# Generate an image from a text prompt with Driftflight's API Driftflight's text-to-image API turns one text prompt into one image, and every paid render carries a commercial licence and C2PA content credentials. A sketch image costs $0.01, a studio image $0.06 and a gallery image $0.14. Send `POST https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/v1/images/generate` with `prompt` and `model`, pay the 402 price quote over x402 or MPP, and retry the same request to get the image URL. ## At a glance - **Endpoint:** `POST https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/v1/images/generate`, one image per request - **Body:** `prompt` (required), `model` (`sketch`, `studio` or `gallery`), `preset` (optional style). `model` defaults to `studio`, so set it on every request. - **Price per image:** sketch $0.01, studio $0.06, gallery $0.14 - **Payment:** a 402, the price quote, which you pay and retry. x402 (Base USDC) and MPP (Tempo USDC) are the wallet rails. No account, registration or API key. - **Response:** JSON with `imageUrl`, `model`, `preset`, `licence` and `credits` - **Limits:** text to image only, one image per call, listed size `1408x768` on every tier - **Full purchase flow:** [the buyer skill](https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/SKILL.md) ## Generate an image from a text prompt 1. Send the request with no payment attached: ```bash curl -sS -X POST https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/v1/images/generate \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{"prompt": "an isometric illustration of a small lighthouse on a rocky island at dawn", "model": "sketch", "preset": "isometric"}' ``` The storefront answers `402` with a JSON body that carries `payment.id`, `payment.amountUsd`, the `plan` and a `protocols` block with an `x402` and an `mpp` challenge. The same challenges arrive in the `payment-required` and `www-authenticate` response headers. For sketch the quote is $0.01. Nothing is charged until you pay it. 2. Pay the quote and retry the same request, with the body unchanged. On x402, sign the `payment-required` challenge and send the payload in `x-payment`: ```bash curl -sS -X POST https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/v1/images/generate \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -H 'x-payment: ' \ -d '{"prompt": "an isometric illustration of a small lighthouse on a rocky island at dawn", "model": "sketch", "preset": "isometric"}' ``` On MPP, sign a credential for the `www-authenticate` challenge and send it as `Authorization: Payment ` instead. `@x402/fetch`, `@x402/axios`, the `x402` package on PyPI and the Zero CLI (`zero fetch`) sign and retry for you. 3. Read the response: ```json {"imageUrl": "https://api.driftflight.com/r/", "model": "sketch", "preset": "isometric", "licence": "commercial", "credits": "C2PA content credentials embedded"} ``` This sketch request returned `200`, paid $0.01 and took 13.3 seconds. `credits` is a text statement about the embedded content credentials, not a balance. An x402 response also carries a `payment-response` header and an MPP response a `payment-receipt` header, for your spend records. 4. Save the image by fetching `imageUrl`: ```bash curl -sL "" -o lighthouse ``` The saved file is your copy. A payment alone does not complete the job, so confirm the file was written. ## Choose a tier and preset Every tier takes the same request. Only `model` and the price change. | `model` | Price per image | Listed size | Listed typical latency | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `sketch` | $0.01 | `1408x768` | `~2s` | | `studio` (the default) | $0.06 | `1408x768` | `~5s` | | `gallery` | $0.14 | `1408x768` | `~9s` | `GET https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/v1/models` lists each tier with its `maxResolution` and `typicalLatency` for free. `preset` takes one of six styles: `editorial`, `product-studio`, `film-noir`, `botanical`, `watercolor` or `isometric`. ## Pay by card or use the free sketch images A single image costs less than $0.50, so a card pays for images through Prepaid credits. Buying credits needs a bearer credential, the agent identity the storefront issues, which you register through [the identity guide](https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/auth.md). Then buy Prepaid credits with that bearer, an `amountUsd` in whole cents and `"checkout": true`, which returns a hosted checkout. The plan's purchase address is in [the catalog](https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/manifest.json). By card, `amountUsd` must be at least $1. Pay the returned checkout and poll its `statusUrl` until it reports complete, following [the card guide](https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/payment/card.md). Generate requests sent with `Authorization: Bearer ` then draw down the balance. The `zc-billing` response header reports `chargedUsd` and `remainingCreditUsd`. A bearer credential that a human has claimed with a verified email gets 3 free sketch images, shared across every credential the same person claims. Send a `sketch` request with that bearer and the `zc-mode: free` header. ## Limits and charges - The body takes `prompt`, `model` and `preset`. There is no size, seed, reference image or editing of an existing image. - One request returns one image. - An unpaid 402 charges nothing, so it is safe to stop there. - Each pay-as-you-go call is charged once, through its own 402. A payment cannot be reused for a different request. - After a timeout on a paid retry, reconcile the payment before paying again. Do not pay twice. ## Errors | Response | Meaning | Action | | --- | --- | --- | | `402` with a `payment` block | The price quote for this call | Pay it and retry the same request, or stop | | `400 invalid_request` | The body is malformed | Fix the JSON and send again | | `settlement_failed` | The payment did not settle. `settlementReason` says why, such as `insufficient_funds`. | Fix the wallet, then start over for a fresh 402 | | `409 payment_request_mismatch` | A payment was reused for a different request | Request a fresh 402 and pay that one | | `payment_consumed` | That payment was already settled | Check whether the image was delivered before paying again | | `401 bearer_required` | A credit purchase or top-up needs a bearer credential | Register at [the identity guide](https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/auth.md), then retry | | `403 verified_email_required` | The free allowance needs a claimed credential | Complete the claim step in the identity guide, then retry | | `usage_exhausted` | The prepaid credit is used up | Top up the balance, following [How to pay](https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/payment.md), or pay per image | ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Driftflight's image generation API need an API key? No. Each image is paid for on its own through the 402 quote, over x402 or MPP. Per-image calls need no account, registration or key. ### How much does one image cost? $0.01 on sketch, $0.06 on studio and $0.14 on gallery. The 402 states the exact amount before you pay. ### What does a request without model cost? It is billed as studio, because `model` defaults to `studio`. Set `model` in every request body to pay the price of the tier you want. ### Can I pay for a single image by card? No. The card rail's floor for one call is $0.50 and every image costs less, so a card pays for images through Prepaid credits, with a card minimum of $1. ### Can the images be used commercially? Yes. Every image bought through the storefront comes with a commercial licence, perpetual and worldwide, and embedded C2PA content credentials. ## Keep reading - [Buyer skill](https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/SKILL.md): the full purchase flow - [How to pay](https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/payment.md): the 402 flow, rails and credit plans - [x402 payment](https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/payment/x402.md): signing and retrying on Base USDC - [MPP payment](https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/payment/mpp.md): signing and retrying on Tempo USDC - [Error reference](https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/errors.md): every error code and how to react --- Updated 2026-10-08. All Driftflight guides: https://agents.driftflight.com/guides.md. Storefront: https://agents.driftflight.com/zcj/rzi53qelctpl/llms.txt.