Black Forest Labs adds Ultra and Raw modes to FLUX1.1 [pro]

Black Forest Labs just rolled out two major upgrades to its flagship FLUX1.1 [pro] image model, targeting two of the biggest complaints in generative image tech: pixel limits and the plastic AI look.

Meet Ultra mode and Raw mode, both now accessible via the Black Forest Labs API.

4MP in 10 seconds flat, plus candid realism

The headline feature in Ultra mode is raw output size. It generates images at four times the resolution of standard FLUX1.1 [pro], topping out at 4 megapixels.

High-res generation usually crawls, but the team claims generation time holds steady at around 10 seconds per image, which benchmark tests place over 2.5 times faster than competing high-resolution models. Prompt adherence reportedly stays sharp, and the pricing sits at $0.06 per generated image.

Meanwhile, Raw mode tackles the aesthetic side. Instead of hyper-glossy, synthetic renders, flipping on Raw mode aims for the look and texture of candid photography.

According to Black Forest Labs, this mode cuts down on plastic skin tones, increases diversity across human subjects, and injects much more grit and realism into nature scenes.

Why it matters

For designers, marketers, and developers, this update solves two very real bottlenecks. Native 4MP output at 10 seconds and $0.06 per shot eliminates the cumbersome extra step of running separate upscalers for print or web banners, while keeping costs low.

More broadly, Raw mode highlights where generative visual models are heading. The race is no longer just about generating pretty, flawless pictures; it is about stripping away that telltale synthetic sheen so images look like real-world photography. The catch for now is that it remains locked behind an API, meaning casual creators will have to wait for front-end tools to build it in.