Gemini Nano Banana is the playful code name for Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, Google’s state‑of‑the‑art image generation and editing model. First teased on LMArena under a banana emoji, the tool blends and edits photos with natural language prompts. Google officially introduced it on 26 August 2025, describing it as the next step in native image generation. The model can merge multiple images into a single coherent picture, maintain character consistency across edits, perform local transformations (e.g., blur a background or remove an object) and leverage Gemini’s world knowledge to understand diagrams or real‑world scenes.
What is Nano Banana
Nano Banana lives inside the Gemini app and Google AI Studio. It’s also available via the Gemini API and Vertex AI for developers and enterprises. For everyday users, the image editor appears in the Gemini app under “Image generation.”
New features & improvements in Gemini Image Model
Google designed Nano Banana to fix pain points in earlier image generators such as low quality, inconsistent characters and limited control. Here’s what’s new:
Natural language editing
Nano Banana understands detailed prompts without masking or manual selections. You can describe complex edits, change seasons, add furniture, adjust colours or remove stains—and the model applies them in real time. This makes high‑quality editing accessible to non‑experts.
Consistency across edits
Maintaining a subject’s appearance through multiple edits is hard for most AI models. Gemini 2.5 Flash Image keeps faces, pets or products consistent even when you change backgrounds, colours or positions. This feature is ideal for marketing teams who need consistent campaign assets or e‑commerce images.
Real‑time speed
Traditional image editing can take hours. Nano Banana produces high‑resolution results in seconds, saving time and allowing iterative experimentation.
Image blending & multi‑image fusion
Users can combine multiple photos, such as a person and a dog into a single cohesive scene while preserving the subjects’ likeness. The model also supports multi‑image fusion: you can drag several objects or photos onto a canvas and have them merged into a unified composition.
Multi‑turn editing
Gemini enables multi‑step edits without degrading quality. You can add new objects, adjust colours and then modify those changes in subsequent prompts; the model remembers the context and maintains scene integrity.
Style mixing
Borrow a texture, pattern or colour scheme from one image and apply it to another. This is useful for designers wanting to experiment with mock‑ups or product variants.
Prompt‑based local transformations
Targeted editing lets you blur backgrounds, remove people, alter poses or colourise black‑and‑white photos. You simply describe the change in plain language, and the model applies it precisely.
World knowledge & diagram understanding
The model has semantic understanding of real‑world objects and can interpret hand‑drawn diagrams or educational drawings. Teachers and students can use it to generate or edit instructional images.
SynthID watermarking for safety
Every image created or edited with Gemini 2.5 Flash Image includes an invisible SynthID digital watermark to signal that it was AI‑generated. This helps combat deepfakes and maintain trust.
How to use Nano Banana (step‑by‑step)
For everyday users
- Get the Gemini app. Download the free Gemini app on your phone or visit gemini.google.com on desktop. Sign in with your Google account.
- Open the image editor. In the menu, select “Image generation.” You may see “Gemini 2.5 Flash Image” listed; this is Nano Banana.
- Enter a prompt or upload photos. Describe the image you want to create or edit using natural language. You can also upload one or more photos to blend or modify.
- Refine with multi‑turn prompts. Adjust colours, add objects or remove elements using follow‑up prompts. The model remembers your previous instructions and maintains consistency across edits.
- Download and share. Once satisfied, download the high‑resolution image. All files include an invisible watermark for attribution.
For developers
If you’re building apps or prototypes, you can access the model via:
- Google AI Studio: Sign in with your Google account and select Gemini 2.5 Flash Image. Test prompts and export code snippets.
- Vertex AI: Use Google Cloud’s Vertex AI to deploy the model on an endpoint. Submit images and prompts via API calls for production use.
- Gemini API: Enable the model in your Google Cloud project, set up authentication with the Cloud CLI and call the API using the gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview model name.
Availability in Canada
Gemini 2.5 Flash Image is available worldwide, including Canada. The model can be accessed through the Gemini app, Google AI Studio and the Gemini API. Google lists Canada among the supported countries for AI Studio and the Gemini API. In practice this means:
- Gemini app: Canadians can use Nano Banana on both the free and Pro tiers. No special subscription is required for basic image generation.
- Gemini API & AI Studio: Developers in Canada can sign up for the API or use AI Studio for free testing.
Because the service is delivered online, there are no province‑specific restrictions. However, you must be 18+ to sign up for the Gemini app or Google AI Studio.
Pricing & plans (2025)
Pricing for Nano Banana depends on how you access it:
| Access method | What you get | Price (USD) | Price (CAD approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini app (Free plan) | 2.5 Flash Image with limited usage | $0 | $0 | Good for casual experimentation; image generation is included in the free tier. |
| Gemini app – AI Pro plan | Increased quotas for 2.5 Flash Image, access to 2.5 Pro, Veo 2 video tools, 2 TB storage and 1,000 monthly AI credits | ~CA$26.99/month | ~CA$26.99/month | Price reported for Canada. Offers more prompts, faster responses and additional features. |
| Gemini app – AI Ultra plan | Full access to Veo 3, Gemini 2.5 Deep Think and 30 TB storage | CA$339.99/month (promo CA$169.99 for first three months) | CA$339.99/month | Intended for heavy users and developers; includes 12,500 AI credits |
| Gemini API / AI Studio (Preview) | Developer access to Gemini 2.5 Flash Image | $30 per 1 M output tokens (≈$0.039 per image | ≈$0.05 per image | Input tokens cost $0.30 per million; each 1024×1024 image consumes 1,290 tokens and costs about US $0.039 (CAD ≈ $0.05). |
Choosing the right plan
- Casual users: Stick with the free Gemini app. It already includes Nano Banana for basic image generation and simple edits.
- Students & content creators: The AI Pro plan provides more prompts, faster processing and access to Veo 2. It’s a good fit for social media managers and designers.
- Developers & enterprises: Use the Gemini API or Vertex AI. Pay per token for large‑scale image generation, and integrate the model into your workflow.
- Power users: AI Ultra is expensive but unlocks Veo 3 and the Deep Think model for advanced research. Most Canadian businesses won’t need it solely for image editing.
Nano Banana vs other image models
| Feature/metric | Gemini 2.0 Flash | Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) | Imagen 4 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Up to 1024×1024 pixels | Up to 1024×1024 pixels | Up to 4096×4096 pixels | Imagen 4 produces higher resolutions but is slower. |
| Editing capabilities | Basic generation | Full edit suite with natural language prompts, blending, multi‑turn edits & style mixing | Image generation only | Nano Banana offers the most comprehensive editing controls. |
| Character consistency | Limited | Maintains subject identity across edits | Not guaranteed | Great for branding and storytelling. |
| World knowledge & diagram understanding | Limited semantic understanding | Built‑in world knowledge for diagrams and real‑world scenes | Minimal | Useful for educational images and technical diagrams. |
| Pricing (API) | $0.30 per 1M input tokens & $0.039 per image (preview) | $0.30 per 1M input tokens & $0.039 per image | $0.02–$0.06 per image | Nano Banana and Flash share the same pricing. Imagen 4 charges a flat per‑image fee but lacks editing features. |
Final thought
Google’s Nano Banana update brings professional‑grade photo editing to everyone. With natural language prompts, real‑time speeds and consistent image quality, it eliminates the steep learning curve of traditional editors. The free tier of the Gemini app makes it easy to try, while the API and pro plans offer scalability for businesses and developers.
For Canadian businesses, Nano Banana can streamline content creation, accelerate product launches and provide unique, on‑brand visuals without outsourcing. If you’re unsure how to integrate AI image editing into your workflows, our team at Wide Ripples has hands‑on experience with Gemini tools. Call us at +1 416‑668‑6969 or email info@wideripples.com to explore how AI can enhance your marketing strategy.
FAQs about Nano Banana
Is Nano Banana the same as Gemini 2.5 Flash Image?
Yes. Nano Banana is the playful code name for Gemini 2.5 Flash Image.
Can I use Nano Banana for free?
Yes. The Gemini app’s free tier includes limited access to Nano Banana for image generation. For higher usage or faster processing, upgrade to the AI Pro plan.
How much does it cost per image through the API?
Each 1024×1024 image uses 1,290 output tokens. At $30 per million output tokens, that’s roughly US $0.039 per image, or about CA $0.05.
Is Nano Banana available in Canada?
Yes. Google lists Canada among the countries where the Gemini API and Google AI Studio are available, and the Gemini app is available on both Android and iOS in Canada.
What are common use cases?
Marketing teams use Nano Banana to create product mock‑ups and ad variations quickly. Designers blend backgrounds and objects to visualise concepts. Educators create diagrams or reinterpret hand‑drawn sketches. Social media influencers generate creative selfies or swap outfits and backgrounds, all while preserving their likeness.
Does Nano Banana add watermarks to images?
Yes. All images generated or edited with Gemini 2.5 Flash Image include an invisible SynthID watermark to help identify AI‑generated content.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only. For professional assistance and advice, please contact experts.
