Seedream 5.0 Lite API with APIDot

Build with the Seedream 5.0 Lite API using APIDot: cURL, Node.js, request variants, pricing, and production notes in one GitHub repo.

Try on APIDot | Get API Key | API Docs | Pricing | Main Examples

Why this repo exists

ByteDance Seed's cost-efficient Seedream 5.0 Lite image model for reasoning-aware text-to-image generation, image editing, multi-reference workflows, and 2K or 3K output.

This repository turns that APIDot workflow into runnable server-side examples: a verified cURL request, a native Node.js example, request variants, pricing context, and production integration guardrails.

Overview

Seedream 5.0 Lite is available on APIDot as seedream-5.0-lite for prompt-only image generation and seedream-5.0-lite-edit for reference-guided editing. Every request requires input.prompt. Optional shared controls are input.size and input.n; edit mode also requires input.image_urls. Submit requests asynchronously, store task_id, then poll the status endpoint or receive terminal delivery through callback_url.

Capabilities

• Use seedream-5.0-lite for prompt-only generation and do not send input.image_urls with this model id.
• Use seedream-5.0-lite-edit when the request depends on source or reference images, and provide 1 to 10 input.image_urls entries.
• Keep input.image_urls.length + input.n at 15 or fewer for edit requests.
• Use ratio presets for common social and product formats, 2K or 3K for preset resolution, and custom WIDTHxHEIGHT or { width, height } only when exact dimensions are needed.
• Do not send seed; the current Seedream 5.0 Lite API rejects it.

Common use cases

• Product and marketing asset generation
• Backend media workflow prototypes
• Creative testing and prompt iteration
• Production integrations that need stable API examples

Pricing on APIDot

Catalog price: Starting at 5 credits per generation | 2K/3K text-to-image or image editing: 5 credits ($0.025).

Tier	Model	Resolution	Credits	APIDot listed price	fal.ai listed price
text-to-image	2K/3K	seedream-5.0-lite	2K/3K	5	$0.025
image editing	2K/3K	seedream-5.0-lite-edit	2K/3K	5	$0.025

This README uses pricing data currently published in the APIDot model catalog. Check the APIDot model page before high-volume production runs.

Quick start

cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env and set APIDOT_API_KEY
cd node
npm start

The same request shape is available as a copy-paste cURL example in curl/generate.md.

API workflow

flowchart LR
    A[Submit generation request] --> B[Receive data.task_id]
    B --> C{Delivery mode}
    C -->|Polling| D[Check task status]
    C -->|Webhook| E[Receive callback_url event]
    D --> F[Read result URL from finished task]
    E --> F

Loading

Use polling for local tests and webhook delivery for production queues. Store data.task_id before the first status check so retries, callbacks, and result URLs can be reconciled safely.

Minimal API request

Submit to APIDot:

POST https://api.apidot.ai/api/generate/submit
Authorization: Bearer <APIDOT_API_KEY>
Content-Type: application/json

Primary payload:

{
  "model": "seedream-5.0-lite",
  "input": {
    "prompt": "A clean ecommerce hero image of a premium wireless speaker on a brushed metal desk, precise typography on a small label reading APIDot, realistic reflections, soft studio lighting, commercial product photography.",
    "size": "16:9",
    "n": 1
  }
}

Generate or edit images with Seedream 5.0 Lite through APIDot's unified async submit endpoint.

Model IDs and request variants

seedream-5.0-lite

{
  "model": "seedream-5.0-lite",
  "callback_url": "https://your-domain.com/callback",
  "input": {
    "prompt": "A clean ecommerce hero image of a premium wireless speaker on a brushed metal desk, precise typography on a small label reading APIDot, realistic reflections, soft studio lighting, commercial product photography.",
    "size": "16:9",
    "n": 1
  }
}

seedream-5.0-lite-edit

{
  "model": "seedream-5.0-lite-edit",
  "callback_url": "https://your-domain.com/callback",
  "input": {
    "prompt": "Keep the source product identity. Replace the background with a clean spring campaign setup, preserve realistic shadows, and make the final image suitable for an ecommerce hero asset.",
    "image_urls": [
      "https://your-domain.com/source-image.png"
    ],
    "size": "2K",
    "n": 1
  }
}

custom size object

{
  "model": "seedream-5.0-lite",
  "callback_url": "https://your-domain.com/callback",
  "input": {
    "prompt": "A structured product infographic with readable labels, clean iconography, and balanced spacing.",
    "size": {
      "width": 2304,
      "height": 1728
    },
    "n": 1
  }
}

Request parameters

Field	Type	Required	Description
model	string	yes	Target model id. Use seedream-5.0-lite for prompt-only generation or seedream-5.0-lite-edit for reference-guided editing.
callback_url	string	no	Optional webhook URL for terminal task updates.
input	object	yes	Container for Seedream 5.0 Lite parameters.
input.prompt	string	yes	Generation or editing instruction. Empty prompts are rejected.
input.size	string	object	no
input.n	integer	no	Number of output images. Supported range: 1 to 15.
input.image_urls	string[]	no	Reference image URLs. Required for seedream-5.0-lite-edit, unsupported for seedream-5.0-lite; maximum 10 URLs. For edit requests, image_urls.length + n must not exceed 15.

Practical integration notes

• Keep APIDot API keys in server-side environment variables.
• Persist selected model, request payload, user ID, and response metadata together.
• Validate source media URLs before submitting requests that depend on source files.
• Avoid logging API keys, private prompts, private media URLs, or callback URLs.
• Store task_id immediately and use polling or callback_url for durable async delivery.

Response and errors

• code: HTTP-style status code. Successful calls return 200.
• data.task_id: Async task identifier returned immediately after submission.
• data.status: Initial task status, typically not_started.

Common error classes:

• 400 invalid_request: Missing fields or unsupported parameter combinations.
• 401 authentication_error: Missing, expired, or invalid Bearer API key.
• 402 insufficient_credits: The current prepaid balance cannot cover the job.
• 429 rate_limited: Request rate is temporarily above the current allowed limit.

Example response

{
  "code": 200,
  "data": {
    "task_id": "task-unified-example",
    "status": "finished",
    "output": {
      "files": [
        {
          "file_url": "https://example.com/generated-image.png",
          "file_type": "image"
        }
      ]
    },
    "error_message": null
  }
}

Production notes

• Keep APIDot API keys in server-side environment variables.
• Persist selected model, request payload, user ID, and response metadata together.
• Validate source media URLs before submitting requests that depend on source files.
• Avoid logging API keys, private prompts, private media URLs, or callback URLs.
• Retry transient network failures with backoff, but do not retry unchanged invalid payloads.

FAQ

Which model id should I send?

Use seedream-5.0-lite for prompt-only generation and seedream-5.0-lite-edit for reference-guided editing.

Can seedream-5.0-lite accept image_urls?

No. Send input.image_urls only with seedream-5.0-lite-edit; the edit variant requires at least one reference image.

Which size values are supported?

input.size supports 2K, 3K, ratio presets, custom WIDTHxHEIGHT, and custom objects such as { "width": 2304, "height": 1728 }.

Related links

• Website: https://apidot.ai
• Docs: https://apidot.ai/docs
• Seedream 5.0 Lite docs: https://apidot.ai/docs/seedream-5-0-lite
• Seedream 5.0 Lite model page: https://apidot.ai/models/seedream-5-0-lite
• GitHub repo: https://github.com/APIDotAI/seedream-5-0-lite-api
• Main examples: https://github.com/APIDotAI/apidot-examples