Run SDXL Locally With ComfyUI (2024 Stable Diffusion Guide)

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide on setting up and using Stable Diffusion with Comfy UI, an interface that offers a visual workflow and is favored for its ease of use and customization. The video explains the benefits of using Stable Diffusion, such as being free, open-source, uncensored, and customizable. It covers the installation process, which includes downloading Comfy UI from GitHub, unzipping the files, and running the interface. The guide also details how to download and install Stable Diffusion XL, the latest and most powerful model at the time of recording. Additionally, it demonstrates how to use Comfy UI Manager to install custom nodes like ControlNet for advanced image generation capabilities. The tutorial concludes with instructions on using custom models and workflows shared by the community on CIVIT AI, showcasing the flexibility and power of Stable Diffusion with Comfy UI.

Takeaways

• 🚀 **Stable Diffusion Evolution**: The tutorial discusses the advancements in AI and the evolution of Stable Diffusion over the past 10 months, highlighting the emergence of better tools and processes.
• 🛠️ **Comfy UI Introduction**: Comfy UI is presented as a user-friendly interface for Stable Diffusion, offering a visual workflow and more control over the image generation process.
• 🆓 **Free and Open Source**: One of the main reasons to use Stable Diffusion is that it's free and open source, allowing for uncensored image generation and privacy since it can be run locally.
• 🎨 **Customizability**: Stable Diffusion is noted for its high level of customization, with tools like ControlNet to achieve specific poses and other add-ons to extend its capabilities.
• 💻 **Installation Process**: The script provides a step-by-step guide for installing Comfy UI, emphasizing its ease of setup and the inclusion of necessary tools within the installation.
• 🚀 **Comfy UI's Visual Workflow**: Users can save and reload entire workflows in Comfy UI, allowing for easy replication and tweaking of successful image generation parameters.
• 🤖 **Hardware Recommendations**: For optimal performance, using a PC with Windows or Linux and an Nvidia GPU is suggested, though CPU processing is possible but slower.
• 📚 **Model Installation**: The tutorial explains how to install Stable Diffusion XL, including downloading the base model, refiner, and VAE files, and placing them in the correct directories.
• 🔄 **Custom Nodes and Workflows**: Comfy UI allows for the installation of custom nodes and the use of pre-built workflows created by others, enhancing the functionality and versatility of the tool.
• 🌐 **Community Resources**: The script mentions the availability of thousands of custom-trained models on Civit AI and the ability to use these within Comfy UI for even more creative possibilities.
• ⚙️ **Advanced Features**: The tutorial touches on advanced features like ControlNet for pose detection and the use of custom models, demonstrating the depth of control users have over image generation.

Q & A

What is the main difference between using Comfy UI and the previous tool, automatic 1111, for running stable diffusion?

Comfy UI provides a visual workflow interface that allows users to see the steps in the process more clearly and feel more in control over each step, whereas automatic 1111, while functional, may not offer the same level of intuitive control and visual guidance.

Why might someone choose to use stable diffusion over other AI art tools?

People often choose stable diffusion because it is free, open source, uncensored, allows for local installation without privacy concerns, and is highly customizable with various add-ons and extensions available.

What are the system requirements for using Comfy UI effectively?

For optimal performance, a PC with Windows or Linux installed and an Nvidia GPU are recommended. Processing through the CPU is possible but significantly slower.

How does one install Comfy UI on a PC?

To install Comfy UI on a PC, one needs to visit the GitHub page, download the installation files, extract them using a tool like 7-Zip, and run the appropriate executable based on the GPU (CPU or Nvidia GPU version).

What is the process for installing stable diffusion models into Comfy UI?

After installing Comfy UI, one must download the stable diffusion models (such as sdxl base, refiner, and vae files) from a source like Hugging Face, and then place these files in the respective folders within the Comfy UI directory.

How can users customize their image generation process in Comfy UI?

Users can customize their image generation by adjusting parameters like the prompt, negative prompt, seed, steps, CFG, sampler name, and noise level. They can also install additional nodes and models for more control over the process.

What is the purpose of the 'Comfy UI Manager'?

The Comfy UI Manager allows users to install custom nodes and models, enhancing the capabilities of Comfy UI and enabling more complex and customized image generation workflows.

How can users utilize pre-built workflows from others in Comfy UI?

Users can download and import JSON files of pre-built workflows created by others into Comfy UI. This allows them to quickly adopt and tweak workflows for their own image generation needs.

What are some of the benefits of using a local installation of stable diffusion?

A local installation allows for privacy as no data is collected if the system is not connected to the internet, and it provides the freedom to generate uncensored images without restrictions imposed by online platforms.

How does the 'ControlNet' feature in Comfy UI help in image generation?

ControlNet is used to apply specific conditions or poses to the generated images. For instance, with the OpenPose model, it can detect and apply poses from a reference image to ensure the generated images follow the same pose.

Can users who have trained their own models with tools like DreamBooth use them in Comfy UI?

Yes, users can use their custom models in Comfy UI by placing the trained model file (usually with a '.ckpt' extension) in the 'checkpoints' folder within the Comfy UI's models directory.

What is the recommended approach for users who want to stay updated with the latest AI tools and news?

Users are encouraged to subscribe to the YouTube channel for more AI tutorials, join the free newsletter at futur.tools for a weekly summary of important news and tools, and visit the site for a curated list of AI tools and news.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Introduction to Stable Diffusion and Comfy UI

The speaker introduces the topic of the video, which is setting up Stable Diffusion using Comfy UI. It's been 10 months since the last tutorial, and much has changed in the AI world. The video will cover why Stable Diffusion is chosen over other AI art tools due to its free, open-source nature, uncensored content generation, privacy, and customizability. The speaker also provides a brief comparison between Comfy UI and the previously used tool, automatic 1111, and explains the benefits of using Comfy UI, such as its visual workflow and ease of installation.

05:01

💻 Installing Comfy UI and Stable Diffusion XL

The speaker walks through the process of installing Comfy UI on a PC, starting with downloading the installation files from GitHub and unzipping them using a tool like 7-Zip. After unzipping, the user is presented with options to run the software using either a CPU or an Nvidia GPU. The video explains that while the CPU option is available, it is significantly slower. The installation process includes all necessary dependencies, so there's no need to download Python separately. However, the user needs to download and install the Stable Diffusion XL model from Hugging Face, which includes the base model, refiner, and VAE files, to use with Comfy UI.

10:02

📈 Customizing Stable Diffusion with Comfy UI

The video demonstrates how to customize Stable Diffusion using Comfy UI by adjusting various settings such as the prompt, negative prompt, seed, steps, CFG, and sampler name. The speaker also shows how to save and load custom workflows, which can be created and shared by users. The process of adding custom nodes to Comfy UI through the Comfy UI Manager is explained, allowing for more advanced image generation capabilities. The speaker installs the ControlNet pre-processor and shows how to use it with an OpenPose model to control the pose of generated images.

15:03

🧍 Integrating ControlNet and Using Custom Models

The speaker details how to integrate ControlNet into the image generation process to achieve specific poses in the output images. It is shown how to connect nodes in Comfy UI to use ControlNet with an image as input to detect poses and feed them into the generation process. The video also covers how to use custom models that users have trained, such as a model with one's own face, by adding the model file to the Comfy UI checkpoints folder. The speaker adjusts settings to generate an image of themselves on a beach, demonstrating the power of custom models.

20:03

🌐 Sharing and Using Custom Workflows

The video concludes with a discussion on sharing and using custom workflows in Comfy UI. The speaker shows how to download and implement workflow templates from CIVIT AI, which include JSON files with predefined settings. These templates can be dragged and dropped into Comfy UI to use the workflow created by others. The video also mentions the potential issues with mature content on CIVIT AI and advises users to enable the blur mature content option. Finally, the speaker invites viewers to seek more advanced tutorials, subscribe to a newsletter for AI news, and follow their YouTube channel for more content on AI.

Keywords

💡Stable Diffusion

Stable Diffusion is an open-source artificial intelligence model for generating images from textual descriptions. It is notable for being free and uncensored, allowing users to create a wide range of images without restrictions. In the video, it is the core technology that the tutorial focuses on setting up and customizing for image generation.

💡Comfy UI

Comfy UI is a user interface tool designed to simplify the process of using Stable Diffusion for image generation. It provides a visual workflow that allows users to see and control each step of the image processing. The video emphasizes Comfy UI as a more user-friendly and customizable alternative to other tools for working with Stable Diffusion.

💡ControlNet

ControlNet is an add-on for Stable Diffusion that enables users to control the pose of generated images. It is mentioned in the context of enhancing the customization of the image generation process, allowing users to specify the exact pose they want for the subjects in their images.

💡Hugging Face

Hugging Face is a company that provides a platform for developers to share and use machine learning models. In the video, it is the source for downloading the Stable Diffusion XL model, which is a powerful version of Stable Diffusion available at the time of recording.

💡Nvidia GPU

Nvidia GPU refers to the graphics processing unit manufactured by Nvidia Corporation. These GPUs are recommended for running Comfy UI and Stable Diffusion due to their ability to accelerate the image processing tasks, providing faster results compared to using a CPU.

💡Workflow

In the context of the video, a workflow refers to a sequence of steps or processes that a user can save and reuse within Comfy UI. It involves the configuration of prompts, models, and other parameters that define how an image is generated. Users can save their preferred settings as a workflow for easy replication of their desired image styles.

💡Custom Nodes

Custom nodes are additional functional components that can be added to the Comfy UI to extend its capabilities. They represent different stages of the image generation process and can be installed to introduce new features, such as ControlNet for pose control, enhancing the versatility of the user's image generation workflow.

💡Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion XL, often abbreviated as SDXL, is a specific model for Stable Diffusion that is mentioned as the newest and most powerful at the time of the video's recording. It is used to generate high-quality images and is part of the setup process described in the tutorial.

💡Civit AI

Civit AI is a platform where users can find and use custom-trained models for Stable Diffusion. It is highlighted as a resource for accessing a wide variety of models created by the community, which can be downloaded and used within Comfy UI to diversify the types of images that can be generated.

💡Homebrew

Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that simplifies the installation of software. In the video, it is mentioned as a tool that can be used to install Comfy UI on Mac OS systems with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, or M3), where traditional installation methods might face challenges.

💡CFG Scale

The CFG Scale in the context of Stable Diffusion and Comfy UI is a parameter that determines how closely the generated image adheres to the provided prompt. It is used to fine-tune the image generation process, with higher values resulting in images that are more faithful to the prompt.

Highlights

Stable Diffusion has become easier to use with the introduction of Comfy UI, offering a visual workflow and better control over the image generation process.

Comfy UI allows users to save and reload entire workflows for consistent image generation styles.

Stable Diffusion is an attractive choice due to its free, open-source nature, uncensored image generation capabilities, and customizable features.

The tutorial demonstrates how to install Comfy UI and Stable Diffusion XL, the newest and most powerful model available at the time of recording.

Comfy UI provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of setting up and running Stable Diffusion.

The installation process for Comfy UI is straightforward and quick, with the longest part being the download of necessary files.

For optimal performance, Comfy UI is best used on a PC with Windows or Linux and an Nvidia GPU.

The video provides a workaround for Mac users facing installation issues, suggesting the use of a YouTube tutorial for Mac OS M1 or M2.

Users can download and install additional models and nodes to extend the capabilities of Comfy UI and Stable Diffusion.

ControlNet can be integrated with Comfy UI to achieve specific poses in the generated images.

The tutorial shows how to use custom models and nodes, such as OpenPose, to influence the pose and features of generated images.

Comfy UI Manager can be installed to add more nodes and customize the image generation process further.

Civit AI offers a platform to download custom workflows and models created by others, streamlining the process of achieving specific image styles.

The video includes instructions on how to use one's own custom models within Comfy UI for personalized image generation.

Comfy UI enables users to adjust parameters such as CFG scale, steps, and sampler type for fine-tuning image generation.

The tutorial emphasizes the importance of privacy when using Stable Diffusion locally, as no data is collected if the internet connection is not used.

The presenter offers additional resources, including a newsletter and a website for the latest AI tools and news, for those interested in deepening their AI knowledge.