Nano Banana edits a photo from a written instruction. You upload the image, say what to keep and what to change, and the model returns a new version: a different background, an object removed, warmer light, a new outfit, or the whole scene redrawn in another style. There are no masks, layers or selection tools. This guide covers the full workflow in the image to image studio, eight edit types with prompts you can copy, what to do when an edit goes wrong, and which model to use for each job.
Credit prices, upload limits and model options in this guide are the ones the NanoBananas studio uses on November 9, 2026. Every edit returns a newly generated image, so always compare it with your original before you publish.
What you can edit with Nano Banana
Some edits work on the first try most of the time; others need a more careful instruction or a second pass. This table summarizes what to expect so you know where to spend attempts.
| Edit | How reliable | What decides the result |
|---|---|---|
| Replace the background | High | Matching light and color temperature on the subject to the new scene |
| Remove an object | High for small objects | Describing what should fill the gap, such as "matching wood surface" |
| Add an object | Medium | A reference image of the object and a stated size and position |
| Change time of day or weather | High | Naming the new light source and keeping the geometry fixed |
| Color and exposure correction | High | Naming the problem: "yellow cast", "underexposed face" |
| Change clothing | Medium to high | Keeping face, pose and body unchanged in the keep sentence |
| Replace text on a sign or label | Medium | Exact words in quotes; Nano Banana 2.1 at 2K or 4K |
| Restyle the whole image | High | Saying which shapes and layout to keep |
The editing workflow, step by step
- Open the studio and switch to Image to Image.
- Upload the photo you want to edit. The studio accepts JPG, PNG and WebP files up to 10 MB, and up to four images per run: your photo plus up to three references, such as an object to insert or a style to copy.
- Pick the aspect ratio of the original photo so the frame is not cropped or stretched. Choose a different ratio only when you want the model to extend the scene.
- Write the keep sentence: what must not change.
- Write the change sentence: the one edit you want, including how the new element should be lit.
- Choose the model and resolution. Start at 1K while you test the wording; it costs 3 to 8 credits depending on the model.
- Compare the result with the original. If something else changed, add it to the keep sentence and run again. When it is right, render the final at 2K or 4K.
You can generate up to four versions in one run. Each version is charged separately, so four images at 1K on Nano Banana 2 cost 12 credits. Several versions per run are useful for creative edits where you want options, and wasteful for precise fixes where one good result is enough.
The keep / change pattern
Most failed edits come from instructions that describe only the change. The model then has to decide on its own what else it may alter, and it often redraws more than you wanted. Stating what to keep first narrows that decision.
| Weak instruction | Better instruction | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Make the background a beach | Keep the person, their clothing and pose unchanged. Replace the background with a calm beach at sunset, and match the warm light on the person. | Protects the subject and asks for consistent light |
| Remove the cup | Keep everything else in the photo unchanged. Remove the paper cup from the table and fill the area with the matching wood surface. | Tells the model what goes in the empty space |
| Make it look professional | Keep the composition and the person's features. Brighten the exposure slightly, neutralize the yellow color cast and soften harsh shadows on the face. | Replaces a vague goal with three concrete fixes |
| Put her in a red dress | Keep her face, hairstyle, pose and the background exactly as they are. Change only her outfit to a simple red knee-length dress with short sleeves. | Limits the change to one region and describes it |
The pattern works because it mirrors how the model reads a request: protected elements first, then a single, specific change. If you find yourself writing three change sentences, split them into three runs.
Eight common edits, with prompts
1. Replace the background
Background swap
Keep the person, their clothing, hairstyle and pose exactly as they are. Replace the background with a bright modern office with large windows, softly out of focus. Match the lighting and color temperature on the person to the new scene.
Watch for edges around hair and a subject that looks pasted in. If the light does not match, describe the direction: window light from the left, matching the new background.
2. Remove an object
Object removal
Keep everything in the photo unchanged except one thing: remove the power lines crossing the sky and fill the area with matching clear blue sky.
Large objects that cover a lot of the scene are harder, because the model has to invent what was behind them. Remove them in two passes if needed.
3. Add an object from a reference
Insert from a reference
Keep the room and furniture unchanged. Place the armchair from the second image in the empty corner on the right, at a realistic size, with a shadow that matches the window light.
4. Change the time of day
Day to dusk
Keep the buildings, street and composition unchanged. Change the scene from midday to blue hour at dusk, with warm lights on in the windows and a deep blue sky.
5. Fix color and exposure
Color correction
Keep the composition, the people and every object unchanged. Correct the white balance to remove the orange indoor cast, lift the shadows slightly and keep skin tones natural.
6. Change clothing
Outfit change
Keep the woman's face, hairstyle, pose and the street background exactly as they are. Change only her jacket to a tailored camel wool coat, buttoned, with realistic fabric folds.
7. Replace text on a sign
Text replacement
Keep the storefront, lighting and camera angle unchanged. Replace the text on the wooden sign above the door with "MORNING BAKERY" in the same painted serif style and color.
Keep the new text short and use Nano Banana 2.1 at 2K or 4K. Check every letter before you use the image.
8. Restyle the whole image
Style transfer
Keep the composition and the shapes of the people and objects. Redraw the whole scene as a watercolor illustration with soft washes and visible paper texture.
Editing with more than one image
When you upload several images, the model needs to know which is the photo you are editing and what each reference is for. Refer to them by order and role in the prompt.
- Photo plus object: Keep the first image unchanged and place the lamp from the second image on the desk.
- Photo plus style: Keep the composition of the first image and apply the color palette and film grain of the second image.
- Photo plus outfit: Keep the person from the first image and dress them in the jacket from the second image.
Crop each reference so the relevant object fills most of the frame. Clutter in a reference image tends to leak into the result. For keeping the same person or product across a whole series, see the character consistency guide.
Chain small edits instead of one big one
Asking for five changes in one prompt usually produces a compromise of all five. A chain of single edits is slower to set up but far more predictable, and each step is cheap at 1K.
- Clean up: remove the cables and the coffee cup from a desk photo.
- Relight: change harsh overhead light to soft window light from the left.
- Restage: replace the cluttered wall with a plain warm gray wall.
- Finalize: render the last version at 2K, then crop it for each channel with the crop or social media resizer tools.
Download the best result at each step and upload it as the input for the next one. Your original upload is never changed, so you can always go back to it.
When an edit goes wrong
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The face changed | The keep sentence did not mention the face | Add "keep the facial features exactly as in the photo" and use a sharp, front-lit original |
| The whole image changed | The prompt described a new scene instead of an edit | Rewrite as keep / change and remove words that describe the full scene |
| The new element looks pasted in | Light and shadow do not match | Name the light direction and ask for a matching shadow |
| Text came out misspelled | Long text or low resolution | Shorten the text, put it in quotes, use Nano Banana 2.1 at 2K or 4K |
| Fine detail looks soft | Edited at 1K | Run the final edit at 2K or 4K |
| The request was blocked | The content or the photo triggered a safety filter | See the safety guide and the failure troubleshooting guide |
Which model to edit with
| Model | Best for | Credits (1K / 2K / 4K) |
|---|---|---|
| Nano Banana 2.1 | Precise local edits, text, multi-image edits | 6 / 8 / 16 |
| Nano Banana Pro | Creative restyling and portraits with rich texture | 8 / 12 / 20 |
| Nano Banana 2 | Fast, low-cost tests of backgrounds and ideas | 3 / 4 / 8 |
| Nano Banana v1 Classic | Simple edits at a fixed price | 2 (one standard size) |
A practical split: test the wording on Nano Banana 2 at 1K for 3 credits a try, then run the final edit once on Nano Banana 2.1 at 2K for 8 credits. Four test runs plus one final costs 20 credits, less than three attempts on Pro at 2K. Compare all versions on the Nano Banana models page.
Limits and responsible use
- Every result is regenerated. Even unchanged areas are redrawn, so very fine detail can shift slightly. Compare logos, text and faces with the original.
- Up to four images per run, each up to 10 MB in JPG, PNG or WebP.
- Only edit photos you have the right to use. Edit pictures of yourself or of people who have agreed, and do not create images that misrepresent a real person.
- Google marks images generated by its Gemini image models with an invisible SynthID watermark.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to draw a mask to edit part of a photo?
No. Describe the area in words, such as "the cup on the table" or "the sky above the buildings", and say what to keep unchanged.
Will editing reduce the quality of my photo?
The result is a newly generated image at the resolution you choose. Use 2K or 4K for final edits and compare small details with the original.
Can I undo an edit?
Your original upload is not changed. Upload it again, or pick an earlier result from your generation history and edit from there.
How many images can I upload for one edit?
Up to four: the photo you are editing plus up to three reference images. Each file can be up to 10 MB in JPG, PNG or WebP.
How much does a photo edit cost?
It depends on the model and resolution: from 2 credits on Nano Banana v1 Classic to 20 credits on Nano Banana Pro at 4K. Each version in a batch is charged separately.
Why did the model change parts I did not ask it to change?
Usually because the prompt did not say what to keep. Add a keep sentence that names the person, objects and composition, and make one change per run.
Which model is best for photo editing?
Nano Banana 2.1 for precise edits and anything with text, Nano Banana Pro for creative restyling, and Nano Banana 2 for cheap tests.