What is the difference between image generation and output of image tokens?

The pricing standards for image generation models include two categories: Image tokens and Image generation. While the input pricing within Image tokens is straightforward, what confuses me is the difference between Image generation and output within Image tokens.

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The output is made of image tokens.

Quality Square (1024×1024) Portrait (1024×1536) Landscape (1536×1024)
Low 272 tokens 408 tokens 400 tokens
Medium 1056 tokens 1584 tokens 1568 tokens
High 4160 tokens 6240 tokens 6208 tokens

These are billed at the output image token price for the model, resulting in an output cost:

Per-image output pricing by size (n=1)

Model Quality 1024×1024 1024×1536 1536×1024
GPT Image 1.5 Low $0.008704 $0.013056 $0.012800
Medium $0.033792 $0.050688 $0.050176
High $0.133120 $0.199680 $0.198656
Model Quality 1024×1024 1024×1536 1536×1024
GPT Image 1 Low $0.01088 $0.01632 $0.01600
Medium $0.04224 $0.06336 $0.06272
High $0.16640 $0.24960 $0.24832
Model Quality 1024×1024 1024×1536 1536×1024
GPT Image 1 Mini Low $0.002176 $0.003264 $0.003200
Medium $0.008448 $0.012672 $0.012544
High $0.033280 $0.049920 $0.049664

Output pricing per 1000 images by size (1k)

  • in dollars and cents for easier understanding
Model Quality 1024×1024 1024×1536 1536×1024
GPT Image 1.5 Low $8.71 $13.06 $12.80
Medium $33.80 $50.69 $50.18
High $133.12 $199.68 $198.66
Model Quality 1024×1024 1024×1536 1536×1024
GPT Image 1 Low $10.88 $16.32 $16.00
Medium $42.24 $63.36 $62.72
High $166.40 $249.60 $248.32
Model Quality 1024×1024 1024×1536 1536×1024
GPT Image 1 Mini Low $2.18 $3.27 $3.20
Medium $8.45 $12.68 $12.55
High $33.28 $49.92 $49.67

Input

Note that image input (for the image AI to look at), in a chat with the image tool called or images as input on the edits endpoint, can cost you $0.035 to $0.067 per image on gpt-image-1.5, or on gpt-image-1 when using “input_fidelity”: “high” - the big surprise pricing.

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Thank you for your response; it has been immensely helpful to me.

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