I don't think "imagination" should be remotely like seeing.
it's completely different than dreaming or seeing with your real eyes, I would qualify it as a "different sense" if you will.
replyfor me, it's much less detailed unless I focus my imagination on the less detailed part.
The distinction between imagination and seeing is regularly blurred, most commonly in dreams, but also on psychedelics or quasi-psychedelics (e.g. cannabis), and also in altered spiritual states (meditative practices).
replyThe two experiences are different, most of the time, yes, but only "completely 100% different" IMO to aphantasics, or those who are high in aphantasia. I.e. hyperphantasia is a thing, and a normal thing for most people in altered states (and schizophrenia might be seen as involving an extreme form of hyperphantasia intruding where it shouldn't, in some cases).