Ideogram V3 vs Qwen Image 2512

This prompt tests multiple text elements at different scales: a primary business name, a tagline, and an establishment date. Vintage typography with hand-painted styling adds complexity—the model must balance legibility with aesthetic character.

In our testing, Ideogram consistently rendered all text elements with proper letterforms, appropriate spacing, and stylistically coherent typography. Qwen produced readable text in many cases but showed more variation—sometimes missing letters, occasionally producing illegible characters, or mixing font styles unexpectedly. For any project where text accuracy is non-negotiable, the difference is substantial enough to make Ideogram the practical choice.

Character portraits with pronounced features test a model's ability to render convincing human details—skin texture, age lines, natural imperfections, and the subtle qualities that make a face feel real rather than artificially smoothed.

Qwen demonstrated strength in this area, producing portraits with natural skin texture, convincing age details, and environmental lighting that felt photographic. Ideogram's portraits tended toward a slightly more polished, editorial aesthetic—still high-quality but with a subtle processed quality. For documentary or street photography styles where authenticity matters, Qwen often produced more convincing results.

Product packaging combines the need for accurate text rendering with commercial photography aesthetics. The label must be readable with properly-formed hierarchy, while the product itself should look appealing and professional.

This is where Ideogram's specialized capabilities shine. Text elements rendered consistently with appropriate hierarchy—brand name prominent, descriptors supporting. Qwen produced attractive product photography but text accuracy varied, sometimes requiring multiple generations to achieve usable results. For e-commerce, packaging mockups, or any commercial application requiring text, Ideogram's reliability justifies its higher cost.

When text is absent, the comparison shifts to pure image quality: atmosphere, lighting, depth, and the subtle details that create mood. Japanese forest scenes test handling of complex organic structures, atmospheric effects, and delicate light.

Both models produced compelling environmental imagery, but with different characteristics. Qwen's output often felt more grounded and photographic, with natural color gradients and realistic mist behavior. Ideogram's scenes tended toward more saturated, stylistically enhanced interpretations—beautiful but more obviously "enhanced." For nature photography purists, Qwen's more restrained approach may be preferable.

This menu board prompt represents a common commercial use case combining multiple text elements with decorative styling. Success requires readable text at various sizes, proper number rendering (prices), and appropriate hand-lettered aesthetics.

At standard resolution, Ideogram costs roughly 50% more per image. But if text accuracy matters, the practical cost difference narrows considerably. If Qwen requires 2-3 attempts to produce usable text while Ideogram succeeds on the first try, Ideogram becomes more cost-effective. For text-free imagery, Qwen's approximately one-third savings adds up across many generations.