Grok Imagine vs Seedream 4.5
Film grain, retro aesthetic, and nostalgic filters — see how these models compare with real AI-generated outputs.
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Creating convincing Vintage & Retro visuals is more than adding grain—it’s about period-accurate color, believable texture, and the subtle imperfections that make an image feel like it came from a specific era. In Influencer Studio, Grok Imagine and Seedream 4.5 both support text-to-image and image-to-image workflows, but they shine in different parts of the retro pipeline.
This comparison focuses on film grain, retro aesthetic (70s/80s/90s vibes, faded prints, halation, soft contrast), and nostalgic filters (warm casts, muted palettes, vintage flash). We’ll also factor in cost: Grok Imagine is 4 credits/image, while Seedream 4.5 is 16 credits/image.
Vintage & Retro — Side-by-Side Results
Prompt
"A 20s woman with shoulder-length wavy dark hair in a faded graphic tee and high-waisted light-wash jeans holds her phone up for a casual mirror selfie, looking slightly past the camera with a relaxed half-smile like a TikTok “outfit check.” She’s in a small bedroom with a messy bed, thrift-store posters, and a bedside lamp, lit by soft window daylight; vintage 90s disposable-camera look with film grain, faded colors, warm nostalgic tone, subtle light leaks and slightly off-center framing."
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Grok Imagine | Seedream 4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | xAI | ByteDance |
| Subcategories | text-to-image, image-to-image | text-to-image, image-to-image |
| 1080p / 2k Mode | Yes | Yes |
| 4k Mode | No | No |
| NSFW Rating | Low | Low |
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 3:4, 4:3 | 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 3:4, 4:3 |
| Starting Price | 4 credits | 16 credits |
Grok Imagine Strengths
- Strong creative compositions that help sell “found photo” and cinematic retro scenes
- High-detail, photorealistic outputs that keep vintage textures (grain, dust, fabric weave) feeling believable
- Cost-efficient iteration at 4 credits/image—useful for testing multiple nostalgic looks quickly
- Handles stylized retro prompts well (e.g., “35mm street photo,” “Polaroid snapshot,” “faded magazine print”) with punchy results
Seedream 4.5 Strengths
- More editing-oriented image-to-image workflow—better for applying or refining a retro filter on an existing photo
- High-resolution output that preserves subtle vintage cues like fine grain, paper texture, and soft bloom
- Versatile style control for switching between eras (matte 70s, neon 80s, early-digital 90s) without rebuilding the whole scene
- Stronger for controlled adjustments (tone, color cast, contrast) when you need consistency across a campaign set
Verdict
If your goal is to generate fresh vintage-inspired images with strong composition and convincing photoreal detail, Grok Imagine is typically the better value—especially when you need to iterate on film-grain intensity, lens softness, and nostalgic color grading at scale.
If your workflow is more about editing existing images—dialing in a consistent retro filter, preserving fine texture at higher resolution, and making targeted refinements—Seedream 4.5 is the stronger pick, though its 16 credits/image cost makes it best for fewer, more deliberate renders.
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