OpenRouter lands Recraft V4 image model

Hot take: this is less about raw image-model novelty and more about giving designers a model that behaves like it was trained for taste, not just prompt obedience.

• –V4’s differentiator is visual coherence: it is aimed at branding, conceptual work, and iterative creative exploration where generic AI-art output is a liability.
• –The split between speed and fidelity is practical for design workflows: quick iteration first, then higher-detail output when the composition is locked.
• –OpenRouter distribution makes adoption easier for builders who want one API surface across providers instead of integrating Recraft separately.
• –The main question is whether design taste stays consistent across edge cases and provider routing, not whether the sample images look good in marketing.