Nano Banana 2 Lite and Gemini Omni Flash: How to Try Google’s New Image-to-Video Workflow

Direct answer: Google has released Nano Banana 2 Lite for fast, lower-cost image generation and made Gemini Omni Flash available to developers for video generation and conversational editing. The practical workflow is simple: generate a fast reference image with Nano Banana 2 Lite, then pass it into Gemini Omni Flash to animate or edit it. Google announced both updates on June 30, 2026.

Quick start: open Google AI Studio, choose gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image for fast image generation, create a clean reference image, then use gemini-omni-flash-preview for a short image-to-video or conversational video edit.

What changed?

According to Google DeepMind’s announcement, Nano Banana 2 Lite and Gemini Omni Flash are designed to make generative media faster to prototype and easier to scale. Nano Banana 2 Lite is Google’s fastest, most cost-efficient Gemini Image model in the Nano Banana family. Gemini Omni Flash brings video generation and conversational video editing to developers through Google AI Studio, the Gemini API and the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform.

Fast facts for creators, marketers and developers

• Nano Banana 2 Lite model name: gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image.
• Best use case: rapid ideation, high-volume image drafts, ad variations, product concept visuals and fast social creative drafts.
• Google’s stated latency: text-to-image outputs in about 4 seconds.
• Google’s stated cost: $0.034 per 1K-resolution image.
• Upgrade note: Google describes Nano Banana 2 Lite as the recommended replacement for developers using the first Nano Banana model, gemini-2.5-flash-image.
• Gemini Omni Flash model name: gemini-omni-flash-preview.
• Best use case: short video generation, conversational video edits, multimodal reference-based scenes and image-to-video workflows.
• Google’s stated Omni Flash price: $0.10 per second of video output.
• Important limitation: Omni Flash is in public preview and currently offers 10-second video generations; Google also lists limitations around audio references, scene extension, some video references and character consistency in certain scene changes.

The useful workflow: image first, video second

If you want a practical way to use the release today, do not start with a complex video prompt. Start with a clean reference image, then animate it.

1. Draft the core visual in Nano Banana 2 Lite. Use it for fast variations: product scene, background, character, ad concept, infographic or thumbnail.
2. Choose the winning image. Pick the version with the clearest composition, visible subject and least text distortion.
3. Pass the image into Gemini Omni Flash. Ask for a short motion concept, camera movement, product reveal or scene edit.
4. Keep the edit short. Because Google says Omni Flash currently offers 10-second video generations, write prompts for one scene, not a full campaign film.
5. Review before publishing. Check brand accuracy, product accuracy, readable text, legal claims, and whether the output is clearly AI-generated where disclosure is needed.

Copy-paste prompt templates

1. Product ad image draft

Create a clean 1:1 product ad concept for [product].
Style: premium ecommerce, soft studio lighting, simple background.
Include space at the top for a headline, but do not add text.
Show the product clearly, with realistic shadows and no extra logos.

2. Social media carousel visual

Generate a 4:5 vertical social media visual about [topic].
Use a modern editorial style, bold color blocks and one central object.
No text in the image. Leave negative space for captions.
Make it suitable for LinkedIn and Instagram.

3. Image-to-video animation prompt

Use the uploaded image as the exact visual reference.
Create a 10-second product reveal video.
Camera: slow push-in, subtle parallax, premium lighting.
Motion: gentle background movement only; keep the product shape consistent.
Do not add new text, logos or claims.

When should you use Nano Banana 2 Lite instead of Nano Banana 2 or Pro?

Use Nano Banana 2 Lite when speed and volume matter more than perfect final polish. Use Nano Banana 2 when you need a balance between quality, latency and cost. Use Nano Banana Pro for complex professional work where detailed reasoning, accuracy and control matter more than speed. That tiering matches Google’s own description of the Nano Banana family.

What this means for small businesses and agencies

For marketing teams, the biggest opportunity is not “AI art.” It is faster creative testing. A team can create multiple ad angles, product-scene variations, thumbnail concepts and short video drafts before sending the strongest options into a human review and production workflow. For agencies such as Media87, the sensible use case is rapid prototyping and campaign planning, not publishing unchecked AI outputs as final brand assets.

Limitations to remember

• Gemini Omni Flash is a preview model, so behavior may change.
• Google says Omni currently offers 10-second video generations.
• Google says uploading audio references and scene extension are not yet supported in the Gemini API for this model.
• Google says video references up to 3 seconds are accepted by the API schema but are not correctly processed by the model at this time.
• Google says character consistency can have limitations when changing scenes or panning.
• Always fact-check text, product details and claims before using generated images or videos in ads.

Sources

• Google Blog: Start building with Nano Banana 2 Lite and Gemini Omni Flash
• TechCrunch coverage of Nano Banana 2 Lite

FAQ

Is Nano Banana 2 Lite available now?

Google says Nano Banana 2 Lite is available in Google AI Studio, the Gemini API and Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, and is rolling out in consumer surfaces including AI Mode in Search and the Gemini app.

Is Gemini Omni Flash available to developers?

Yes. Google says Gemini Omni Flash is available in public preview through Google AI Studio and the Gemini API.

Can I use this for ads?

You can use it for creative prototyping and draft assets, but review outputs carefully before using them in live ads. Check brand rules, product accuracy, claims, disclosures, copyright risk and platform ad policies.

No official image was used in this post. Facts and pricing figures above are based on Google’s announcement available at publication time.