Recraft V3 vs GLM Image

Movie posters with Art Deco typography demand precise geometric letterforms, consistent stroke weights, and proper spacing—all challenging for image generation models. The combination of title text, date, and decorative elements tests multiple aspects of text rendering simultaneously.

Recraft V3 demonstrates its typography advantage here. The geometric letterforms tend to maintain crisp edges and consistent angles, with proper spacing between characters. GLM Image produces acceptable text that often reads correctly, but may show subtle irregularities—slightly uneven stroke weights or minor spacing inconsistencies that matter in design contexts. For typography-forward projects, Recraft's precision is noticeable.

Environmental portraits in challenging lighting conditions—like the warm glow of molten glass—test a model's ability to handle complex color temperatures, dramatic shadows, and authentic human detail. The industrial setting adds texture and atmosphere that must feel genuine.

Both models handle this scenario reasonably well. GLM Image often produces slightly more naturalistic skin tones and lighting transitions, benefiting from its multimodal training on diverse imagery. Recraft tends toward cleaner, more controlled aesthetics that may feel slightly more processed—still professional, but with a different character. The choice depends on whether you want raw documentary realism or polished editorial quality.

Illustration work requires a specific visual language—the balance of stylization, color palette, and character design that defines a particular aesthetic. Consistency matters when creating multiple images for a project; they need to look like they belong together.

Recraft's style presets prove valuable here. Using digital_illustration or a specific sub-style provides predictable, controllable results that match the intended aesthetic across multiple generations. GLM interprets the prompt intelligently—often creating appealing imagery—but with more variation between generations. For children's books, editorial illustration, or any project requiring visual consistency, Recraft's explicit control reduces iteration time significantly.

Watch photography demands precise material rendering—the way sapphire crystal catches light, metal reflects its environment, and fine details remain sharp. These subtle qualities communicate luxury and craftsmanship to potential customers.

Both models perform competently here. Recraft tends toward cleaner, more controlled compositions with predictable lighting that works well for catalog use. GLM often produces more naturalistic reflections and highlights that can feel more photographically authentic but may require more prompt refinement to achieve consistent results. For streamlined commercial workflows, Recraft's predictability is an advantage.

Concept art workflows often involve iteration—starting with a base image and refining through multiple passes. The ability to use previous outputs as input for the next generation can significantly speed up creative exploration.

GLM Image's support for image input makes it more suited to iterative workflows. You can generate a base concept, then use it as a starting point for refinement—adjusting composition, lighting, or details while maintaining the core concept. Recraft's text-only input means each generation starts fresh. Additionally, GLM can generate up to 4 images per request, useful for quickly exploring variations. For one-shot design work, Recraft's consistency wins; for exploratory concept development, GLM's flexibility has value.