Leonardo AI — Full Guide & Image Generation Models (2025)

3D animated style characters (boy and girl) created with Leonardo AI showing vibrant colors and Pixar-like aesthetics.

Leonardo AI November, 2025 Full Guide — explore 20 image generation models, tutorials, pricing, features, and expert reviews.

Written by Priyanshu Khatri, AI Chief Analyst — SoulAI Writes
Real-World AI Testing • Expert Analysis • Trusted Insights

SoulAI Writes

I am the Chief AI Analyst at SoulAI Writes, where I deliver Real-World AI Testing, Expert Analysis, and Trusted Insights to guide you through the generative AI revolution. With over 3+ years of intensive testing across 300+ platforms, I don’t just review software; I master the ecosystem. My expertise covers every category on this site—from ChatGPT & Alternatives (Gemini, Claude, DeepSeek, Kimi K2, etc.) to AI Image Generators and AI Video Tools (Google Nano Banana, Google Veo, Seedream, MidJourney, Leonardo, Sora, RunwayML, Kling, Higgsfield, etc.) Beyond basic reviews, I create detailed AI Tool Reviews, AI Tutorials, AI Comparisons, AI News & Updates and Pricing Guides for every need. I rigorously test Free AI Tools, AI Audio/Voice synthesis (Suno AI, ElevenLabs etc.), specialized agents for coding (GitHub Copilot, Julius AI & Sonnet) and research/writing (NotebookLM, Jasper, Gamma, Scispace, Scite & Elicit, etc.). My unique expertise comes from comparing multiple versions of each tool, analyzing quality improvements, and real-world implementation across diverse projects. I translate complex capabilities into practical Workflow Guides, delivering the “Gold Standard” of unbiased testing to help you save time and money.

Table of Contents

Introduction

As the Global Chief AI Analyst at SoulAI Writes, I’ve spent months testing every image model Leonardo AI has launched — across genres like realism, cinematic art, concept illustration, and stylized design.

I’ve personally generated over 5,000 images using Leonardo’s platform — experimenting with every single model, setting, ratio, and lighting option available.

And after thousands of generations, retouches, and feature trials, I can confidently say this: Leonardo AI isn’t just another image generator — it’s a professional-grade creative studio powered by 20 deeply specialized models that cater to everything from anime to photorealism to cinematic art direction.

This full 2025 guide walks through:

Every image model (Lucid Origin to Phoenix, Flux, Nano Banana & Legacy sets)
Tutorials & image ratio recommendations
Pricing & subscription structure
My personal rankings, ratings & expert verdicts.

What Makes Leonardo AI Different

Leonardo AI stands out because it’s built for artists, marketers, designers, and AI creators who need more than one visual style.

Each model behaves differently, trained on unique datasets that control light physics, skin realism, cinematic tone, brushstroke precision, and aesthetic mood.

Why it’s different:

20+ models specialized for unique outputs.
Control over aspect ratio (1:1, 9:16, 16:9, 3:4, 4:3, 4:5, 2:3, 2:1, 1.85:1, 2.4:1).
High-resolution upscaling and lighting control.
Layer blending, style reference, and negative prompt precision.
Real-time refinement and live preview.
Community-trained finetunes for custom consistency.

Leonardo AI — 20 Image Generation Models (2025)

Below is a complete breakdown of Leonardo’s 20 AI models, grouped into Featured, Core, and Legacy sets.

Featured Models

1. Lucid Origin — The Crown Jewel (My Top Pick)

Style: Hyper-real, balanced cinematic realism.
Best for: Portraits, concept photography, ultra-detailed character design.
Strength: Excellent prompt adherence and text rendering for HD output.
My Verdict: Lucid Origin produces breathtaking clarity with balanced skin tone, lighting, and realistic reflections. Every image feels emotionally rich and polished.
⭐ Rating: 5/5 — “The pinnacle of AI realism in 2025.”

2. Nano Banana — The Artistic Powerhouse (Non-Leonardo)

Style: Cross-platform creative realism model.
Best for: Artistic portraits, cinematic stills, fantasy realism.
Strength: Smart, context-aware edits and consistent, high-quality visuals.
My Verdict: Non-Leonardo but exceptional — a must-have add-on for artistic creators.
⭐ Rating: 4.9/5

3. Lucid Realism — Runner-Up for Ultra Realism

Style: Photographic precision, natural skin lighting, realistic color balance.
Best for: Product photography, beauty shots, corporate and fashion imagery.
Strength: Creating cinematic shots and best for pairing with video generation.
My Verdict: Exceptional color fidelity — it handles sunlight, reflection, and ambient shadows with natural depth.
⭐ Rating: 4.8/5

Front-facing digital portrait generated using the Leonardo AI Lucid Realism model featuring hyper-realistic eye detail and lighting.

Core & Advanced Models

1. Flux Dev

Style: Dynamic development version of Flux series.
Best for: Experimental art, environments, and cinematic storyboards.
Why It Stands Out: Incredible at visual storytelling — adds depth, fog, and motion simulation.
⭐ Rating: 4.7/5

2. Flux.1 Kontext Max

Style: Context-aware cinematic realism.
Ideal Use: Sci-fi, landscape, fantasy scenes.
Why It Stands Out: Advanced object coherence — characters stay consistent frame to frame.
⭐ Rating: 4.6/5

3. Flux.1 Kontext

Style: Balanced between realism and stylization.
Strength: Excellent depth-of-field and atmospheric tone.
⭐ Rating: 4.5/5

4. Flux Schnell

Style: Fast and light model for instant previews.
Best for: Quick concepts or thumbnail drafts.
⭐ Rating: 4.4/5

5. Phoenix 1.0 — Creative Runner-Up

Style: Color-rich cinematic model.
Best for: Mood lighting, product visuals, and surreal realism.
Why It Stands Out: Phoenix handles complex textures — chrome, skin, glass — beautifully.
⭐ Rating: 4.8/5

6. Phoenix 0.9

Style: Legacy cinematic base.
Pros: Balanced composition, solid shading.
⭐ Rating: 4.3/5

7. Ideogram 3.0 — Runner-Up (Non-Leonardo)

Style: Logo, typography, and graphic composition.
Best for: Branding, minimal design, and poster visuals.
⭐ Rating: 4.7/5

8. GPT-Image-1

Style: Balanced general-purpose visual model.
Use Case: Concept art, product designs, realistic portraits.
⭐ Rating: 4.4/5

Legacy Models (The Classics)

Model	Style	Use Case	My Rating
Anime	Stylized 2D art	Character design, comics	⭐ 4.6
Cinematic Kino	Film-grade tone	Movie posters, storytelling	⭐ 4.8
Concept Art	Pre-visualization art	Game & film concept work	⭐ 4.7
Graphic Design	Branding & layout	Marketing visuals	⭐ 4.5
Illustrative Albedo	Artistic sketch-to-render	Art illustration	⭐ 4.4
Leonardo Lightning	Ultra-fast model	Instant previews	⭐ 4.3
Lifelike Vision	Portrait photo realism	People & lifestyle	⭐ 4.7
Portrait Perfect	Headshot perfection	Professional profile images	⭐ 4.8
Stock Photography	Corporate imagery	Realistic stock visuals	⭐ 4.5

Aspect Ratios & Resolution

Leonardo supports all major ratios:

1:1 (Square) — Best for portraits, products.
16:9 (Landscape) — Cinematic, YouTube thumbnails.
9:16 (Vertical) — Mobile content, Reels, Stories.
2:3 or 3:4 — Pinterest, posters, print, and editorial layouts.
4:5 or 4:3 — Instagram & Twitter/X
1.85:1 or 2.4:1 or 2:1 — Film > Cinema, Wide & Television

Resolution

480P, 720P, 1080P, HD and Ultra-HD

Pricing & Plans

Plan	Monthly	Yearly	Tokens
Free	$0	–	150 Fast Tokens daily for quick creations
Apprentice	$12	~~$12~~ $10/month	8,500 Fast Tokens Monthly
Artisan Unlimited	$30	~~$30~~ $24/month	25,000 Fast Tokens Monthly
Maestro Unlimited	$60	~~$60~~ $48/month	60,000 Fast Tokens Monthly

Leonardo AI Tutorial — Step-by-Step

1. Enter Prompt: Write descriptive, emotional prompts.

2. Choose Model: Pick Lucid Origin or any of the 20 models.

3. Adjust Settings:
– Aspect ratio
– Prompt enhance
– Lighting & style guides
– Image size
– Generation Mode
– Number of Images

4. Generate & Refine: Use ‘Image Guidance’ and ‘Negative Prompt’ for precision.

5. Enhance: Apply the “Detail” and “Lighting Boost” sliders.

6. Upscale or Remix: For HD prints or social visuals.

7. Download, Save or Share: Export to PNG or use Leonardo Canvas for further editing.

Why Leonardo’s Models Beat Other Generators

Model diversity: 20 specialized styles — unlike Midjourney’s single core model.
Speed: Faster than Stable Diffusion pipelines.
Style retention: Keeps subjects consistent between prompts.
Customization: Layered prompt control, unlike DALL·E’s simplicity.
Integrated design workflow: Built-in editor, background remover, lighting adjuster.

My Experience & Review

Over the past year, Leonardo AI has become my go-to image generator — not just for speed but for the sheer diversity of style output.

Whether I’m crafting hyper-realistic portraits, cinematic landscapes, anime art, or product mockups — there’s a model perfectly tuned for the job.

Lucid Origin remains my #1 recommendation for any creator who wants photographic excellence with artistic flair.

If you love stylized realism, experiment with Lucid Realism, Phoenix 1.0, or Flux Dev.
And if you want brand graphics or poster aesthetics — Ideogram 3.0 and Graphic Design models perform beautifully.

Limitations

Occasional over-saturation in Phoenix models.
Legacy models lack fine edge detail compared to Lucid series.

Conclusion — My Final Verdict

After testing all 20 models, generating thousands of images, and experimenting with every slider, I can confidently say:

Leonardo AI is the most complete image generation ecosystem of 2025.

It’s faster, more creative, and more consistent than any other generator.
The platform isn’t just about making images — it’s about giving creators an artistic partner that understands mood, emotion, and realism.

Top Model: Lucid Origin — unparalleled balance of realism + artistry.
Runner-Ups: Lucid Realism, Flux Dev, Phoenix 1.0.
Best Non-Leonardo: Nano Banana.
Non-Leonardo Runner-Up: Ideogram 3.0.

If you want cinematic art, magazine-quality realism, or professional digital compositions — Leonardo AI is the place to be in 2025.

Overall Rating: 4.9 / 5

My Recommendation:

“Master one model at a time — and Leonardo AI will reward you with results that look truly human-made.”

October 26, 2025

SoulAI Writes

Leonardo AI — Full Guide & Image Generation Models (2025)

Introduction