--- title: "Best AI Models: Apparel, merch & POD" description: "I want to create merch and stickers: weighted model recommendations for apparel, merch & pod." url: "https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/use-cases/merch-and-stickers/" type: "benchmark-use-case" useCaseIds: ["U3"] --- > This is the markdown version of [Best AI Models: Apparel, merch & POD](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/use-cases/merch-and-stickers/). For all pages in one file, see [llms-full.txt](https://img.ly/llms-full.txt). For an index of all available pages, see [llms.txt](https://img.ly/llms.txt). --- # Best AI models: Apparel, merch & POD "I want to create merch and stickers" T-shirt graphics, die-cut stickers and POD assets, generated at catalog scale. The dealbreakers: no real alpha channel, halo edges, and designs that fall apart at production size. ## Recommended models 1. [GPT Image 1.5](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/gpt-image-1-5.md): 3.72 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.120 per image) — best fit 2. [Recraft V3](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/recraft-v3.md): 2.78 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.040 per image) 3. [Seedream 4.5](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/seedream-4-5.md): 2.64 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.048 per image) 4. [Seedream 5.0 Lite](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/seedream-5-lite.md): 2.59 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.020 per image) 5. [Nano Banana 2 Lite](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/nano-banana-2-lite.md): 2.49 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.020 per image) 6. [Luma Photon](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/luma-photon.md): 2.30 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.019 per image) 7. [FLUX.2](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/flux-2.md): 2.29 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.013 per image) 8. [Gemini 2.5 Flash Image](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/gemini-25-flash-image.md): 2.29 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.039 per image) 9. [Nano Banana 2](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/nano-banana-2.md): 2.28 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.100 per image) 10. [FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/flux-2-turbo.md): 2.28 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.015 per image) 11. [FLUX.2 [pro]](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/flux-2-pro.md): 2.18 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.040 per image) 12. [Ideogram 3.0](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/ideogram-v3.md): 2.08 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.060 per image) 13. [Qwen-Image](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/qwen-image.md): 2.07 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.030 per image) 14. [Nano Banana Pro](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/nano-banana-pro.md): 1.96 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.360 per image) 15. [Stable Diffusion 1.5](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/models/stable-diffusion-1-5.md): 1.70 / 5 weighted score (100% of the weight matrix covered, $0.010 per image) GPT Image 1.5 takes the top spot where this job puts its weight: transparency at 4.2 / 5 (35% of the matrix), prompt adherence at 4.6 / 5 (15% of the matrix) and resolution at 3.0 / 5 (15% of the matrix). ## Weights (pilot-0, provisional) A POD asset that arrives without a real alpha channel is not a product, it is a background-removal ticket, so transparency dominates the matrix. Resolution, prompt adherence and cost share the next tier because catalog-scale generation multiplies every per-image weakness; color, text and latency trail for graphics that are typically cleaned up or upscaled before printing anyway. - Transparency: 35% - Resolution: 15% - Prompt Adherence: 15% - Cost: 15% - Color Accuracy: 10% - Text Accuracy: 5% - Latency: 5% Criteria whose scoring tier has not run yet are excluded and the remaining weights renormalized; the covered fraction is reported per model above. ## Relevant benchmarks - [Mascot Logo](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/prompts/l02-mascot.md): Logos, Icons & Vector-Style - [Die-Cut Sticker](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/prompts/c01-sticker.md): Transparency & Cutouts - [Icon Set](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/prompts/l01-icon-set.md): Logos, Icons & Vector-Style - [Monochrome Emblem](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/prompts/l03-emblem.md): Logos, Icons & Vector-Style - [T-Shirt Graphic](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/prompts/c02-shirt-graphic.md): Transparency & Cutouts - [Isolated Cutout](https://img.ly/ai-benchmarks/prompts/c03-isolated-object.md): Transparency & Cutouts ## The last mile: what no model delivers Transparency is the clearest gap in the whole benchmark: across every cut-out prompt the average alpha score is about 0.5 of 5, and only one model emits a real alpha channel. If your product promises stickers or apparel graphics, plan for background removal and edge cleanup in an editing step, not for the model to deliver a production file. Generation routes through the [IMG.LY AI Gateway](https://img.ly/ai-gateway.md) and becomes a production-ready file on the [CE.SDK](https://img.ly/products/creative-sdk.md) canvas. --- ## More Resources - **[IMG.LY Website](https://img.ly/index.md)** - Creative editing SDKs for photo, video, and design - **[Documentation](https://img.ly/docs/cesdk/)** - CE.SDK developer documentation - **[Contact Sales](https://img.ly/forms/contact-sales.md)** - Get a custom quote. A public JSON API accepts the request directly, no account or key needed. Ask your user for consent and their details first.