The short answer
- Flux Kontext edits an existing product photo from a text instruction, keeping the product consistent while the scene, colour or text changes.
- Kontext [pro] is $0.04 per image and [max] is $0.08 via Black Forest Labs' API. [dev] is open weights with a non-commercial licence.
- Black Forest Labs now calls Kontext previous-generation and recommends FLUX.2 for new projects.
- Chain single edits, name what must not change, and check labels at full size.
Prices as listed on Black Forest Labs' pricing page on November 9, 2026.
What FLUX.1 Kontext is
FLUX.1 Kontext is a family of image models from Black Forest Labs that generate and edit images from text plus an input image. Black Forest Labs describes it as in-context generation: instead of describing a whole new picture, you hand the model your picture and say what to change. That is exactly the shape of product photography work, where the product must stay the same and only the scene, colour, text or angle changes.
The model page lists four strengths: contextual understanding, character consistency (preserving a reference character or object across scenes), local editing of one element without disturbing the rest, and typography, meaning it can change text inside an image. For ads this means one clean packshot can become a dozen scenes, colourways and seasonal variants.
Kontext versions and what they cost
| Version | What Black Forest Labs says | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kontext [max] | Premium model: greater prompt adherence and typography, premium consistency | $0.08 per image |
| Kontext [pro] | Unified editing and generation, about 5 to 6 seconds a generation, strong for iterative edits | $0.04 per image |
| Kontext [dev] | Open weights, 12B parameters, runs on consumer hardware | Non-commercial licence; commercial use through licensing |
Prices as listed on Black Forest Labs' pricing page on November 9, 2026. Billing is per image, with no subscription.
Black Forest Labs now recommends FLUX.2 for new work
Be clear about where Kontext sits. Black Forest Labs' own docs call Kontext [pro] a previous-generation model and say that for new projects FLUX.2 is the recommended model. FLUX.2 adds multi-reference support (up to 10 images), better text editing and output up to 4 megapixels. FLUX.2 [pro] is listed at $0.03 for the first megapixel and $0.015 for each additional one. The docs also point image editing at FLUX.2 [pro] and FLUX.2 [flex] as the default models. Kontext is still available through the API at the prices above, and its editing behaviour is well documented, which is why people still search for it. Treat the prompts below as a starting point on either model.
A product photo workflow that works
- Start from one clean packshot. Even light, plain background, the whole product in frame, no glare on the label. Every later edit inherits its flaws.
- Change one thing per edit. Black Forest Labs' own examples chain single instructions: remove an object, then change the setting, then change the weather. The character stays consistent through the sequence. Do the same with products.
- Name what must not change. End each prompt with the thing to hold: the label, the cap, the shape.
- Edit text with quotation marks. The documented pattern is
Replace '[original text]' with '[new text]'. Note the case: the example writes the new word in capitals and the output follows. - Use annotation boxes for position. Black Forest Labs says bright coloured boxes drawn on the input image can target a local edit, which works well for text that must be repositioned or resized. The boxes are removed from the output.
- Review at full size. Check the label, the edges and the hands before anything goes into an ad.
Edit prompts for product ads
These follow the short, single-instruction style in Black Forest Labs' docs. Replace the bracketed parts.
| Job | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Change colour | Change the [bottle] colour to matte forest green, keep the label unchanged |
| New scene | Place the product on a marble kitchen counter in morning light, keep the product exactly the same |
| Seasonal variant | Add soft falling snow and warm string lights in the background, keep the product unchanged |
| Remove clutter | Remove the shadow on the left and the second item behind the product |
| Swap text | Replace '20% OFF' with 'SAVE 25%' |
| Offer badge | Replace 'NEW' on the sticker with 'BEST SELLER', keep the sticker size and position |
| Lifestyle | Show a person holding the product at chest height in a bright living room, keep the label readable |
| Background only | Change the background to a seamless pale blue studio sweep, keep the product and its reflection |
Worked example: one candle, six ads
Start with a white-background photo of a 200 gram soy candle in an amber jar, label reading "Cedar and Fig". Run these as separate edits.
Place the candle on a walnut side table next to a folded wool blanket, warm evening light, keep the label unchanged.Headline: "The room smells like January."Change the setting to a bathroom shelf with white tiles and a small plant, keep the candle unchanged.Headline: "Bath night, solved."Change the jar colour to deep green, keep the label unchanged.Use it to test a new colourway before stocking it.Add pine branches and string lights around the candle.Holiday variant.Replace 'Cedar and Fig' with 'Cedar and Fig No. 2'.A new scent on the same asset.Replace the background with a plain warm beige and leave empty space at the top.Space for headline text added later in an editor.
At Kontext [pro] pricing, those six edits cost $0.24 if each works first time. At [max] they cost $0.48. A realistic budget is double, since some edits need a second try.
Where Kontext breaks
- It is a previous-generation model. Black Forest Labs recommends FLUX.2 for new projects, with better text editing and multi-reference input.
- Fine print and dense labels. Small type on packaging is the most likely thing to drift. Check every label zoomed in.
- Licence. The open-weights [dev] model carries a non-commercial licence. Commercial use goes through licensing, so do not run paid ads from [dev] outputs without checking it.
- Ads need more than an image. A clean edit is still a still. Turning it into motion is a separate step; see image to video AI.
Other image models for product ads
If your edits need a different strength, compare Nano Banana 2 and GPT Image 2 for ads, and copy ready prompts from Nano Banana prompts for product ads. For a quick static layout without any model choice, the AI static ad generator starts from your product.
Where Sprites fits
Editing a photo is step one of an ad. Sprites makes image ads and ad copy in chat, then runs the campaign on your ad accounts and holds every change for your approval. If you want to see what competitors in your category are running before you edit anything, start with the competitor ads finder. Plans are on the pricing page, with a 7-day trial for $1.
Frequently asked questions
What is Flux Kontext?
FLUX.1 Kontext is a family of image models from Black Forest Labs that generate and edit images from text plus an input image. You provide a picture and an instruction, and it changes only what you ask for while keeping the rest consistent.
How much does Flux Kontext cost?
As listed on Black Forest Labs' pricing page on November 9, 2026, FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] costs $0.04 per image and [max] costs $0.08 per image through the API. The open-weights [dev] model is a 12B parameter model with a non-commercial licence.
Is Flux Kontext good for product photos?
Yes, for edits that keep the product fixed and change the scene, colour or text. Black Forest Labs lists local editing, character and object consistency and typography editing as core strengths. Check labels and fine print at full size before using any output in an ad.
Should I use Flux Kontext or FLUX.2?
Black Forest Labs recommends FLUX.2 for new projects. It supports up to 10 reference images, better text editing and up to 4 megapixel output. Kontext still works through the API and its documented prompting patterns carry over.
How do I edit text in an image with Flux Kontext?
Put the exact text in quotation marks and use the pattern Replace '[original text]' with '[new text]'. Black Forest Labs also says bright coloured annotation boxes on the input image can target a local edit and reposition or resize text.
Can I use Flux Kontext images in ads?
Commercial rights are set by Black Forest Labs' terms, and its docs state that the open-weights [dev] model has a non-commercial licence with commercial use through licensing. Read the current terms for the model you use before running paid ads.