Flux.1 : How to create ultra-realistic AI images in just a few clicks

Flux.1, developed by Blackforest Labs, is a powerful tool for creating high-quality AI images with an ease of use that appeals to beginners and experienced users alike. To find out all about Flux, read our article Flux.1, the new ultra-realistic image generator

An easy way to use Flux is through replicate.com. This platform offers simple, direct access to a variety of AI models, allowing users to leverage the power of the cloud without the need for expensive hardware.

In this tutorial, we will guide you through all the steps necessary to simply install and use Flux.1 via replicate.com.

Step 1: Create an account on Replicate.com

The first step to using Flux.1 via Replicate.com is to create an account on the Replicate.com platform.

Here’s how to proceed:

Access Replicate.com

Open your browser and go to replicate.com. This platform gives you access to a wide range of AI models, including Flux.1.

Subscribe via GitHub

• On the top right of the home page, click on “Sign in”.
  
• You’ll be prompted to log in via your GitHub account.
  If you don’t have one, click “Create an account” to create a GitHub account for free. Creating this account is quick and easy, and it will be linked to your Replicate.com account.

Configure billing details on replicate.com

• Once logged in, click on your account name at top right, then select “Account Settings”.
  
• Go to the “Billing” section and add a payment method. Replicate.com uses a pay-per-use model, which means you only pay for the resources you consume. This flexibility makes it possible to test low-cost models.

Step 2: Explore the templates available on Replicate.com

Now that your account is set up, it’s time to explore the templates available on Replicate.com.

Navigation to template page

Once logged in, you’ll access your dashboard. On the left, you’ll find a menu with several options. Click on “Explore” to see the available templates.

Discover Flux.1

On the exploration page, you can either browse the templates on offer, or use the search bar at the top of the screen to type “Flux”. You’ll then see the three versions of Flux.1: Pro, Dev, and Schnell.

Understanding Flux.1 versions

• Flux.1 Pro: The top-of-the-range version, offering the best image quality and the broadest commercial options. Price: $0.055 per image, or about 18 images for $1. For 100 images, the cost is $5.50.
  
• Flux.1 Dev: An intermediate version, almost as powerful as Pro, with a slightly lower cost. Price: $0.030 per image, or around 33 images for $1. For 100 images, the cost is $3.00.
  
• Flux.1 Schnell: The most economical and fastest version, ideal for quick tests or less demanding needs. Price: $0.003 per image, or approximately 333 images for $1. For 100 images, the cost is $0.30.
  

Step 3: Choose the right template for your project

Once you’ve selected the Flux.1 template that best suits your needs, it’s time to use it to generate your first images.

Flux.1 Pro : Peak performance

Flux.1 Pro is the most advanced version of Flux.1, offering state-of-the-art image generation performance. This version features:

• Image quality and output diversity: Unsurpassed visual detail, superior image quality and exceptional output diversity.
  
• Prompt following: High-level prompt following, ensuring that text descriptions are faithfully translated into images.
  
• Hybrid architecture : Based on a hybrid architecture of broadcast and multimodal transformer blocks, improving performance and hardware efficiency.
  
• Professional use : Ideal for commercial use where quality is paramount.

Flux.1 Dev: A balance between cost and performance

Flux.1 Dev is the intermediate version, offering an excellent balance between performance and cost. Features include:

• 12 billion parameters: A rectified 12-billion-parameter transformer capable of generating images from text descriptions.
  
• Premium output quality: Close to that of the Pro version, with performance that rivals proprietary alternatives.
  
• Efficiency: uses guidance distillation to make the model more efficient.
  
• Open license: Allows personal, scientific and commercial use under the terms of the flux-1-dev non-commercial license.
  
• Open source code: A reference implementation is available on GitHub, encouraging developers and designers to use Flux.1 Dev as a starting point.

Flux.1 Schnell: Speed and accessibility

Flux.1 Schnell is designed for those who need to generate images quickly, at a very low cost. Its strong points are:

• 12 billion parameters: Like the other versions, Schnell uses a rectified transformer with 12 billion parameters.
  
• Adversarial latent diffusion distillation: This enables Schnell to generate high-quality images in just 1 to 4 steps.
  
• Licence Apache 2.0: The template can be used for personal, scientific and commercial purposes.
  
• Exceptional value for money: Ideal for users on a budget or for quick trials.

Step 4: Generate images with Flux.1

Now let’s see how to generate images with Flux.1.

Example prompt

To create an image, you can enter a prompt like this:

The most epic inspiration for autumn natural makeup, abstract art, Exquisite detail, high resolution photo, realistic photo, intricate detail, natural lighting

Use the hugging face prompt generator to help: https://huggingface.co/spaces/gokaygokay/FLUX-Prompt-Generator

Click on “Run” and wait for the image to be generated.

Parameter adjustments

If you’re not satisfied with the result, you can adjust the prompt or change the aspect ratio and run the generation again.

For example, you can add additional details or change the style.

Understanding costs

Each image generated will cost you according to the model chosen (3 cents for Flux.1 Dev). The platform invoices your usage at the end of each month, with no subscription or minimum commitment.

Step 5: Upload generated images

Once you’re happy with your creations, it’s time to download them.

Image download

Click on the generated image to download it directly to your computer. You can also use the “Download” button located below the image.

Using the “Seed”

Each image is associated with a “seed“, a unique identifier that allows the same image to be recreated identically.

Copy this seed into the corresponding field if you wish to regenerate the same image at a later date.

Generate multiple variants

You can choose to generate several variants of the same image by modifying the number of outputs in the parameters.

For example, by choosing 4 variants, you’ll get 4 slightly different images for the same prompt, at a cost of 12 cents.

Conclusion

By following this tutorial, you should now be able to use Flux.1 via Replicate.com to generate high-quality AI images simply.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this process will enable you to make the most of these powerful tools without having to invest in expensive hardware or costly subscriptions.

Feel free to experiment with different prompts and settings to discover all the possibilities offered by Flux.1.

If you have a high-performance graphics card, you can also use the flux template locally for free.

Read our article to find out more: How to generate ultra-realistic images locally with Flux.1?

If you have any questions or comments, leave them below for help or to share your own experiences.