Keep up‑to‑date on iStock's latest AI features

Create product photo backgrounds inspired by reference images
October 2025

Create product photo backgrounds inspired by reference images

Generate, Modify, Creative Library
Customers can now use images they’ve generated, uploaded, licensed, or found on‑site to guide the generation of an AI background. This new feature makes it easy to create the perfect product shots, inspired by imagery that they love—including unlicensed creative imagery. This new feature is in addition to using text prompts to generate product photo backgrounds. The generated background will not be identical to the original reference image, but it will reflect its style and composition.
Any creative image—even unlicensed ones—can be used as a reference for AI generations
October 2025

Use any iStock creative image to guide AI image generation

Customers can now use any creative image on the iStock website to guide an AI‑generated image or product background, even if they haven't licensed yet. The option to can be found in the AI Generator under Add image or when hovering over the AI icon ✨ on any eligible photo or illustration—just look for Use as reference for new image, then follow the on‑screen instructions.

Note: To download and license your generated image or product shot based on an iStock image, you will also need to license the source reference image at that time.
New upgraded AI model for better overall results
June 2025

New upgraded AI model for better overall results

On‑site , API, Generate, Modify, Creative Library
Working with our technology partner, Bria, we've developed a more powerful AI model to deliver improved results—more quickly—with enhanced prompting options. Trained exclusively on licensed creative content, including iStock's high‑quality visual library and data, the new model now gives users access to: 
  • Upgraded image generation quality with clearer visuals, richer details, and more accurate colors
  • Improved realism—from consistent hands and modern clothing to lifelike lighting, backgrounds, and vehicles
  • Expanded creative range, especially for illustrations, conceptual art, and fantasy‑style images
  • Final outputs that better align to your prompts and creative intent
Replace an entire background with a single prompt
June 2025

Replace an entire background with a single prompt

On‑site , Modify
The new Replace Background feature can be used to remove and replace the background of a pre‑shot or generated image with a solid color or a detailed background. Using a text prompt generates four scenes, where choosing a solid color only generates one result.
Enhance Prompt automatically adds details and texture
June 2025

Enhance Prompt automatically adds details and texture  

Prompts, Generate
Customers using our AI Generator can access the Enhance Prompt feature, which takes a prompt (regardless of size) and with the help of AI, adds contextual details and atmospheric language to the input. Users can then edit the new prompt if they choose and click Generate for results that are often far richer, more nuanced, and higher quality. 

This feature is launching in English with additional languages following shortly after.
Replace or remove objects using Click
March 2025

Modify images more precisely with a magic “Click”

Onsite, API, Modify
Users can now replace or remove objects with greater precision using Click, a new AI‑powered feature—also known as Segment Anything—that automatically scans and identifies individual elements in an image. Users can then select any of those details with a click, individually or by combining multiple segments, to generate something new, or remove it and seamlessly match the background.
Keep look & feel
February 2025

Create variations of a specific generation with 'Keep look & feel'

On‑site, API, Generate
Keep look & feel offers a new layer of control, allowing customers to maintain aspects of their original generations and make small changes using the prompt. Sometimes referred to as Fixed Seed or Seed locking, this feature preserves the overall look of the last 4 generated images while applying minor visual updates to new generations.
Create enhanced product photos using AI
November 2024

Showcasing products in studio‑quality photos using AI

Background removal, API, Generate
Users can now upload and integrate their own product shots* into any scene they can imagine, from modern studio backdrops to realistic landscapes. Clicking "Add image" in the prompt bar allows customers to upload an image of their product. Our service automatically removes the background around their product and provides controls to change the size and position of the object. The customer then provides a text prompt to generate a new background the product will be blended into to create a stunning, commercially safe product photo. 

Also available this month: Customers can now upload their own photo or illustration as a reference image to apply its color palette or composition to their next generation.

*To qualify for iStock's legal indemnification, users must own or have licensed the rights to the product image they upload. Terms of use apply.
A new subscription for endless creativity: Unlimited AI
October 2024

A new subscription for endless creativity: Unlimited AI

Generate, Modify
To help customers create without limits, we're introducing Unlimited AI, a new subscription service that offers unlimited access* to iStock's AI‑powered tools for one low monthly fee. Users will be able to generate and iterate new imagery until it matches their vision, and modify licensed iStock creative and AI‑generated images to fit any need. The new plan will replace our current 100 AI generations bundle which we will be discontinuing. 

*Daily generation limits apply. Does not include editorial images. Licensing of source image required to download modified imagery.
Prompting with a reference image
August 2024

Prompting with a reference image

On‑site, Generate
Using image‑to‑image generation, the Reference image feature helps customers achieve their vision in fewer prompts by allowing them to apply the color scheme or composition of a previously licensed iStock creative or AI‑generated image to their next generation.
One-click background removal
June 2024

One‑click background removal

On‑site, API, Modify, Creative Library
The Remove background feature allows customers to easily remove the background* of any image they've created using the AI Generator.  Once edits are complete, a user simply clicks Remove background and a version of the image is created as a final transparent PNG they can then download immediately. This addition to our suite of AI tools helps reduce the time, cost, and effort that can go into a potentially complicated editing process. 

Update: Feature now available for modifying images in the iStock creative library.

*Requires the use of one AI generation.
Updated AI model (V2 to V3)
June 2024

Updated AI model (V2 to V3)

On‑site , API, Generate , Modify, Creative Library
The third version of our AI model has been once again trained exclusively on clean iStock creative content and proprietary data. This upgraded version provides improvements to generation speed (2x faster), 4K upscaling detail, prompt adherence/relevancy, and image quality such as skin texture. The update also increases the prompt length to 512 tokens* (approximately 300 words) and provides a new set of camera controls like pitch, depth of field, and shot type.  

*Note that longer prompt length will only be available for initial prompt and not Refine/Extend prompt
Refine AI editing tool
March 2024

Refine AI editing tool

On‑site, API, Generate, Modify, Creative Library
With the new Refine feature, customers can Replace or Remove individual elements of an AI‑generated image. This is also known as “inpainting.” Users highlight an area they wish to modify using a brush tool, then provide a text prompt to guide the AI model in what to generate and place there. When downloaded, these new, commercially safe variations include the same robust legal protections and indemnification as the original.

Update: Feature now available for modifying images in the iStock creative library.

*Requires the use of one AI generation. Licensing of source image required to download modified imagery.
Extend AI editing tool
March 2024

Extend AI editing tool

On‑site, API, Generate, Modify, Creative Library
Also known as “outpainting,” the Extend feature allows customers to easily expand content beyond the edges of a previously generated image, automatically filling in new areas in context of the original image or based on a prompt from the user. The Freeform aspect ratio option allows users to select and generate additional custom image sizes.  When downloaded, these new, commercially safe variations include the same robust legal protections and indemnification as the original.

Update: Feature now available for modifying images in the iStock creative library.

*Requires the use of one AI generation. Licensing of source image required to download modified imagery.
Modify images from the creative library
March 2024

Modify images from the creative library

 On‑site , API, Modify, Creative Library
Refine, Extend, and Remove background are now available for use* on images from the iStock creative library. Customers can instantly add elements, remove backgrounds, create additional sizes, and more—no 3rd‑party photo editor required. Once edits are complete and the background removed, a user can download and license the modified image*. Also, any new AI version they create includes robust legal protections and is safe for commercial use.
 
*Each modification requires the use of one AI generation. Licensing of source image required to download modified imagery.
Generation history
February 2024

Generation history

On‑site, API
Access previous generations from the past 6 months, preview thumbnails, sort by date range, and view prompt information all in one place.
Added language Support
January 2024

Added language Support

On‑site , API, Prompts
Upgraded text prompts to support 75 languages.
Prompt Builder
January 2024

Prompt Builder

On‑site, Prompts
Added an easy‑to‑use tool that guides users in crafting better prompts for the images they want to generate. The user is asked to provide Main Subject, Action, Surroundings, Visual aesthetics, and an optional Negative prompt, then the tool converts those entries into a single prompt that can be used as input for the AI image generator. Only available via our on‑site AI Generator.