# Seedream 5 Lite (`seedream_5_lite`)

> ByteDance Seedream 5 Lite. Text-to-image.

- Capability: Images (tool `image`) — Text to image
- Price: from $0.03 per run (1 credit = $0.01). Exact price for a request: POST https://api.varg.ai/v2/estimate
- Typical time: ~30 s
- JSON Schema: https://api.varg.ai/v2/tools/image?model=seedream_5_lite (public, no key)
- Try it: https://varg.ai/dashboard/tools/playground?model=seedream_5_lite

## Call it

REST: `POST https://api.varg.ai/v2/tools/image/call` with `Authorization: Bearer $VARG_API_KEY` (create a key at https://varg.ai/dashboard/api).
It answers `202` with a job right away. Poll `GET /v2/jobs/{id}` until `status` is `completed`, then read `output.outputs[0].url` — or pass `options.webhook_url` and get the finished job POSTed to you.

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.varg.ai/v2/tools/image/call \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VARG_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "model": "seedream_5_lite",
  "prompt": "a serene mountain landscape at golden hour, photorealistic",
  "aspect_ratio": "16:9"
}'
```

MCP: the varg server `https://mcp.varg.ai/mcp` (OAuth sign-in, no key) runs it with `call_tool`:

```json
{
  "tool": "image",
  "input": {
    "model": "seedream_5_lite",
    "prompt": "a serene mountain landscape at golden hour, photorealistic",
    "aspect_ratio": "16:9"
  },
  "wait": true
}
```

## Inputs

| field | type | required | default | allowed | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `model` | string | yes | — | `seedream_5_lite` or a route key below | Which model runs the job. |
| `prompt` | string | no | — | — | — |
| `files` | array of { url } | no | — | — | — |
| `aspect_ratio` | string | no | — | e.g. 16:9 \| 9:16 \| 1:1 \| 4:3 \| 3:4 \| 21:9 \| auto | — |

Media inputs are URLs. Upload a local file first with `POST /v2/files` and pass the returned URL.

## Provider options

Optional, per provider, under `provider_options.<provider>`. Only the options of the provider that runs the job apply — pin a route to choose it.

### provider_options.piapi

| field | type | required | default | allowed | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `input.size` | string | no | — | 2K \| 3K | — |
| `input.prompt` | string | no | — | — | — |
| `input.image_urls` | array of URL strings | no | — | — | — |
| `input.aspect_ratio` | string | no | — | 21:9 \| 16:9 \| 4:3 \| 1:1 \| 3:4 \| 9:16 | — |
| `input.output_format` | string | no | — | jpeg \| png | — |
| `task_type` | string | no | — | seedream-5-lite \| seedream-5-lite-less-restriction | — |

## Routes

`"model": "seedream_5_lite"` picks a route automatically (priority order, then the inputs you send). To pin one, pass its key as `model`.

| model key | provider | modality | price from | typical time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `piapi:seedream-5-lite` | piapi | text-to-image | $0.03 | ~30 s |
| `piapi:seedream-5-lite-less-restriction` | piapi | text-to-image | $0.04 | ~30 s |

## Example output

- image/jpeg: https://s3.varg.ai/files/ee388aea-c8c3-41de-9345-24881cc87757/file_c4bf562fd073.jpg

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Catalog version 2026-11-11T12:59:09.901887+00:00. All models: https://varg.ai/models/llms.txt