OpenAI’s current deprecation schedule lists 23 October 2026 as the shutdown date for the API model gpt-image-1. The notice was published earlier; this is a five-day preparation window, not a new launch announcement. Check the exact model in your integration or ask the tool provider. The API deadline alone does not establish a change to your ChatGPT image account.
An attractive preview is only part of an image task. You may also need to revise one object, keep a consistent subject or download a file at a useful size. Choose the tool around the finished asset rather than a gallery of impressive examples.
Use one clear brief
Try a fictional illustration of a reading desk: one lamp, two closed books and an empty area for a headline. Specify the frame and purpose. Ask each available tool for the same arrangement without private photos or copyrighted reference material you cannot use.
OpenAI and Google document image creation and editing, but their interfaces, account requirements and limits differ. Check the relevant product page rather than assuming that an API capability appears in every consumer account.
Test a revision, not just generation
Ask to change only the lamp colour. Compare the desk, books and empty headline area before and after. If important details drift, include the original reference and state which features must remain.
Inspect the downloaded file
Check dimensions, format, visible defects and text at its intended display size. For print, pixels matter more than a large-looking browser preview. Keep the source reference and the approved version separately. A tool that reliably finishes your specific asset can be a better choice than one with a stronger-looking first thumbnail.