, Seedream is highly effective for generating diagrams, charts, and step-by-step tutorials.

5. Does it work with complex prompts?

Yes, Seedream has strong world understanding, making it suitable for challenging tasks like perspective shifts or historical timelines.

Final Thoughts

Seedream 4.0 combines editing precision and image generation strength in one tool. In nearly every test, it outperformed Nano Banana and GPT40, especially in:

• Maintaining style consistency
• Translating and editing text
• Handling complex perspectives