Gemini's image support just got better

Google’s Nano Banana brings advanced image editing and creation to Gemini.
By Tom Crouch |
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  3 minute read  

The Gemini app got a huge upgrade to its image support with Google’s Nano Banana 🍌

Nano Banana brings enhanced image generation, along with entirely new capabilities. You can now prompt Gemini with text, images, or a combination of both.

Make specific changes

You can give Gemini an image and ask it to make changes.

  • Alter elements of an image, like “Show me what this room would look like with teal walls”
  • Add or remove elements, like “Remove the rubbish bin from the background of this photo”
  • Restyle an image, like “Transform this photo into the watercolour style of Quentin Blake”

Animation of Gemini giving a paper crown to a cat and changing the colour of a background wall background
Giving a cat a paper crown, and changing the wall colour

Combine and remix images

You can give Gemini more than one image and ask it to combine them.

For example:

  • Replacing the image in a hung picture frame with another image you provide
  • Showing what a person would look like wearing an item of clothing from a second photo

Animation of Gemini adding an Outwood logo graphic to a man’s plain t-shirt
Adding a graphic design to a t-shirt

Create images from scratch

You’ve been able to ask Gemini to generate images for some time, and with Nano Banana, you’ll see even better results.

To have Gemini create an image, either:

  • Select the “🍌 Create image” tool
  • Ask for an image, like “Generate an image”, “Create a picture”, “Show me”, etc.

Getting the best results

To get the best results with image generation:

  • Be specific to have more control over your image. Instead of asking for “a tree,” ask for “an ancient English oak, with a gnarled trunk, and golden autumnal leaves.”
  • Describe positively. Instead of saying “no people,” describe your desired scene positively: “a serene, untouched forest clearing with only natural elements and wildlife.”
  • Provide step-by-step instructions: For complex scenes with many elements, break your prompt down into steps. For example, “First, create a background of a futuristic laboratory with holographic displays and glass walls. Then, in the centre, add a floating crystalline sphere suspended in an energy field. Finally, place a scientist in a white coat reaching toward it with an expression of wonder.”

When changing and combining existing images, consider precisely what you want to keep the same and what you want to modify.

Tip

If it’s not quite right the first time, you can ask Gemini for refinements. But start a new chat for a completely different image!

Keep everything the same, but darken the sky.

Try it

  1. Go to gemini.google.com
  2. Start a new chat!

Learn more

We used this prompt to modify the image of a cat:

Add a tiny paper crown to the cat in this photo. The crown sits naturally on its head, positioned between its ears, and is made of dull, metallic red paper. It should be photorealistic, with appropriate lighting and lens blur. Also, change the background wall to be a light sage colour. Leave everything else the same.

We used this prompt to combine the t-shirt and graphic images:

Take the image of a man wearing a t-shirt and apply the graphic across the front of the t-shirt, with the white swirl logo located centrally. The graphic should look like it’s screen-printed on the t-shirt fabric. Adjust the graphic to match the lighting in the scene and the texture of the fabric. Ensure the man’s stance and the rest of the image remain unchanged.