TL;DR for busy creatives
FLUX.2 is Black Forest Labs’ new image model built for real production work: 4MP output, multi-reference consistency (up to ~10 images), strong text rendering, and robust editing.
It ships as a model family:
FLUX.2 [pro] – highest quality, hosted API
FLUX.2 [flex] – most control, best for multi-reference & fine details
FLUX.2 [dev] – 32B open-weight model you can run locally
FLUX.2 [flex] is, in my view, the standout of the release — especially when you’re pushing multi-reference workflows.
However: when I push all the way to 10 reference images, Nano Banana Pro still edges out FLUX 2 Flex for overall coherence and polish, especially on design-heavy, text-rich compositions.
If you’re a creative, the short answer is: FLUX 2 is absolutely worth adding to your toolbox — but Nano Banana Pro remains my top pick when I need the absolute best multi-reference quality.
What is FLUX 2.0, in plain English?
FLUX.2 is a new image generation & editing system from Black Forest Labs designed for production pipelines, not just pretty demos. It focuses on:
Consistent characters and products across many images
Accurate, legible text (UI, posters, infographics)
4MP images for print-ready or high-end digital work
Robust editing instead of “one-shot and pray” workflows
The core idea: you can treat FLUX.2 like infrastructure for your creative pipeline, not a toy you only use for inspiration.
What’s actually new in FLUX 2.0?
Compared to FLUX.1, FLUX 2.0 makes a few big jumps that matter to working creatives:
1. Multi-reference generation (up to ~10 images)
You can now:
Feed up to 10 reference images (characters, products, style frames)
Get much stronger consistency in faces, outfits, logos, layout, and style
Use it for character pipelines, product catalogues, brand systems, and more
2. Better detail & photorealism
Sharper textures (skin, fabrics, hair, packaging)
More stable, realistic lighting
More “grounded” scenes that obey physics and perspective
This makes FLUX.2 far more usable for photography-style work, product visuals, and realistic environments.
3. Advanced text rendering
Handles complex typography, infographics, and UI mockups with readable fine text
Much better at logo lockups, layout, and copy placement than FLUX.1
Is it perfect? No. But it’s good enough that you can actually use it for design work instead of just concept art.
4. Stronger prompt obedience & world knowledge
Follows structured, multi-section prompts more reliably
Better sense of lighting, physics, and spatial relationships
Makes it easier to do layout-heavy or story-driven scenes without the model “freestyling” too much
5. Higher resolution & flexible I/O
Up to 4MP generation and editing
Flexible aspect ratios (square, vertical, cinematic, ultra-wide)
Image editing workflows integrated into the same system
Meet the FLUX 2 model family (the three you actually care about)
The FLUX 2 lineup includes several variants, but for most creatives there are three main models to understand: Pro, Flex, and Dev.
1. FLUX.2 [pro] – The “just make it look insane” model
Who it’s for:
Creatives who want maximum quality with minimal tinkering.
What it’s optimised for:
State-of-the-art image quality comparable to top closed models
Strong prompt fidelity and visual accuracy
Speed + quality via hosted endpoints (BFL Playground, API, partners)
Best use cases:
Hero images for campaigns
Key art / cover art
High-stakes visuals where quality > experimentation
If you mostly want beautiful images, fast, FLUX.2 [pro] is where you start.
2. FLUX.2 [flex] – The control freak’s dream (and the star of this post)
This is the one I’m most excited about.
FLUX.2 [flex] gives you deep control over how the image is generated, including:
Step count
Guidance strength
Multi-reference behaviour
Quality vs speed trade-offs
Why it’s the standout model:
It’s especially good at crisp text and fine detail
It lets you tune results instead of accepting a single “take it or leave it” output
It’s where multi-reference workflows feel most powerful – you can really dial in how much each reference influences the final image
Best use cases:
Multi-reference character pipelines
Product shots with strict brand rules
UI/UX mockups and pitch decks
Any workflow where you’ll generate dozens or hundreds of variations, not just one hero image
From a creative control standpoint, FLUX 2 Flex is the most impressive of the new FLUX.2 models.
3. FLUX.2 [dev] – The open-weight workhorse for builders
FLUX.2 [dev] is a 32B open-weight model derived from the core FLUX.2 architecture.
What makes it special:
You can run it locally (FP8 optimisations for RTX GPUs, etc.)
It unifies text-to-image, image editing, and multi-reference in one checkpoint
Available through multiple hosts: FAL, Replicate, Runware, Together, Cloudflare, etc.
Best use cases:
Teams that want control over infrastructure
Custom pipelines (ComfyUI, internal tools, etc.)
Agencies/products that need repeatable, scalable workflows instead of relying on a single SaaS UI
Bonus: FLUX.2 [klein] & the new VAE
Two more pieces worth knowing about:
FLUX.2 [klein] (coming soon)
Smaller, Apache 2.0-licensed model
Distilled from FLUX.2 for easier deployment on modest hardware
FLUX.2 VAE
New variational autoencoder used across the lineup
Released under Apache 2.0, which helps the ecosystem build better tools on top
These matter more for tool builders, but downstream creatives benefit from the ecosystem that forms around them.
How multi-reference actually works (and why Flex is so good at it)
At a practical level, multi-reference generation in FLUX 2 looks like this:
You provide a text prompt describing the scene.
You attach up to ~10 reference images:
Character angles
Product photos
Style frames
Logos / brand elements
FLUX.2 blends them into a single, coherent output that:
Preserves identity (faces, outfits, logos)
Follows your composition + layout prompt
Maintains lighting and style across outputs
Real workflows this unlocks
You can use FLUX 2 Flex for:
Character pipelines
Lock a character’s face/outfit across storyboards, posters, thumbnails
Product catalogs
Maintain identical angles, lighting, and branding across 100+ SKUs
Brand systems
Generate social, web, OOH, and pitch visuals that actually look like the same brand
Concept-to-production flows
Start with rough style frames, refine into final-quality visuals with the same references
This is where open models historically lagged behind closed giants like Nano Banana Pro and Midjourney. FLUX 2 meaningfully closes that gap.
FLUX 2 vs Nano Banana Pro: where each wins
Let’s talk about the comparison everyone cares about.
Where FLUX 2 (especially Flex) shines
From the current ecosystem and available benchmarks:
Openness & ecosystem
Open weights (Dev), open VAE, friendly to tools like ComfyUI, Cloudflare Workers, etc.
Multi-reference control
Up to 10 references, tuned for consistent characters/products across outputs
4MP editing + generation in open-friendly infrastructure
Cost & flexibility
More options to self-host, integrate, and scale on your own terms
For creative teams that want control and custom pipelines, FLUX 2 is incredibly attractive.
Where Nano Banana Pro still leads
Nano Banana Pro is Google’s Gemini 3 Pro Image model, tightly integrated with Google’s ecosystem. It’s built for:
World-knowledge and reasoning-driven visuals
Advanced text rendering in multiple languages
High-fidelity design work across Google products (Ads, Slides, Workspace, etc.)
Up to 4K-class resolution and strong multi-image composition
In my experience so far:
When I push full 10-image multi-reference stacks (e.g., complex character sheets + layout + logo + style frames),
And I’m asking for design-heavy scenes with lots of precise text,
👉 Nano Banana Pro still produces slightly more coherent and polished results than FLUX 2 Flex.
Think of it this way:
FLUX 2 Flex → Incredible control, open ecosystem, very competitive quality.
Nano Banana Pro → Still the “boss level” for ultra-demanding, reference-heavy, text-rich compositions — for now.
How you, as a creative, can actually use FLUX 2 today
Here’s how I’d integrate FLUX 2 into a practical workflow:
1. Start in a playground
Use BFL Playground or partner UIs to quickly test:
FLUX.2 [pro] for one-off hero images
FLUX.2 [flex] for multi-reference and fine-tuned work
Don’t overthink it. Start with 5–10 prompts you already know well from Nano Banana Pro and see how FLUX 2 responds.
2. Build a simple multi-reference test
For FLUX 2 Flex, run a structured test:
Pick a character or product.
Create a small reference pack:
3–5 angles of the character/product
1–2 style frames (lighting/mood)
1 logo / brand element
Generate:
5–10 scenes using the same reference pack
2–3 step/guidance settings to see how much control you get
You’ll quickly feel where FLUX 2 Flex hits your bar — and where Nano Banana Pro still wins.
3. Decide role in your stack
Based on your results, you might use:
FLUX 2 Flex for:
Open, controllable pipelines
Concept → layout → early production
Anything that needs automation or integration into tools
Nano Banana Pro for:
Final design-critical assets
Infographics, multi-lingual typography, slide decks, and client-facing visuals
You don’t have to pick a “winner.” Treat them as complementary tools in your studio.
Final Thoughts on Flux 2
FLUX 2 is a massive step forward for open-leaning image workflows.
FLUX 2 Flex is the most impressive of the new models if you care about control, multi-reference, and integrating image generation into real pipelines.
Nano Banana Pro still has the edge when you absolutely max out the complexity — especially with 10-image reference stacks and heavy design + text demands.
If you’re a creative, the smart move is simple:
Add FLUX 2 to your toolkit, keep Nano Banana Pro for the most demanding jobs, and let your own tests decide where each model earns its place.
