Google's Nano Banana: The AI Image Editor Revolutionizing Photo Manipulation

All Gemini Users Can Now Use the Viral Nano Banana AI Image Generator. Here's How

Google's viral, fruit-themed AI model nano banana is going to be easier to use than ever. The tech giant announced on Thursday that it is going to be generally available -- meaning you can use it for free and through Gemini -- and it's adding one of my most requested features, new default aspect ratios. It's a significant step forward and brings its AI photo-editing abilities to even more Gemini users. Google's new AI image model is formally named Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, but it got the nickname "nano banana" after a series of fruit-themed teasers from its executives. Early reviewers thought its capabilities were, well, bananas. Since its launch, the nickname "nano banana" has stuck. Here's why you might've been hearing so much about the AI tool. Nano banana has taken off dramatically in the past few weeks, especially compared to other AI image tools. Google reported that its users made over 5 billion AI images, and the model led to over 10 million new Gemini users in the first few weeks after nano banana's release. It also helped launch Gemini to the top of the Apple App Store's free app chart for a while. Although Google's invested in integrating AI everywhere, nano banana image editing seems to be making one of the biggest leaps for Google in the race to develop the best AI. As CNET's AI image generator expert, I put nano banana to the test to see if the model held up or if it was all simply AI hype. I found Google's nano banana impressive, with its refreshing focus on editing existing photos. There were still some slipups, which is to be expected with any AI service. But it was spookily good at adding new elements to my existing photos. If you're an AI enthusiast, or even someone who just needs a quick, custom photo edit, I do think it's worth exploring. To save you time, this guide is built on my real experience finding and playing with the model, along with some crowd-sourced tips for the best results. For more, check out our guides on creating AI images and writing the best AI image prompt. You can access nano banana in a couple of ways. You can now use it directly through Gemini, thanks to an October general release. You can also use it through Google's AI Studio and select 2.5 Flash Image as the model you want to use. Developers can also access the model through Vertex AI and the Gemini API. If you don't know what those are, you probably don't have access to them. So don't worry about it and stick with the AI Studio, which is open to everyone. You can also use nano banana through certain Adobe programs. Nano banana is available as a third-party model in Photoshop (for generative fill), Adobe Express and on its AI platform, Firefly. Those programs are also usually paywalled, but it's worth checking to see if you have access to them if you use some Adobe programs already. Make sure you select 2.5 Flash Image before you click generate, as Adobe has many third-party models available. As always, an important note about privacy: Google's general Gemini privacy policy says it can use the information you upload for improving its AI products, which is why the company recommends avoiding uploading sensitive or private information. And nano banana-edited photos aren't watermarked, so be sure to disclose that you used AI when sharing those images. Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. Once you're in Gemini or Google's AI Studio, you can easily upload your image for editing. But like any AI image tool, your chances of success depend on how well you prompt the model. Here are some tips for using nano banana. One of the best things you can use nano banana for is adding new elements to an image you already have. But there are some other good use cases. Here are some ideas to help spark your inspiration, based on some of my favorite prompts I use to test AI services.

Google's latest AI photo-editing tool means you might not need Photoshop

We're now used to generative AI being able to create images from text prompts. These tools continue to get more sophisticated and versatile -- even though plenty of questions remain around energy use, copyright infringement, and long-term impacts. The latest major upgrade to roll out in this category of AI is for Google's Gemini app. It's known as Nano Banana after the codename it had while still in testing -- officially, it's called Gemini 2.5 Flash Image. In addition to general improvements, it really excels in image editing, which is where generative AI has previously struggled. Edits wouldn't be consistent, or would change the wrong parts of pictures, or wouldn't follow instructions properly. "This update enables you to blend multiple images into a single image, maintain character consistency for rich storytelling, make targeted transformations using natural language, and use Gemini's world knowledge to generate and edit images," says Google. With Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, you can be much more specific and precise in your modifications, so it's almost like having instant access to a Photoshop expert. We've collected some of the best ways to use it in the Gemini app on the web. To get started, click the tools slider icon in the input box, then Create images, and then click the + (plus) button to pick your source image. As always, anything you input into Gemini can be used to further train Google's AI models and may on occasion be seen by human reviewers -- so avoid sharing anything sensitive or confidential. To stop this from happening, you can tell Google not to save any of your chats or images in Gemini by clicking Activity in the left-hand navigation pane. Sometimes you're just going to want to change one specific part of a photo: Maybe you want the color of a car to be blue rather than red, or you need a lamp removed from a shot -- or you want a lamp added. This is where Gemini can get you fast and effective results without the need for a full image editor. Let's say you've got a picture of someone doing something but you're not fully happy with the way they look, although you want to keep most of the scene intact. Once your image is loaded, use a prompt like "change her jumper color to red" or "give him curly blonde hair" and Gemini will produce an output for you. The AI doesn't always give you perfect results, but works well most of the time. You should see your requested edit carried out, and the rest of the picture left unchanged. If you don't get exactly what you were looking for to begin with, you can try again with a slightly different prompt (although watch out for the usage limits) -- try and be as precise as you can in your requests. Think about some of the other edits you might turn to a proper image editing tool for, and Gemini will usually be able to pull them off if you describe them well enough. For example, you could ask to blur the background behind the main subject of an image, or tidy up some imperfections in a shot (maybe dust or scratches somewhere). Something else that the Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model excels at is taking an image or several images and transforming them in multiple ways. If you've got a self portrait, you can put yourself in an entirely new location or give yourself an entirely new outfit (or both) -- the AI should be smart enough to make sure the picture still looks like you. Try uploading a photo of yourself, then asking Gemini to change the backdrop behind you: Maybe you want to be at the beach, in a field, or to be lit differently. You can also keep everything the same in a picture, but adjust the time of day, or the weather, without it looking like an entirely new AI-generated scene. Combining images works really well too -- just select two or more pictures when you click the + (plus) button inside the prompt box. Give Gemini a picture of you and a picture of an outfit you've found online, and you can request an image of you wearing those clothes. Or, if you've got separate pictures of your dog and your cat, you can put them together. Combining images like this can require a bit more in the way of trial and error and careful prompting, so you might need to be more exact about how the images are put together. However, you should see Gemini keeping consistency across multiple images -- so your dog and cat (for example) will always look like your pets. As you get more confident with the sort of edits you can get Gemini to do, you can get more ambitious in your requests. Of course one of the most common tasks done in an image editor is removing objects from a scene, whether it's a random stranger getting in the way of your group selfie, or a stray item of clothing making your room look messy. To get rid of something in your picture, be specific about what you want taken out: Tell Gemini to "remove the person on the right and fill in the background" or "erase the red jumper that's on the floor". As long as there's enough information in the image for Gemini to be able to fill in the gaps, you should see the tweak made successfully. Of course Gemini can still create AI-generated people or objects as well as making edits, but you don't have to create an entire image from scratch -- you can add to something you've already got. Maybe you'd like to see what a bookshelf would look like in your study, or you want to fill out a street scene with more cars or people. Gemini will accept prompts like "put a cream couch along the back wall" or "add a yellow bus driving by in the background" if you're making additions. This is more reliant on Gemini's AI training, so you may need several goes and it, but bear in mind that you can always request additional edits or go back to the original image and start again.

Google reveals where you should focus to supercharge Nano Banana pics

The Gemini app's viral image model just got official tips for more consistent, precise, and imaginative results. What's happened? Google has published four official tips for using Gemini Nano Banana, the image model that has already powered over 5 billion creations since its debut in late August. These guidelines are meant to help users push creativity further while keeping control of their edits. Now the model can keep the same models and scenes, you can change the consistency, shape or angle of models, while retaining their likeness. It can now control only specific parts of the image, without changing other areas. You can use natural language to do things like colorize photos as Nano Banana understands the context better. Also, you can combine three images into one. You can now build your own app in Canvas or AI Studio, using the tool's powerful capabilities. This is important because: These tips clarify how Nano Banana can be used not just casually but purposefully. The model bridges advanced editing tools and intuitive AI assistance for creators at all levels. Pixel-perfect editing enables you to change a single detail - mimicking real-life photo editing. Consistency tools help maintain likeness across shots, rather than the whole image changing each time you re-edit. Gemini Canvas, the creative workspace built into the app, makes it easy to experiment with edits, templates, and app ideas in one place. Recommended Videos Why should I care? If you are into AI art, photo editing, app design, or creative expression, Nano Banana's strengths help streamline workflows and reduce reliance on multiple tools. You can use simple natural language prompts instead of complicated syntax or tricks. The ability to merge multiple images or sketches opens up remixing and new visual directions. Its contextual memory means you can refine work step by step without starting over. Restoring old family photos or colorizing history becomes easier with world knowledge baked in. Okay, so what's next? Google already hints at more updates and expanded creative features. As Nano Banana sees broader use, expect it to become even more central to Google's AI ecosystem. Look for new templates, context-aware generation, and multimodal expansion over time. Watch for community apps that remix or automate image transformations at scale. Nano Banana is becoming a core tool in Gemini's future, not just a novelty.

4 tips for using Nano Banana to create amazing images

With Nano Banana, Nicole can see herself in different outfits or professions -- all while still looking like herself. Nano Banana was built from the ground up to process both text and images at the same time. This native multimodal capability allows for a whole new range of applications and creative possibilities. Instead of only generating images based on a text prompt, the model can understand and incorporate an existing image into its creative process. It also doesn't treat each new request as a blank slate. By processing images in an ongoing, contextual way, it understands what it just created, allowing for more precise and consistent edits. And with advanced reasoning and Gemini's vast knowledge about the world, Nano Banana can interpret vague instructions and apply logic to fill in the blanks creatively and contextually. Here are a few ways you can put these new capabilities to work for you. One of Nano Banana's key strengths is its ability to maintain scene and character consistency across multiple edits and generations. The model can reuse the same characters while altering their outfits, poses, lighting or the entire scene, or even render them from different angles, all while preserving their likeness. "Subtle flaws make a difference when editing pictures of yourself or people you know well. A depiction that's 'close but not quite the same' can feel off," Gemini App Product Manager David Sharon says. "That's why Gemini 2.5 Flash Image makes photos of people and even animals look consistently like themselves. We've progressed from something that looks like your AI distant cousin to images that look like you." One prompt that's become especially popular? Turning photos into figurines.