Nano Banana
The smart default for image generation
Fast turnaround, 1 credit per image (~7¢ at Starter plan), ideal for high-volume automation. Perfect for blog heroes, social variants, and batch content workflows.
What it's good at
- High-volume image generation
Generate hundreds of blog hero images, social ad variants, or product shots without excessive costs or generation delays.
- General-purpose visuals
Photographs, illustrations, illustrations, abstract scenes, and creative concepts. Fast, reliable, and production-ready.
- Agent-driven workflows
Pair Nano Banana with AI agents writing content. Queue image generation alongside text production for fully automated, media-rich output.
- Testing and batch work
Quickly iterate on prompts, test creative directions, or generate large batches for design review without burning credits.
Quickstart
Claude Desktop (MCP)
Add this to your Claude Desktop MCP configuration:
{
"mcpServers": {
"mediaengine": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-media-engine"
],
"env": {
"MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY": "me_live_YOUR_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}Replace YOUR_KEY_HERE with your actual API key from app.mcpmediaengine.com.
REST API
POST request to queue an image generation job:
{
"type": "image",
"model": "nano-banana",
"inputParams": {
"prompt": "A serene workspace with morning light, minimalist, no text, no words, no logos",
"aspect_ratio": "16:9"
}
}Authorization: Bearer <your_api_key>
The API returns a job ID immediately. Poll /api/jobs/jobId to check status, or set up webhooks for async notifications.
Example output
Every image below was generated with Nano Banana through the MediaEngine API — same endpoint, same key, only the prompt changed.
Pricing
Credits
Per image
Consistent, predictable cost.
Cost per Image
Starter plan
$29 top-up = 400 credits
Example: Blog image workflow
Generate 50 blog hero images per month:50 images × 1 credit = 50 credits50 credits ÷ 400 credits per $29 = $3.62/month
FAQ
How do I use Nano Banana in Claude Desktop?
Add Nano Banana to your Claude Desktop MCP configuration. In your MCP settings, add the mediaengine server with your API key, then ask Claude to generate images and specify model: 'nano-banana' in the request. Claude will queue the job and wait for results.
How much does a Nano Banana image cost via API?
Nano Banana costs 1 credit per image. At the Starter plan ($29 top-up = 400 credits), each image costs approximately $0.07. At the Pro plan ($99 = 1400 credits), the per-image cost is identical due to our flat-rate structure.
What aspect ratios are supported?
Nano Banana supports: 1:1 (square), 16:9 (landscape), 9:16 (portrait), 21:9 (ultra-wide), 9:21 (ultra-tall), 3:2, 2:3, 5:4, 4:5, 4:3, 3:4. Specify aspect_ratio in your request to control the output dimensions.
How fast is Nano Banana?
Nano Banana typically generates images in 10–20 seconds. Most results complete within 15 seconds, making it ideal for time-sensitive workflows where you need fast turnaround without sacrificing quality.
Can I use negative prompts with Nano Banana?
Nano Banana does not support explicit negative_prompt parameters. Instead, bake negatives into your main prompt: for example, 'serene landscape, no text, no words, no logos' to exclude unwanted elements. This approach is often more effective for this model.
What happens when a newer model comes out?
New models land in the MediaEngine catalog without breaking your code. Simply swap model: 'nano-banana' for the new model id when you're ready to upgrade. Your API endpoint and request format stay identical—zero migration work required.