Google’s latest AI image tool comes with a name you’ll never forget: Nano Banana. But behind the playful codename is a surprisingly capable image generation and editing model — Gemini 2.5 Flash Image — built to deliver lightning-fast, semantically aware visuals.
Nano Banana combines precision editing with creative transformation, making it possible to:
- Remove or add objects with realistic detail.
- Reimagine a photo in completely new artistic styles (yes, even Studio Ghibli-inspired).
- Blend multiple images together seamlessly.
- Apply branding elements like logos or packaging across formats.
- Generate isometric, 3D, or even video-ready visuals.
At Trew Knowledge, we work with creative teams, enterprise marketers, and developers who require more than just visually appealing content. We need tools that respect brand context, enable fast iteration, and play well with modern workflows. So we ran Nano Banana through a strategic test.
Here’s how it performed and how we see its role in real-world production.
How We Tested Nano Banana
We evaluated Nano Banana using the Gemini app and AI Studio, running prompts through four core use cases:
- Image generation for marketing concepts
- Photo editing with brand-related prompts
- Visual consistency across outputs
- Multi-image fusion capabilities
- Photorealistic swag from uploaded references
Each test includes instructions you can replicate if you’d like to try it too.
1. Visual Ideation: Speed-to-Concept for Campaigns
AI tools like Nano Banana are great for early-stage ideation, where speed matters more than polish. We asked it to generate visuals that could fit into concept decks, moodboards, or internal reviews for brand identity projects.
Prompt: “Flat lay of modern wellness products on a neutral background, soft pastel tones, top-down perspective.”
Why this test?
We often need placeholder visuals for campaign sprints or pitch decks. Tools like this could drastically reduce turnaround.
Result: Nano Banana nailed the composition, tone, and product style. No weird artifacts. A little over-smooth in places, but workable for rapid prototyping.
2. Brand-Style Portrait Editing
Next, we tested Nano Banana’s photo editing capabilities using natural language instructions. We uploaded a standard profile photo and gave the tool a multi-step prompt:
Instruction + Prompt: Upload a neutral, front-facing headshot. Then run:
“Replace outfit with a zip-up branded hoodie in dark grey. Add a coworking background with standing desks, monitors, and muted tones. Keep the lighting soft and neutral to simulate a real office environment.”
Why this test?
Quick edits for profile images, internal team pages, or themed campaign visuals without a photo shoot.
Result: Surprisingly smooth edits. The hoodie matched the style, the background swap was seamless, and lighting adjustments kept skin tones realistic.
Bonus test: We added a follow-up:
“Make this look like a candid outdoor shot at a company retreat.”
The edit stacked nicely. No weird hand artifacts, and facial features remained intact.
3. Identity Consistency Across Prompts
Visual identity is all about the recognizable elements that make a brand feel cohesive: logos, packaging, signage, typography. We wanted to see whether Nano Banana could preserve the visual essence of a brand asset across different environments and styles.
We used a branded object — a custom neon sign featuring our logo — and prompted Nano Banana to reimagine it in three distinct but realistic scenes.
Prompt Series:
1. “Place the neon sign reading ‘TK’ in a creative agency lobby, mounted on a concrete wall, with soft indoor lighting.”
2. “Same neon sign on stage at a tech event, dark background, spotlight hitting the sign, ambient lighting.”
3. “Same neon sign photographed in a casual office kitchen, with coffee cups and stools nearby. Natural daylight.”
Why this test?
For clients exploring mascots, avatars, or character-based storytelling, retaining identity is key.
Results: Nano Banana delivered consistently strong results across all three scenarios. The TK neon sign maintained its signature shape, glow, and scale, whether it appeared in a sleek agency lounge, a bright office kitchen, or center-stage under dramatic lighting.
4. Multi-Image Fusion for Campaign Storytelling
We tested Nano Banana’s multi-image fusion capabilities using assets from a recent brand photoshoot. The goal: combine related photos into a single, cohesive visual that reflects campaign tone and context without losing detail, balance, or clarity.
Input Assets: We uploaded two images from the same campaign shoot:
- A team portrait shot in the office
- A team member close-up
Prompt: “Remove the blond-haired person from the team photo, then replace them with the person from this solo shot.”
Why this test?
Anyone who’s managed team headshots, event photos, or client brand visuals knows the pain of missing someone in the “perfect shot.” If AI can handle this edit, it’s a powerful workflow improvement, especially for time-sensitive campaign launches.
Result: Nano Banana did a solid job swapping the person in. The lighting and scale look right, and it blends in pretty naturally. The only catch is the placement feels a bit off, like they’re just slightly out of position. With a small tweak, it’d be hard to tell it was edited at all. Still, pretty impressive for a quick update.
5. From Mockup to Reality: Photorealistic Swag from Uploaded References
We tested Nano Banana’s ability to transform a basic hoodie mockup into a photorealistic product photo, using its image-to-image capabilities.
Input Assets:
- We used a standard flat mockup of our branded black hoodie and sweatpants set
- Brand mark for reference
Prompt: “Make this product look like a real lifestyle photo. Keep the hoodie and sweatpants design the same, including the logo placement. Add realistic fabric texture, natural folds, and soft shadowing. Place on a neutral background, like a light wood table or a simple studio setting. Lighting should feel natural and diffused.”
We also tested a variation with added lifestyle cues: “Now, place the same hoodie on a co-working chair with a laptop nearby. Keep it folded neatly and maintain logo visibility. Adjust lighting to match the office interior.”
Why this test?
We often create early-stage mockups for swag. This test evaluates whether Nano Banana can act as a virtual stylist and photographer, upgrading flat assets into portfolio- or storefront-ready imagery.
Result: Nano Banana transformed the mockup into a believable, tactile photo, keeping the logo intact while adding lighting depth, textile realism, and environmental cues.
6. Next, we pushed further
We asked Nano Banana to generate a full lifestyle shoot — models mid-stride, warm city backdrops, golden-hour energy — all based on the same apparel. The results felt surprisingly editorial.
Prompt Series:
1. Model mid-stride in a branded black hoodie and joggers, walking down a city sidewalk. Warm light reflecting off brick walls. One hand adjusting the hoodie zipper, the other holding a gym bag. Mood: energized, active, street-smart. Background movement subtly blurred to imply motion.
2. A solo shot of an Asian woman on a rooftop at golden hour, wearing a hoodie and shorts. She’s standing near a low ledge, backlit by the city skyline. Warm sunlight creates rim lighting around her hair and clothes, casting long shadows across the rooftop. Her pose is active but relaxed. One hand in her pocket, the other adjusting her hoodie collar. The vibe is bold and editorial, perfect for an online shop or campaign lookbook.
Then we animated those scenes using Veo 2, turning our AI-generated photoshoot into a short commercial.
Final Thoughts
Nano Banana might sound like a joke, but it’s one of the most capable image models we’ve tested. For creative teams and digital agencies, it offers new ways to explore ideas, test visuals, and accelerate design conversations.
What Impressed Us
- Prompt stacking worked intuitively. Edits were built on top of one another without losing context.
- Character consistency was strong, even across styles.
- Speed: Outputs took 8–10 seconds on most tests.
- Accessibility: Available in the Gemini app (even on free tier), AI Studio, and API endpoints for enterprise use.
Where It Fell Short
- Photo-edit realism can sometimes feel too perfect, closer to a render than a photograph.
We’ll continue experimenting with where it fits alongside our AI experiments, editorial tools, and brand-driven design systems.
Curious how AI fits into your digital strategy? Let’s talk about how we’re using AI tools to power innovation, not just imagination.
