Use Z-Image Turbo from Claude Code

Z-Image Turbo is AetherWave's speed-optimized image generation model. 3 credits per image, sub-5-second generation. The right pick for rapid iteration, A/B test prompts, or any workflow where wall-clock latency matters more than peak quality.

If you use Claude Code and you want Z-Image Turbo available as a native tool that the agent can call directly, the AetherWave MCP server wires it up in one command. No SDK to learn, no separate API key per provider, no polling loop to write.

Install in 30 seconds

Run this from your terminal:

Get your API key at your Profile page under the Developer tab. New accounts start with free credits to try it without spending anything.

Quick facts

How to use it

Once the MCP is installed, you can ask Claude Code naturally. It'll pick Z-Image Turbo from the model-selection rubric in the tool description when your prompt matches its strengths (fastest single-output image generation).

Example interaction:

Claude Code calls aetherwave_generate_image with model: "z-image-turbo" and returns the finished asset URL. The result auto-saves to your AetherWave gallery (Cloudflare R2 hosted, no URL expiration).

Sample prompts that work well

When to pick Z-Image Turbo

Z-Image Turbo shines for:

• Rapid prompt iteration and exploration
• Sub-5-second generation requirements
• Cheapest single-output option (3 cr)
• First-draft work before scaling to premium model
• Interactive agent demos where speed matters

How it compares

vs qwen-image-t2i at 2 cr square: Z-Image Turbo at 3 cr is slightly pricier but faster. Pick Z-Image Turbo for speed-first workflows; Qwen for the absolute cheapest tier.

Run aetherwave_list_image_models from Claude Code to see the full live catalog with pricing.

Cost

Flat 3 credits per image. Single output. The fastest image generation model on AetherWave, optimized for speed over peak fidelity.

Credits come from your AetherWave account. Plans:

• Free: Starter credits on signup plus 80 cr from one-time community quests
• Studio: $9.99/mo, 1,700 credits monthly, cancel anytime
• One-time bundles: from $4.99 (500 cr) up to $79.99 (9,000 cr). Bundle credits never expire.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install AetherWave MCP in Claude Code?

One command (shown above). Then restart Claude Code. The agent will have Z-Image Turbo available as part of the aetherwave_generate_image tool with 1 output(s) per call.

How do I use Z-Image Turbo from Claude Code?

Just describe what you want. The agent picks Z-Image Turbo when your prompt matches its strengths (fastest single-output image generation). You can also explicitly request it by passing model: "z-image-turbo" in the tool call.

What does Z-Image Turbo cost per generation?

Flat 3 credits per image. Single output. The fastest image generation model on AetherWave, optimized for speed over peak fidelity. Credits come from your AetherWave account (Studio sub from $9.99/mo or one-time bundles from $4.99/500 cr).