Getting Started with AI Image Generation
This tutorial will guide you through your first image generation with ComfyUI, covering basic interface operations like workflow loading, model installation, and image generation
This guide aims to help you understand ComfyUI’s basic operations and complete your first image generation. We’ll cover:
- Loading example workflows
- Loading from ComfyUI’s workflow templates
- Loading from images with workflow metadata
- Model installation guidance
- Automatic model installation
- Manual model installation
- Using ComfyUI Manager for model installation
- Completing your first text-to-image generation
About Text-to-Image
Text-to-Image is a fundamental AI drawing feature that generates images from text descriptions. It’s one of the most commonly used functions in AI art generation. You can think of the process as telling your requirements (positive and negative prompts) to an artist (the drawing model), who will then create what you want. Detailed explanations about text-to-image will be covered in the Text to Image chapter.
ComfyUI Text-to-Image Workflow Tutorial
1. Launch ComfyUI
Make sure you’ve followed the installation guide to start ComfyUI and can successfully enter the ComfyUI interface.
If you have not installed ComfyUI, please choose a suitable version to install based on your device.
2. Load Default Text-to-Image Workflow
ComfyUI usually loads the default text-to-image workflow automatically when launched. However, you can try different methods to load workflows to familiarize yourself with ComfyUI’s basic operations:
Follow the numbered steps in the image:
- Click the Fit View button in the bottom right to ensure any loaded workflow isn’t hidden
- Click the folder icon (workflows) in the sidebar
- Click the Browse example workflows button at the top of the Workflows panel
Continue with:
- Select the first default workflow Image Generation to load it
Alternatively, you can select Browse workflow templates from the workflow menu
Follow the numbered steps in the image:
- Click the Fit View button in the bottom right to ensure any loaded workflow isn’t hidden
- Click the folder icon (workflows) in the sidebar
- Click the Browse example workflows button at the top of the Workflows panel
Continue with:
- Select the first default workflow Image Generation to load it
Alternatively, you can select Browse workflow templates from the workflow menu
All images generated by ComfyUI contain metadata including workflow information. You can load workflows by:
- Dragging and dropping a ComfyUI-generated image into the interface
- Using menu Workflows -> Open to open an image
Try loading the workflow using this example image:
ComfyUI workflows can be stored in JSON format. You can export workflows using menu Workflows -> Export.
Try downloading and loading this example workflow:
Download text-to-image.json
After downloading, use menu Workflows -> Open to load the JSON file.
3. Model Installation
Most ComfyUI installations don’t include base models by default. After loading the workflow, if you don’t have the v1-5-pruned-emaonly-fp16.safetensors model installed, you’ll see this prompt:
All models are stored in <your ComfyUI installation>/ComfyUI/models/
with subfolders like checkpoints
, embeddings
, vae
, lora
, upscale_model
, etc. ComfyUI detects models in these folders and paths configured in extra_models_config.yaml
at startup.
You can install models through:
After you click the Download button, ComfyUI will execute the download, and different behaviors will be performed depending on the version you are using.
The desktop version will automatically complete the model download and save it to the <your ComfyUI installation location>/ComfyUI/models/checkpoints
directory.
You can wait for the installation to complete or view the installation progress in the model panel on the sidebar.
If everything goes smoothly, the model should be able to download locally. If the download fails for a long time, please try other installation methods.
The desktop version will automatically complete the model download and save it to the <your ComfyUI installation location>/ComfyUI/models/checkpoints
directory.
You can wait for the installation to complete or view the installation progress in the model panel on the sidebar.
If everything goes smoothly, the model should be able to download locally. If the download fails for a long time, please try other installation methods.
The browser will execute file downloads. Please save the file to the <your ComfyUI installation location>/ComfyUI_windows_portable/ComfyUI/models/checkpoints
directory after the download is complete.
After you click the Download button, ComfyUI will execute the download, and different behaviors will be performed depending on the version you are using.
The desktop version will automatically complete the model download and save it to the <your ComfyUI installation location>/ComfyUI/models/checkpoints
directory.
You can wait for the installation to complete or view the installation progress in the model panel on the sidebar.
If everything goes smoothly, the model should be able to download locally. If the download fails for a long time, please try other installation methods.
The desktop version will automatically complete the model download and save it to the <your ComfyUI installation location>/ComfyUI/models/checkpoints
directory.
You can wait for the installation to complete or view the installation progress in the model panel on the sidebar.
If everything goes smoothly, the model should be able to download locally. If the download fails for a long time, please try other installation methods.
The browser will execute file downloads. Please save the file to the <your ComfyUI installation location>/ComfyUI_windows_portable/ComfyUI/models/checkpoints
directory after the download is complete.
ComfyUI Manager is a tool for managing custom nodes, models, and plugins.
Open ComfyUI Manager
Click the Manager
button to open ComfyUI Manager
Open Model Manager
Click Model Manager
Search and Install Model
- Search for
v1-5-pruned-emaonly.ckpt
- Click
install
on the desired model
Visit v1-5-pruned-emaonly-fp16.safetensors and follow this guide:
Save the downloaded file to:
Save to <your ComfyUI installation>/ComfyUI/models/checkpoints
Save to <your ComfyUI installation>/ComfyUI/models/checkpoints
Save to ComfyUI_windows_portable/ComfyUI/models/checkpoints
Refresh or restart ComfyUI after saving.
4. Load Model and Generate Your First Image
After installing the model:
- In the Load Checkpoint node, ensure v1-5-pruned-emaonly-fp16.safetensors is selected
- Click
Queue
or pressCtrl + Enter
to generate
The result will appear in the Save Image node. Right-click to save locally.
For detailed text-to-image instructions, see our comprehensive guide:
ComfyUI Text-to-Image Workflow Guide
Click here for detailed text-to-image workflow instructions
Troubleshooting
Model Loading Issues
If the Load Checkpoint
node shows no models or displays “null”, verify your model installation location and try refreshing or restarting ComfyUI.
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