Runway
Runway Gen-4 Image
Runway Gen-4 Image is Runway's reference-driven AI image model that generates cinematic-quality stills at 720p or 1080p from a text prompt plus tagged reference images. It is the still-image counterpart to the Runway Gen-4 video model — not a video generator itself — and is built so its frames feed straight into Runway Gen-4 Turbo for image-to-video. On Astorie you run it on an infinite canvas and fan one prompt out to Gen-4 Image plus Imagen 4, FLUX, and Nano Banana 2 at once to compare takes side by side.
Runway Gen-4 Image (also written "Runway Gen4 Image" or "Gen-4 references") launched in 2025 as the image half of Runway's Gen-4 generation, and it is frequently confused with the Runway Gen-4 video model — they share a name and a release wave but do different jobs. Gen-4 Image produces a still picture; Runway Gen-4 (video) animates one. The image model's signature trick is reference tagging: you upload up to three reference images, give each a tag (for example @sarah or @loft), then write a prompt like "@sarah sitting in the @loft at golden hour" — the model keeps that character's face and that location's look consistent across every frame you generate. That consistency is why it is built for storyboard-to-production pipelines rather than one-off art. It outputs at 720p or 1080p across six aspect ratios (1:1, 16:9, 7:3, 4:3, 3:4, 9:16), covering widescreen cinematic plates and vertical mobile frames, with a film-grade aesthetic — natural depth of field, filmic color, and dramatic lighting — that matches Runway Gen-4 Turbo video so the look carries through from still to motion. As of 2026, Gen-4 Image caps at 1080p; for 4K finals you chain it into an upscale tool. On Astorie, Gen-4 Image is one node on a multi-model canvas: wire one prompt into Gen-4 Image, Imagen 4, FLUX, and Nano Banana 2 simultaneously, keep every take in the version tray, pick the winner, then feed it into a Runway Gen-4 Turbo video node — all without a Runway subscription, GPU, or local install.
Capabilities
Best For
- Storyboard and key frames that feed into Runway Gen-4 Turbo video generation
- Reference-consistent character and set across a scene sequence via tagged references
- Cinematic stills with natural depth of field and film-grade lighting
- Production pipelines that combine image and video AI on one canvas
- Widescreen (16:9, 7:3) cinematic plates and vertical (9:16) mobile frames
Strengths
- Reference tagging keeps character, wardrobe, and location identity consistent across every generated frame
- Cinematic aesthetic — natural depth of field, filmic color, and dramatic lighting out of the box
- 6 aspect ratios including ultrawide 7:3 for cinematic letterbox plates
- Same look as Runway Gen-4 Turbo video — aesthetic carries seamlessly from still to image-to-video
- On Astorie, fan one prompt out to Gen-4 Image, Imagen 4, FLUX, and Nano Banana 2 at once and compare takes in the version tray
- Browser-based on Astorie — no Runway subscription, no GPU, no local install
Limitations
- Max 1080p as of 2026 — for 4K output, chain into an upscale tool
- Single image per generation (no batch grid)
- It is an image model, not video — to animate a frame, pass it to the Runway Gen-4 video model or another image-to-video node
- Premium-tier model — for rapid exploration, draft with a lighter image model first
- Strong cinematic look limits flat, neutral, or stock-photo-style output
Tips & Best Practices
Use Runway Gen-4 Image on Astorie
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Get Started FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What is Runway Gen-4 Image?
Runway Gen-4 Image is Runway's reference-driven AI image model that generates cinematic-quality stills at 720p or 1080p from a text prompt plus tagged reference images. It is the still-image member of Runway's Gen-4 generation, distinct from the Runway Gen-4 video model, and is designed so its frames feed directly into Runway Gen-4 Turbo for image-to-video.
What is the difference between Runway Gen-4 Image and the Runway Gen-4 video model?
Runway Gen-4 Image generates a still picture; the Runway Gen-4 video model animates a still into a clip. They share the "Gen-4" name and release wave but do different jobs. A common workflow is to create a reference-consistent frame in Gen-4 Image, then pass it to the Runway Gen-4 video node to bring it to life. On Astorie both live on the same canvas.
What resolution does Runway Gen-4 Image support?
Runway Gen-4 Image supports 720p and 1080p output. As of 2026 it caps at 1080p, so use 720p for fast storyboard drafts and 1080p for final frames; for 4K, chain it into an upscale tool like Recraft Crisp or Topaz.
What aspect ratios does Runway Gen-4 Image support?
Runway Gen-4 Image supports 6 aspect ratios: 1:1 (square), 16:9 (widescreen), 7:3 (ultrawide cinematic), 4:3 (standard), 3:4 (portrait), and 9:16 (vertical/mobile). The 7:3 letterbox is useful for cinematic plates that feed into widescreen video.
How do reference images work in Runway Gen-4 Image?
You upload reference images, tag each one with a name (for example @sarah or @loft), then mention those tags in your prompt. The model keeps the tagged character's face and the tagged location's look consistent across every frame, which is what makes Gen-4 Image suited to storyboards and scene sequences rather than one-off art.
Can I use Gen-4 Image output for video generation?
Yes — that is its primary use case. Generate cinematic key frames with Gen-4 Image, then feed them into a Runway Gen-4 Turbo video node. The cinematic aesthetic carries through consistently from still to motion, and on Astorie both steps happen on the same canvas.
Do I need a Runway subscription to use Gen-4 Image?
No. On Astorie you access Runway Gen-4 Image through your Astorie credits on a browser-based canvas — no separate Runway subscription, no GPU, and no local install. You can also run it alongside 50+ other image and video models in one workspace.
How does Runway Gen-4 Image compare to other image models on Astorie?
Gen-4 Image is the cinematic, reference-consistent option built to pair with Runway video. For photoreal product or text work consider Imagen 4 or Nano Banana 2; for stylized concept art consider Midjourney or FLUX. On Astorie you do not have to choose blindly — fan one prompt into several models at once and compare the takes in the version tray.
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