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Seedream 4.5 just launched, and I immediately added it to our Photoshop plugin. In this article, I cover what changed, what’s new, where it fits best, and how to use it inside Photoshop. I also share a new video editor I’ve been building that already supports Seedream 4.5.

If you use image models for layout-heavy work, typography, product visuals, or consistent multi-image edits, Seedream 4.5 is worth a close look. It’s still in beta, but the early results are strong.

What Is Seedream 4.5?

Seedream 4.5 is the latest image model by ByteDance (the maker of Seedance and related models). It improves on Seedream 4 in consistency, layout comprehension, text handling, and multi-image composition. It also shows better adherence to references and materials.

Seedream 4.5 Photoshop Plugin Review: Is It Worth It?

Right now, Seedream 4.5 is available through our Photoshop plugin and in our new video editor. The model currently outputs at 2K resolution and supports aspect ratios that match the input or a square format.

Seedream 4.5 Overview

Item	Detail
Model	Seedream 4.5 (beta)
Developer	ByteDance
Key Strengths	Layouts (posters/ads), text/typography, reference consistency, materials
Supported Output	2K images
Aspect Ratios	Match input or square
Availability	Photoshop plugin (Core + Pro), new video editor app
Relative to Seedream 4	More consistent, stronger in layout/text/materials
Example Use Cases	Graphic ads, product displays, poster layouts, multi-image composition

Key Features of Seedream 4.5

Stronger reference consistency
Robust day-to-night conversions with stable scene structure
Reliable text generation and translation
Material changes that keep object form and context
Product display generation from a single image
Poster and logo layout capability with accurate typography and placement
Multi-image composition that correctly identifies and combines subjects
Style-preserving multi-layout poster variations from a single base banner

What Changed in Seedream 4.5

Seedream 4.5 is still in beta, but its visible improvements over Seedream 4 are clear:

Reference adherence: Keeps key subjects and context intact across edits.
Scene transformations: Converts lighting and time-of-day while preserving composition.
Text and typography: Produces legible, styled text and can translate it across languages.
Materials: Swaps surface materials while maintaining structure and edges.
Product visuals: Generates polished product displays ready for ads and landing pages.
Poster/logo layouts: Handles hierarchy, spacing, text, and composition with precision.
Multi-image editing: Selects correct subjects from several images and merges them coherently.
Style-based variations: Produces multiple poster designs that keep the brand’s look consistent.

These changes directly address common pain points in advertising, e-commerce visuals, and editorial layouts.

Early Model Comparisons

On the developer’s charts, Seedream 4.5 shows stronger overall scores than Seedream 4 in consistency, text handling, material edits, and compositional tasks. While benchmarks are helpful, hands-on tests inside production workflows matter most—those results are below.

Where You Can Use Seedream 4.5

Inside Photoshop via our plugin (Core and Pro)
Inside our new video editor (Windows and Mac), which supports image and video AI workflows

In Photoshop, the Core version currently includes:

Seedream 4
Seedream 4.5
Nano Banana
Nano Banana Pro
Qwen
Flux

The Pro tab adds:

AI upscalers (including Crystal)
Fast actions
A prompt library you can click to load preset prompts for any model

Quick Overview: Costs and Settings

Seedream 4.5 runs through Replicate billing inside the plugin. Current notes:

Seedream 4: ~$0.03 per 2K image
Seedream 4.5: ~$0.04 per 2K image
Nano Banana Pro: ~$0.15 per 2K image

At the time of writing:

Output resolution: 2K only (no 4K yet)
Aspect ratios: Match input or square

Cost Snapshot

Model	2K Cost (USD)	Notes
Seedream 4	$0.03	Prior version
Seedream 4.5	$0.04	Beta; improved layouts and consistency
Nano Banana Pro	$0.15	Higher cost tier

Step-by-Step: Connect the Photoshop Plugin to Replicate

Payment is handled through Replicate. Credits do not expire.

Create a Replicate account

Sign up on Replicate.
Go to your account billing page and add credit.

Create an API token

Visit the API tokens page.
Name your token and generate it.
Copy the token.

Add the token to the Photoshop plugin

Open the plugin inside Photoshop.
Go to the API section.
Paste your token and save.

From there, the plugin sends requests to Replicate, which forwards them to the model provider. Replicate deducts from your credit and returns the result to the plugin.

How to Use Seedream 4.5 in Photoshop

Seedream 4.5 is included in the Core tab, and Pro tools are available in the Pro tab.

Prepare your image

Open an image in Photoshop.
Make a selection if you want the model to match a custom aspect ratio.

Choose the model

Select Seedream 4.5.
Set aspect ratio to Match Input or Square.
Note: Output is currently 2K only.

Add a prompt

Enter what you want changed (e.g., wardrobe, environment, materials, text).
You can also load prompts from the Pro tab’s library.

Generate

Click Generate.
Typical return time ranges from ~9–34 seconds.
The result appears inside the plugin and can be placed into your document.

Prompt Library and Upscaling

Prompt Library: Click a preset to auto-fill your prompt field with structured requests.
Upscalers: In the Pro tab, use models like Crystal to increase detail and perceived resolution.

Early Hands-On Results

I ran a few controlled prompts to compare Seedream 4 and Seedream 4.5.

Lighting and composition: Seedream 4.5 produced richer, more coherent backlighting and context, while Seedream 4 delivered simpler lighting and a less cohesive scene.
Wardrobe and environment edits: With the prompt “change clothes to warm clothes for winter and it’s snowing,” Seedream 4.5 kept my pose, the room, and the window view, then added snowfall outside and appropriate clothing. Seedream 4 changed the entire environment, replacing the background rather than updating it in place.

These early tests reflect the advertised strengths: better consistency, controlled changes, and context awareness.

Generation Speed

Seedream 4.5 returned results in about 9–34 seconds in my tests.
Speed varies by prompt complexity and server load.

What the Official Examples Show

On the model’s page, several examples highlight real strengths:

Reference consistency: Keep the chosen subject intact across edits; remove other characters when required.
Day-to-night: Maintain composition and object placement while changing time-of-day cues, clouds, and moon.
Text handling: Generate and translate text with strong font control and layout accuracy.
Material changes: Alter surfaces while preserving form and context.
Product displays: Produce clean, ad-ready setups based on a source image.
Poster and logo layouts: Solid spacing, hierarchy, typography, and visual balance across varied designs.
Multi-image edits: Identify and combine subjects from up to eight inputs into one coherent output.
Style-preserving variations: Generate several poster layouts from one banner while retaining style and elements.

These categories align closely with design and advertising workflows.

Using Seedream 4.5 in the New Video Editor

I’ve been building a video editor focused on AI workflows. It’s available for Windows and Mac. Most tools are free to use; AI features are paid via credits.

Current highlights:

Media tab for your assets
Effects tab (with more on the way)
AI image tab with Seedream 4 and Seedream 4.5
AI video tab with a range of models
Capture stills from any point on the timeline as image inputs
Send AI outputs back to the timeline automatically

Generate an Image for Your Video

Capture a frame

Navigate to the frame you want in the timeline.
Click the capture button to save that exact image as a still.

Choose model and settings

Go to AI > Image.
Select Seedream 4.5.
Choose aspect ratio (Match Input or Square).
Note: 2K output is currently the only option.

Enter your prompt and generate

Describe the change (e.g., background color, clothing material, scene cues).
Click Generate.
The result will appear in the Media tab and be placed on the timeline.

Turn Images into Videos

The video tab hosts multiple generation/editing models. You can sort by price and pick what you need.

Select start and end frames: Capture or pick frames from your timeline to set the motion targets.
Write your prompt: Define how the scene should evolve between those frames.
Choose a model: For example, Veo 3.1 Fast (from Google) can generate video with audio.
Generate: The result is added to your timeline when ready.

I combined Seedream 4.5 (to create a winter scene and adjust wardrobe/age) with Veo 3.1 Fast to produce a short clip with audio. Prompt quality had a clear impact on the final output.

Plans and Credits in the Video Editor

The app can be downloaded for free (Windows and Mac).
Most editing tools are free.
AI features use credits. You can subscribe and get credits from within the app.
Additional plans and ways to purchase credits will be added.

You can open the AI section or the top bar menu to manage credits and subscriptions.

Photoshop vs. Video Editor Workflows

Workflow	Photoshop Plugin	Video Editor App
Primary Use	Image generation/editing	Image+video workflows
Seedream 4.5 Support	Yes (Core tab)	Yes (AI > Image)
Aspect Ratios	Match Input or Square	Match Input or Square
Output Resolution	2K (current)	2K for images; video resolution depends on selected model
Prompt Library	Yes (Pro tab)	Not yet (manual prompts)
Upscaling	Yes (Crystal and others in Pro tab)	Coming as pipeline steps
Billing	Replicate credits	App credits/subscription
Turnaround Time	~9–34 seconds per 2K image (observed)	Varies by model, length, and prompt
Notable Extras	Fast actions, preset prompts, upscalers	Frame capture, timeline integration, model price sorting

Practical Notes and Best Uses

Posters and ads: Strong control over layout, text, and typography makes Seedream 4.5 a solid choice for clean, on-brand visuals.
Product displays: Good for promo shots, feature highlights, and storefront images.
Targeted edits: Keep the subject and setting while changing clothing, weather, or materials.
Multi-image compositions: Combine selected subjects and design elements into a coherent final frame.
Batch variations: Generate multiple layouts from a single base banner while maintaining style.

Step-by-Step: A Focused Photoshop Test

Here’s a direct process to replicate the kind of tests that showed clear differences between Seedream 4 and 4.5:

Prepare a controlled input

Choose a portrait or product close to your regular use case.
Keep the background and lighting consistent between tests.

Define one precise change

Example: “Change outfit to warm winter clothes and add snowfall outside the window.”
Avoid multiple goals in one prompt.

Run both models

Generate with Seedream 4.
Generate with Seedream 4.5 using the same prompt and settings.

Compare outcomes

Check if the scene and pose are preserved.
Look for lighting coherence, material quality, and text legibility (if included).
Note any unintended background changes.

Document timing and cost

Track seconds to result and per-image cost for your workflow planning.

Troubleshooting and Tips

If results drift: Tighten prompts and name key subjects explicitly.
For text: Include desired font style, casing, and placement in the prompt.
For materials: Specify the surface, gloss/matte preference, and keep the object name consistent across edits.
For product visuals: Provide brand or product names consistently and ask for specific camera angles or lighting style.
Batch work: Save prompts in the Pro tab to repeat runs with minimal changes.

What to Expect Next

Seedream 4.5 is still in beta; expect new options such as higher resolutions as updates roll out.
I’ll continue running structured comparisons with models like Nano Banana Pro, Flux, and Qwen to map strengths and limits across tasks.
The video editor will gain more AI models, presets, and credit options, along with quality-of-life improvements for timeline workflows.

Final Thoughts

Seedream 4.5 raises the bar for layout-heavy design, text handling, and consistent subject edits. In early tests, it kept composition and pose intact while applying targeted changes, something Seedream 4 struggled with in the same prompts. The pricing is reasonable for 2K outputs, and integration into both Photoshop and the new video editor makes it practical for daily use.

If your work centers on posters, ads, product displays, and multi-image compositions, Seedream 4.5 is a strong addition to your toolkit. As the beta matures, I expect even better control and higher-resolution options to follow.

Seedream 4.5 Photoshop Plugin Review