FLUX vs Stable Diffusion
In one corner, we have the new contender, FLUX.1 [schnell], making waves with its impressive capabilities. In the other, the well-established powerhouse, the Stable Diffusion model family (1.5, XL, and 3). Who will come out on top? Let’s dive into the comparison!
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8/22/20243 min read
FLUX.1 vs Stable Diffusion: The AI Image Generation Showdown
Stable Diffusion vs FLUX.1 - Introduction and Methodology
As mentioned, we'll be using the fast and powerful [schnell] variant of FLUX.1 and putting it to the test against three popular Stable Diffusion models: 1.5, XL, and 3. But who exactly are these contenders?
Stable Diffusion, developed by Stability AI, has been a cornerstone of the AI image generation community since its debut in August 2022. Its open-source nature, impressive performance, and flexibility quickly made it a favorite among developers, artists, and marketers. Here's a quick rundown of the versions we're using today:
Stable Diffusion 1.5: Released in October 2022, this version quickly became a community favorite for its balance of quality and efficiency.
Stable Diffusion XL: Launched in July 2023, SDXL brought significant improvements in image quality and prompt understanding.
Stable Diffusion 3: The latest iteration, released in February 2024, promises significant advancements across the board, particularly in typography.
On the other hand, FLUX.1, the newcomer from Black Forest Labs, made its debut in 2024 with a promise to redefine state-of-the-art image generation. It’s already turning heads with its advancements in visual quality and prompt adherence. For more details, check out our article explaining what FLUX.1 is.
Methodology
We're committed to a fair comparison. Each model will receive the same prompts, and we'll evaluate them based on how well they perform. All images will be generated using our AI Generator, which you can also try out to gain immediate access to the best and most popular Text-to-Image models.
Let the FLUX.1 vs Stable Diffusion competition begin!
Testing the Limits: How Well Do These Models Handle Text?
Let’s start with a challenge that has historically been difficult for many Text-to-Image AIs: generating text within an image. Black Forest Labs’ FLUX.1 is rumored to offer groundbreaking quality in this area, so we were eager to see how it stacks up.
We gave our contenders the following prompt:
"a neon sign saying 'WELCOME TO THE FUTURE'"
Here's how they performed.
As you can see, FLUX.1 [schnell] emerges as the clear winner in the typography category, delivering crisp and accurate text. Stable Diffusion 3 also performs satisfactorily, though it's prone to occasional small errors. On the other hand, Stable Diffusion XL and 1.5 struggle significantly with generating legible text, regardless of the context.
Prompt Following with Complex Scenes
Now it's time to bring out the big guns in our FLUX.1 vs Stable Diffusion comparison. Longer and more intricate prompts pose a challenge for AI models, often struggling to capture all the detailed elements users might request. To test their capabilities, we threw them a scene that would challenge even a skilled human artist:
"Ancient temple deep in a jungle at dawn, partially covered in moss and vines. Weathered stone steps with stone statues with glowing eyes on both sides lead up to a massive, intricately carved golden door. In the background, the dense jungle is alive with exotic birds and lush flora. A waterfall cascades from the cliffs to the right, its mist catching the first rays of sunlight, creating a rainbow arching over the temple."
Let's see how well each model captures the complexity and detail of this scene.
Final Results: FLUX.1 [schnell] vs. Stable Diffusion 1.5, XL, and 3
So, who takes the crown in this AI art battle royale? While the Stable Diffusion models have long been the go-to choice for many, FLUX.1 [schnell] clearly outshines them in every category. Whether it's handling complex scenes or generating precise typography, FLUX.1 [schnell] impresses with its versatility and consistent quality, no matter the challenge. The newcomer has certainly earned its place at the top.
Of course, Stable Diffusion models remain beloved staples in the AI art world for good reason. Their open-source nature and strong community support make them invaluable tools, especially for those who enjoy tinkering and customizing their outputs. However, it seems FLUX.1 is poised to soon dominate the Text-to-Image AI landscape.
With unparalleled prompt-following and typography generation capabilities, FLUX.1 continues to stun users with its diverse and high-quality outputs. As its popularity rapidly grows, a strong community is likely to follow, bringing with it essential resources like prompt books, tutorials, and fine-tuned LoRAs.
But don’t just take our word for it—test FLUX.1 [schnell], Stable Diffusion 1.5, XL, 3, and dozens of other AI models yourself using getimg.ai’s AI Generator. It’s all accessible on the web, with no need to download files or install anything on your device.
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