# MAI Image 2.6 AI Image Generator

> Microsoft’s image model for readable poster text, natural portraits and targeted photo edits.

Canonical URL: https://allimageai.com/models/mai-image-2-6/

Website: All Image AI

Language: English

MAI Image 2.6 is Microsoft’s image generation and editing model, with improvements in lettering, portraits and commercial visuals. Use it to draft a packaging concept, compose a poster with a short headline, or describe a focused change to an existing photo. This page provides text-to-image generation and single-image editing with PNG downloads. The model remains in public preview.

## Model details

- Developer: Microsoft AI
- Status on All Image AI: Preview
- Last verified: 2026-09-06
- Maximum output: 1K
- Modes: Text to Image, Edit Image, Typography
- Reference images: up to 1
- Resolutions: 1K
- Aspect ratios: 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2, 2:3

## Best for

- Posters and packaging with short, quoted text
- Product concepts with controlled lighting and materials
- Natural editorial portraits
- Changing an object, background or label in an existing photo

## How to use

1. Choose Text to Image or Edit Image.
2. For editing, upload one PNG or JPEG.
3. Describe the subject, lighting and composition in up to 1,000 characters; quote any required text.
4. Choose an aspect ratio for a new image and check the credit total.
5. Generate, proofread lettering and inspect important details before downloading.

## Settings explained

### Mode

Text to Image starts from your description. Edit Image requires one PNG or JPEG and a description of what to change and what to preserve.

### Aspect Ratio

For a new image, choose square, landscape or portrait before generating. Editing uses the model’s framing; the aspect-ratio selector is hidden in that mode.

### Credits

A new 1K image costs 5 credits. Editing one image costs 7 credits. One request produces one PNG, and failed generations are refunded.

## Prompt examples

### A poster with exact copy

> Design a portrait poster for a fictional ceramics fair. Show three handmade bowls on warm ivory linen. A large dark green headline reads exactly “FORM & EARTH”. A smaller line reads “SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER”. Keep the lower fifth empty. Soft daylight, crisp lettering, no other text.

### A product material study

> Studio photograph of a matte sage-green insulated bottle on pale limestone. A small label reads exactly “FIELD”. Keep the bottle upright and centered, with a soft shadow falling right. Show realistic brushed metal on the lid and subtle condensation. Clean warm background.

### A focused photo edit

> Replace the background with a softly lit cream studio wall. Preserve the person’s face, hairstyle, clothing, pose and proportions. Keep the direction of the original light. Do not add text or objects.

Select Edit Image and upload one PNG or JPEG.

## Limitations

- One output per request; prompts up to 1,000 characters
- Current output tier: 1K, with a maximum of 1,048,576 pixels
- Editing accepts one PNG or JPEG; the model determines the edited image framing
- Multi-reference editing, web grounding and 1.5K output are not enabled here yet
- Public preview availability and speed can vary; in-image text still needs proofreading

## Pricing and credits

Credits for one image at default quality and mode. Resolution, quality, reference inputs, edit mode and output count can change the total. Check the Generate button before submitting.

| Resolution | Credits / image |
| --- | --- |
| 1K | 5 |

Failed generations cost 0 credits. Catalog availability does not guarantee runtime availability; the workspace reports whether the selected model can run.

[Credit plans](https://allimageai.com/pricing.md)

## Test results

Testing in progress. No verified benchmark scores have been published for this model.

## Commercial use and image handling

Commercial use is subject to Microsoft’s applicable service terms, including the terms for public preview features. Review generated text, logos and product details before publication.

Uploads are processed by the configured inference service. You can delete a generation from your history.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is MAI Image 2.6 the same as MAI Image 2.5 Pro?

No. These are separate model versions. Selecting 2.6 requests 2.6; the site does not replace it with 2.5 or 2.5 Pro when it is unavailable.

### How many credits does MAI Image 2.6 use?

Text-to-image and typography generation cost 5 credits per 1K image. A single-image edit costs 7 credits. Failed generations cost 0 credits.

### Is MAI Image 2.6 better than GPT Image 2?

That depends on the task. MAI Image 2.6 is a useful candidate for lettering, portraits and focused edits. GPT Image 2 currently offers more reference images and larger output sizes on this site. We have not completed a controlled comparison, so we do not claim a quality winner.

### Why is output limited to 1K when Microsoft mentions 1.5K?

Microsoft’s September 2026 model card describes up to 1.5K output, while the current image API documentation still specifies a 1,048,576-pixel limit. This page uses the documented API limit until larger outputs are verified.

### Can I use multiple references or web search?

Those capabilities are described for the wider model release. This page currently offers one-reference editing and does not enable web search.

### What does Coming soon mean?

The introduction and settings are available, but generation is disabled on deployments where this model has not been configured. An unavailable request does not consume credits.

## Release history and sources

August 10, 2026 — Model announced

August 10 is the first model announcement. The September Foundry public preview is a separate platform-availability event.

- [microsoft.ai](https://microsoft.ai/news/mai-image-2-6-launches-at-no-2-on-arena-ahead-of-google-meta-and-xai/)

[Event evidence on the timeline](https://allimageai.com/timeline/#event-mai-image-2-6)

## Documentation sources

- [Microsoft MAI Image 2.6 model card · September 4, 2026](https://microsoft.ai/pdf/MAI-Image-2.6-Model-Card.pdf)
- [Microsoft image API documentation · checked September 6, 2026](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry/foundry-models/how-to/use-foundry-models-mai-image)

## Other versions

- [MAI Image 2.5 Pro](https://allimageai.com/models/mai-image-2-5-pro.md): Microsoft flagship · 1K
- [MAI Image 2.5](https://allimageai.com/models/mai-image-2-5.md): Design-ready · 1K