Seedream Image

Generate, edit, stream, or decompose images with Seedream 5.0 via AceDataCloud. Use for text-to-image, reference-image editing, related image sets, transparent-background edits, or editable layer extraction.

Use POST https://api.acedata.cloud/seedream/images. Authenticate with Authorization: Bearer $ACEDATACLOUD_API_TOKEN and JSON request bodies.

First-time setup

1. Install the official Skill with clawhub install @acedatacloud/seedream. Check that the ClawHub publisher is @acedatacloud.
2. Sign in at AceDataCloud → Applications, open General application, and check Seedream access, balance, and current pricing. Copy its API key, or select Manage Keys → Create for a separate key. Copy the key value without Bearer ; a platform-... management token is not a service API key.
3. If you enable Allowed APIs restrictions, include /seedream/images and /seedream/tasks. Advanced workflows below may call additional routes.
4. On the OpenClaw Gateway host, put ACEDATACLOUD_API_TOKEN=your_api_key_here in ~/.openclaw/.env, then restart the Gateway and start a new session. For a direct terminal test, run export ACEDATACLOUD_API_TOKEN="your_api_key_here" in that shell. Never put the key in a prompt or commit an .env file.
5. Follow the Generate or edit example below. If this workflow returns a task ID, query that same task until it finishes; do not submit the same billable request again just to check progress.

Illustrated key setup, first run, and troubleshooting · Token details

Pick the model from the requested capability

Capability	Seedream 5.0 Pro	Seedream 5.0 Lite
Model ID	doubao-seedream-5-0-pro-260628	doubao-seedream-5-0-lite-260128
Generate/edit one image	Yes	Yes
Reference images	Up to 10	Up to 14
Related image set	No	Yes; input + output ≤ 15
Streaming / web search	No	Yes
Layer decomposition / transparent background	Yes	No
Prompt optimization	standard, fast	standard
Preset sizes	1K, 1.5K, 2K	2K, 3K, 4K

Seedream 4.5 and 4.0 remain available for compatibility. Do not send a parameter to a model that does not support it.

Generate or edit

bash

curl https://api.acedata.cloud/seedream/images \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ACEDATACLOUD_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "doubao-seedream-5-0-lite-260128",
    "prompt": "a four-panel storyboard of a courier crossing a rainy neon city",
    "size": "2K",
    "sequential_image_generation": "auto",
    "sequential_image_generation_options": {"max_images": 4},
    "watermark": false
  }'

For editing, add image as one URL/Base64 string or an array. response_format is url or b64_json; 5.0 Pro/Lite also support output_format as jpeg or png. Explicit dimensions use WIDTHxHEIGHT and must satisfy the selected model's pixel and aspect-ratio limits.

Use Lite web search only when current information matters:

json

{"tools": [{"type": "web_search"}]}

Transparent-background Pro edit

Use one transparent PNG input and PNG output:

json

{
  "model": "doubao-seedream-5-0-pro-260628",
  "prompt": "replace the parrot with a peacock",
  "image": "https://example.com/layer.png",
  "background": "transparent",
  "output_format": "png",
  "size": "1.5K"
}

Do not combine background with layer decomposition. transparent with JPEG is invalid.

Decompose an image into editable layers

layer_decomposition is Pro-only and requires exactly one PNG/JPEG. Omit prompt for automatic decomposition, describe desired elements in natural language, or use normalized <bbox> coordinates.

bash

curl https://api.acedata.cloud/seedream/images \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ACEDATACLOUD_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "doubao-seedream-5-0-pro-260628",
    "image": "https://example.com/poster.png",
    "layer_decomposition": true,
    "size": "auto",
    "watermark": false
  }'

The response contains one base image (z_index: 0) and up to 16 transparent PNG layers. Each layer can include name, description, and bounding_box.absolute/normalized. To recompose, scale each layer to its bounding-box width and height, place it at left/top, and draw in ascending z_index. Any layer failure fails the whole decomposition.

Async tasks

Generation can take time. Prefer "async": true; the response returns task_id. Poll using:

json

POST /seedream/tasks
{"action": "retrieve", "id": "<task_id>"}

Follow async task polling. Use callback_url only when a real public webhook exists. Do not use a health endpoint as a fake callback.

Streaming

Lite/4.x support streaming. Send "stream": true with Accept: application/x-ndjson; read one normalized JSON event per line until image_generation.completed. Do not combine streaming with async or callback_url.

• image_generation.partial_succeeded: one generated image
• image_generation.partial_failed: one failed item; other Lite images may still succeed
• image_generation.completed: final usage and the only billing completion

Agent tools

• MCP: pip install mcp-seedream-pro; use seedream_generate_image, seedream_edit_image, seedream_decompose_image, then poll with seedream_get_task.
• CLI: pip install seedream-cli; use seedream generate, seedream edit, seedream decompose, or seedream generate --stream --json.
• Hosted MCP: https://seedream.mcp.acedata.cloud/mcp.

MCP image tools are asynchronous, so use REST or CLI for real-time streaming.

Result and billing safeguards

• URL results expire; persist files promptly.
• Lite data[] may mix successful images and per-item error objects. Count only successful images.
• Pro layer items are billed individually by actual output size; the base and every successful layer count separately.
• Preserve z_index, bounding boxes, item errors, tools, and usage; do not flatten the response to a URL list.
• Never estimate final billed cost from requested size alone. Use the returned cost/usage and the live pricing page: https://platform.acedata.cloud/services/seedream?tab=pricing.