Model Selection Frameworks

What Model for What Job (and why “best model” is the wrong question)

Most creators ask the wrong thing:

“What’s the best model right now?”

The correct question is:

“What model solves this specific job with the least friction?”

This guide teaches decision-making, not model hype.
By the end, members should stop chasing trends and start choosing tools intentionally.

The Core Problem With “Best Model” Thinking

There is no universal best model because:

• Models are optimised for different outputs

• Some excel at style, others at texture, logic, consistency, or iteration

• Many failures come from using the right model for the wrong job

If you use a model outside its strength, no amount of prompting will save you.

The Art Input Model Selection Framework

Use this every time before you generate anything:

Intent → Medium → Consistency Level → Budget → Model Choice

Let’s break it down.

1. Intent: What Are You Actually Trying to Achieve?

Be brutally specific.

Bad intent:

• “Cool image”

• “Something realistic”

• “Cinematic vibe”

Good intent:

• “High-style editorial visual for a landing page”

• “Ultra-real product texture for a mockup”

• “Consistent AI character across 30 images”

• “Short video clip to test motion language”

Your intent defines the ceiling of what’s possible.

2. Medium: Image, Video, or Hybrid?

Different models are built around different media assumptions.

• Single image → prioritise composition, texture, lighting

• Image series → prioritise consistency & control

• Video → prioritise motion logic, coherence, cost

• Hybrid (image → video) → stacking is often required

If you pick a model optimised for the wrong medium, you’ll fight it constantly.

3. Consistency Level: One-Off vs System Output

Ask yourself:

• Is this a one-off exploration?

• Or a repeatable system?

Consistency tiers:

High consistency narrows your model options fast.

4. Budget: Time, Credits, and Iteration Cost

Budget isn’t just money.

It includes:

• Generation cost

• Time per iteration

• How many retries you can afford

• Mental overhead

Sometimes a “worse” model is correct because it’s cheaper to iterate.

5. Model Choice: Only Now Do You Pick

Once the above is clear, the model choice usually becomes obvious.

Let’s make that concrete.

When Midjourney Is the Wrong Choice

Midjourney is unmatched for artistic expression, but it fails hard when:

• You need precise realism

• You need repeatable characters

• You need logical spatial accuracy

• You need tight product fidelity

Wrong jobs for Midjourney:

• AI UGC creators

• Product texture accuracy

• Real humans for brand campaigns

• Consistent outputs across many images

If your intent is control over chaos, Midjourney will fight you.

When Seedream Beats Everything

Seedream dominates when texture realism matters.

It excels at:

• Human skin

• Fabric

• Materials

• Product realism

• Upscaling workflows

Ideal use cases:

• AI humans

• E-commerce mockups

• Photorealistic close-ups

• Texture-driven designs

If realism is the goal, Seedream is usually the correct answer.

When GPT Image Gen Is Ideal

GPT image generation shines when:

• You need concept clarity

• You’re designing systems, not just visuals

• You want structured outputs

• You’re building repeatable frameworks

Best use cases:

• Early-stage concept exploration

• Brand systems

• Icon sets

• Design logic validation

• Prompt-to-system workflows (JSON, structured prompts)

It’s less about beauty and more about thinking visually.

When Nano Banana Pro Is the Correct Tool

Nano Banana Pro is not a general-purpose generation model.
It is a precision refinement and editing model.

Use it when you already have a strong image and need to edit, refine, or preserve detail rather than regenerate from scratch.

What Nano Banana Pro Excels At

High-fidelity image editing

• Object removal or replacement

• Outfit changes

• Facial refinements

• Background swaps

All while preserving:

• Lighting

• Structure

• Realism

Crisp Text & Typography Preservation

Nano Banana Pro is one of the strongest models for text-heavy images.

It excels at:

• Keeping text sharp

• Preserving letter spacing

• Maintaining logo legibility

• Editing text without warping typeforms

Ideal for:

• T-shirts

• Packaging

• Posters

• Signage

• UI mockups

• Brand assets

If your image contains important readable text, Nano Banana Pro is often the safest and cleanest choice.

AI UGC Creators & Realistic Humans

Nano Banana Pro performs exceptionally well for:

• AI UGC creators

• Lifestyle imagery

• Social-style photography

• Subtle facial, pose, or outfit edits

Common stack:

• Seedream → base realism

• Nano Banana Pro → refinement, edits, polish

This produces results that hold up under client scrutiny.

Client-Friendly Iteration

Nano Banana Pro is ideal when:

• Visuals are already approved

• You need small, controlled changes

• Regenerating would risk breaking what works

Instead of rolling the dice again, you:

• Upload the image

• Make precise instructions

• Preserve the winning structure

This is critical for professional delivery.

When Nano Banana Pro Is the Wrong Choice

Avoid Nano Banana Pro when:

• You want loose artistic exploration

• You want abstract or surreal outputs

• You want concept generation from nothing

It thrives in control, not chaos.

When Video Models Fail (and Why That’s Normal)

Most video models fail when creators expect:

• Perfect realism

• Long coherent narratives

• Zero artefacts

• Cheap iteration

Video generation is still:

• Expensive

• Prompt-sensitive

• Inconsistent across scenes

Correct mindset:

• Use video models to prototype motion

• Keep clips short

• Extract frames

• Stack with image models

When Stacking Is Mandatory (Not Optional)

Stacking is required when:

• No single model covers all requirements

• You need both style and realism

• You need both logic and beauty

• You need consistency at scale

Common stacks:

• GPT Image Gen → Midjourney (style exploration)

• Midjourney → Seedream (realism & texture)

• Seedream → Nano Banana Pro (editing & polish)

• Image → Image → Video (motion testing)

Practical Decision Examples

Artistic Landing Page Visual

• Intent: Style & mood

• Medium: Image

• Consistency: Low

• Budget: Flexible
  Correct choice: Midjourney

AI Influencer Photoshoot

• Intent: Real human realism

• Medium: Image series

• Consistency: High

• Budget: Medium
  Correct choice: Seedream → Nano Banana Pro

Brand Icon System

• Intent: Visual logic

• Medium: Image set

• Consistency: High

• Budget: Low
  Correct choice: GPT Image Gen

Motion Teaser

• Intent: Motion feel

• Medium: Video

• Consistency: Low

• Budget: High
  Correct choice: Video model + short clips only

The Outcome You Should Aim For

If members apply this framework correctly:

• They stop asking “what’s best”

• They stop copying trend workflows

• They choose tools based on intent

• Their outputs improve immediately

• Their workflows become scalable and professional

Final Rule

The best model is the one that solves your exact job with the least resistance.

Everything else is noise.