If you are new to AI image tools, the vocabulary can be the first wall you hit. This glossary explains the terms you will meet in FlowPic in plain language, then gives you a simple decision tree for choosing the right setup. No prior experience needed.
Core generation modes
Text-to-image (t2i)
You describe an image in words and the AI creates it from scratch. Use this when you have no reference image and want to generate a concept from a description. On the Fast tier this costs 4 credits per output.
Image-to-image (i2i)
You upload a reference image, and the AI creates a new image guided by it — keeping the composition, style, or subject while changing what you describe in the prompt. Use this to keep a consistent look across a set, or to restyle an existing shot. Fast tier: 4 credits; Premium tier: 15 credits.
Text-to-video / image-to-video
The video equivalents. Text-to-video generates a short motion clip from a description; image-to-video animates a still image as the first frame. Video is billed by duration (seconds), not by scene type.
Composition and output terms
Aspect ratio
The shape of the output — width to height. Common ratios: 1:1 (square, Amazon/Instagram feed), 4:5 (portrait, Instagram), 9:16 (vertical, TikTok/Reels/Stories), 16:9 (widescreen, YouTube/hero images), 2:3 (Pinterest). Always set the ratio before generating so the crop fits its destination.
Negative space
The intentionally empty area in a composition. It matters for landing pages and ads where headline copy needs room to sit on top of the image without fighting it.
Resolution / megapixels (MP)
How much detail the image contains. Higher resolution means sharper output and, on Premium models, a higher credit cost because pricing scales with megapixels.
The three layers in FlowPic
Formula
The structural recipe — it sets the composition logic, the commercial goal, and the output format. A formula answers "what kind of shot is this, and what is it for."
Style
The visual treatment — lens, lighting, color grade, texture. A style answers "what does it look like."
Prompt
The specific content — the subject, the scene, the details. A prompt answers "what is actually in the frame."
Engine
Each of the 220 styles belongs to one of four engines: Cinematic (photographic realism), Graphic (bold layout and typography), Metaphor (conceptual and surreal), and Narrative (motion-ready framing). The engine predicts how a style will behave.
Quality tiers
Fast tier
Lower credit cost, quick iteration. Best for exploring concepts and volume testing. Text-to-image and image-to-image both cost 4 credits per output.
Premium tier
Higher fidelity, and for video, audio. Costs more per generation. Best for final assets you will actually ship.
Style and camera jargon, decoded
FlowPic's guides name specific styles and reference real camera systems. Here is what that vocabulary actually means, in one line each, so you know what to expect before you pick.
Camera and film references
- Hasselblad medium-format look — extremely sharp surface detail with a restrained, editorial color grade. Best for luxury products, skincare, and beauty.
- Phase One macro look — ultra-close detail with rich, true-to-life color. Best for food, ceramics, and textured objects.
- Film grain / analog — a soft, slightly textured, nostalgic feel rather than clinical digital sharpness. Best for lifestyle and brand storytelling.
Common style names
- Luxury Editorial — like a high-end magazine spread; crisp product surfaces, muted tones. For premium DTC and beauty.
- Editorial Still Life — calm wabi-sabi (imperfect, natural) aesthetic with macro detail. For lifestyle goods, coffee, candles, Pinterest audiences.
- Food Editorial — appetizing, magazine-grade food shots with overcast window light. For food and beverage.
- Portrait Raw — natural, un-retouched people photography. For founder shots and authentic UGC.
- Acid Graphic — high-contrast, bold Gen-Z energy. For social cards and posters.
- Typography Poster — the text is the visual; layout-driven. For announcements and quote graphics.
- Creative Metaphor — turns an abstract idea (automation, security) into a concrete image. For SaaS and fintech.
Feature terms
- Pro Grid — one run that produces 4 image variations at once (image mode), for fast side-by-side comparison. Costs a small surcharge on top of the 4 outputs.
You do not need to memorize these — the style library groups them by engine, and each formula pre-loads a compatible style. This section is here so the names in our other guides never leave you guessing.
A simple decision tree
Not sure how to set up your first generation? Follow this:
-
Do you have a reference image?
- No → use text-to-image
- Yes → use image-to-image
-
What is the asset for?
- Selling a product → formula Ecommerce Conversion
- Stopping the scroll on paid social → formula Social Ad Hook
- A SaaS landing page → formula Minimal Editorial Design
- A short video opener → formula Video Opening Hook
-
Where will it be posted? Set the aspect ratio to match:
- Amazon / Instagram feed → 1:1
- TikTok / Reels → 9:16
- YouTube / hero image → 16:9
- Pinterest → 2:3
-
Is this a final asset or a test?
- Test → Fast tier
- Final → consider Premium tier
That is the whole loop. Pick a mode, pick a formula, set the ratio, choose a tier, and generate.
Next steps
- What is FlowPic.ai — the platform overview
- How AI Prompts, Styles and Formulas Work Together — go deeper on the three layers
- How Credits Work — the full cost table