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Best AI image generator for · illustration & 3D

Best AI image generator for illustration and 3D renders

Stylized work (cozy 3D rooms, hand-drawn maps, storybook art) rewards detail and a consistent style more than photorealism. We tested a Pixar-style isometric bedroom and a hand-drawn ink-and-watercolor fantasy island map.

Our pick

Nano Banana 2.1 8.8/10

1. Nano Banana 2.18.8$0.04/imageworst: 8.7
2. Ideogram 4.08.7$0.07/imageworst: 8.7

Two prompts. Nano Banana's isometric room was much more detailed. On the map the two tied: both looked great, but each slipped on text (Ideogram misspelled a label, Nano Banana duplicated a place name).

Try Gemini (Nano Banana) ↗
Prompt 15

Isometric bedroom

“Isometric cozy bedroom, Pixar-style 3D render.”

Nano Banana 2.1 output Nano Banana 2.1 9.0
~4 cr ($0.04) · 21s render

adherence 9quality 9artifacts 9
Highly detailed cozy isometric room.

Ideogram 4.0 output Ideogram 4.0 8.7
~7 cr ($0.07) · 26s render

adherence 9quality 8artifacts 9
Cute Pixar-like isometric room, simpler detail.

Prompt 17

Fantasy island map

“Fantasy map of an island kingdom, hand-drawn ink and watercolor.”

Nano Banana 2.1 output Nano Banana 2.1 8.7
~4 cr ($0.04) · 26s render

adherence 9quality 9artifacts 8
Rich detailed map; duplicated place name and one garbled label.

Ideogram 4.0 output Ideogram 4.0 8.7
~7 cr ($0.07) · 32s render

adherence 9quality 9artifacts 8
Ink and watercolour map; 'SEAA' spelling error.

Related

FAQ

What is the best AI image generator for illustration & 3D?

In our October 2026 tests (prompts 15, 17), Nano Banana 2.1 scored highest at 8.8/10, ahead of Ideogram 4.0 (8.7). Two prompts. Nano Banana's isometric room was much more detailed. On the map the two tied: both looked great, but each slipped on text (Ideogram misspelled a label, Nano Banana duplicated a place name).

How much does each output cost?

Nano Banana 2.1: $0.04 per image; Ideogram 4.0: $0.07 per image (Runway Dev API pricing, October 2026).