Google’s ‘Nano Banana’ AI Turns Photos into Collectible‑Style 3D Figurines
Key Points
- Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model is dubbed “Nano Banana.”
- The AI creates 1/7‑scale figurines with realistic packaging and a clear acrylic base.
- Users supply a detailed prompt that specifies scale, style, and environment.
- Outputs include a 3D‑modeling screen view and collectible‑style box artwork.
- The tool is integrated into Google AI Studio and generates images in under a minute.
- Early tests produced accurate facial features for both people and pets.
- Compared with earlier models, Nano Banana shows stronger prompt adherence.
- The service is free for personal use but not intended for mass‑production.
- Results resemble high‑end‑quality collectible toys ready for display.
Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model, nicknamed Nano Banana, lets users upload a photo and receive a realistic, miniature figurine rendering complete with packaging, a clear acrylic base and a 3D‑modeling screen backdrop. The tool is built into Google AI Studio and works with a detailed prompt that specifies scale, style, and presentation. Early adopters have used it to create figurines of themselves and pets, noting the model’s speed, prompt adherence, and surprisingly accurate facial details. The result looks like a high‑end collectible toy ready for mass‑production visuals.
Introducing Nano Banana
Google’s latest image model, Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, has been given the informal moniker “Nano Banana.” Integrated into Google AI Studio, the model enables users to transform ordinary photographs into highly detailed, collectible‑style 3D figurines. By uploading a full‑body image and supplying a specific prompt, the AI generates a miniature version of the subject placed on a transparent acrylic base, surrounded by realistic packaging and a computer screen that displays a 3D‑modeling view of the figure.
Prompt Structure and Results
The prompt that drives the most consistent outcomes asks for a “1/7 scale commercialized figurine” rendered in a realistic style, positioned on a desk with a clear base, no text on the base, and accompanied by a toy packaging box that mimics high‑quality collectible designs. The AI interprets the prompt to not only create the figurine but also to embed it within a believable environment, complete with a wire‑frame model on a computer monitor and illustrative artwork on the box.
User Experiments and Observations
Early users have tested the system with personal photos. One experiment involved a photo from a circus‑themed party; the resulting figurine showed the subject standing on a desk with a whip, posed as a ringmaster, and the packaging featured a stylized illustration of the same pose. Another test used a picture of a dog, producing a miniature that looked convincingly molded from plastic, complete with a packaging box that displayed multiple pose variations. Reviewers note that the model consistently captures facial features and body language, though occasional imperfections remain.
The process is fast, often delivering the final image in under a minute, and the output is free to generate within the AI Studio platform. Compared with prior attempts using other models such as GPT‑4o or Midjourney, Nano Banana demonstrates stronger adherence to prompt details, more reliable packaging and pose generation, and higher fidelity in facial rendering.
Implications and Limitations
While the generated figurines look ready for a collector’s shelf, the tool is currently intended for personal amusement rather than commercial production. The AI’s ability to produce a polished visual representation without fine‑tuning suggests a new avenue for hobbyists and social‑media creators to showcase personalized collectibles. However, the technology does not replace human artists for mass‑production design, and any commercial exploitation would require additional steps beyond the AI’s current capabilities.