Mana Costs Reference
Complete reference for Mana costs across all VariantLab operations.
Image Generation
Costs vary by model, image size, and quality level. The exact cost is always shown on the Generate button before you start. Faster models and smaller sizes cost less; higher-quality models and larger outputs cost more.
| Operation | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Image generation | Varies by model | Check estimate badge before generating |
| Variation generation | Varies by model | Uses the variation model's pricing |
Trait Detection
| Trait Count | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1-3 traits | 1 Mana |
| 4-6 traits | 2 Mana |
| 7-10 traits | 3 Mana |
Single trait regeneration costs 1 Mana.
Combinations
| Count | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1-100 | 1 Mana |
| 101-200 | 2 Mana |
| 201-300 | 3 Mana |
| 1,000 | 10 Mana |
Formula: ceil(count / 100) Mana, minimum 1 Mana
Export
| Count | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1-100 | 1 Mana |
| 101-200 | 2 Mana |
| 201-300 | 3 Mana |
| 1,000 | 10 Mana |
Formula: ceil(count / 100) Mana, minimum 1 Mana
Free Operations
These operations cost no Mana:
| Operation | Notes |
|---|---|
| Create/delete projects | Project management |
| Upload images | Bring your own images |
| Manual mask editing | Brush and eraser tools |
| Create empty mask slots | Manual drawing |
| Reorder layers | Layer order adjustment |
| Change settings | Configuration changes |
| View/preview images | Browsing content |
| Download exports | After export is created |
| Share projects | Inviting collaborators |
| Browse template gallery | Discovering templates |
| Fork templates | Copying configuration |
| Copy template images | Images copied on fork |
Cost Estimation Examples
Small Project (Avatar Collection)
A small project with a few base images, a handful of traits, and a moderate number of combinations:
- Base images and variations: a few Mana each depending on model
- Trait detection: 1 Mana for up to 3 traits
- Combinations and export: 1 Mana each for up to 100 images
Large Project (NFT Collection)
A larger project using a premium model with many traits and thousands of combinations:
- Base images and variations: more Mana per image with premium models
- Trait detection: 2-3 Mana for more traits
- Combinations and export: scales at 1 Mana per 100 images
The Generate button always shows the exact estimated cost before you commit. Use a faster model for iteration and switch to a premium model for final output.
Cost-Saving Tips
- Use cheaper models for iteration - Only switch to premium models for final images
- Batch detection - "Detect All" is more efficient than one-by-one
- Limit combinations - Don't generate more than you'll use
- Favorite selectively - Only include your best variations
- Check estimates - Review cost before clicking generate