Stable Diffusion 3.5: New Features, Performance, and How to Access

Stability AI recently released Stable Diffusion 3.5 its most powerful text-to-image models yet. The new models bring a new level of customization, performance, and accessibility to the world of generative AI. They run efficiently on consumer hardware as well as deliver top-tier image quality. 

This release introduces several model variants- Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large Turbo, and the upcoming Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium. These models cater to a wide range of users, from professional developers and researchers to hobbyists and small businesses.

What popularized and differentiated Stable Diffusion from other generative AI tools was its free-to-use licensing model. Something that has not changed. 

The newer Stable Diffusion 3.5 models will be available for free under the permissive Stability AI Community License. Individuals and businesses with annual revenues under $1 million can use the images created with these models for both commercial and non-commercial purposes.

In this article, we will explore the key features of Stable Diffusion 3.5, explain how it compares to previous releases, and guide you on how to access and use these models.

Key Features of Stable Diffusion 3.5

Here are some of the key features of the Stable Diffusion 3.5 models: 

11. Multiple Model Variants

Stable Diffusion 3.5 introduces three main model variants, where each is designed to meet different user needs:

1. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: With 8 billion parameters, this is the most powerful model in the Stable Diffusion family. It excels in image quality and prompt adherence and is perfect for professional use. The model generates high-resolution images of up to 1 megapixel, making it ideal for artists and researchers who demand detailed outputs.
2. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large Turbo: This version is a distilled version of the Large model. It delivers similar high-quality results but optimizes for speed. It can generate images in just four steps. It is significantly faster than the base Large model and can also maintain competitive image quality.
3. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium (to be released on October 29th): This model, with 2.5 billion parameters, strikes a balance between performance and accessibility. It runs on consumer hardware with ease and is ideal for generating images ranging from 0.25 to 2 megapixels. This model uses an improved MMDiT-X architecture, enhancing coherence and multi-resolution generation abilities.

2. Improved Customizability

One of the standout features of Stable Diffusion 3.5 is its customizability. Whether you are a researcher fine-tuning the model for scientific studies, a startup developing specialized applications, or a hobbyist experimenting with creative workflows, the models are designed to be flexible.

The integration of Query-Key Normalization into the transformer blocks has improved the stability of the model during training and fine-tuning. This makes it easier for users to adapt the model to their specific needs without extensive knowledge of deep learning techniques.

3. Performance on Consumer Hardware

Stable Diffusion 3.5 models are optimized to run on standard consumer-grade GPUs. This is especially true for the Medium and Turbo versions, which can generate high-quality images without the need for expensive or specialized hardware. This accessibility makes advanced generative AI tools available to a much wider audience. This lowers the barrier to entry for creators and developers alike.

4. Diverse Output Styles

Another highlight of Stable Diffusion 3.5 is its ability to generate a wide range of styles. From 3D renders and photography to paintings, line art, and abstract visuals, it is diverse. This versatility means that users do not need to input complex prompts to get diverse and varied results. The models capture a wide variety of real-world features, including different skin tones, environments, and artistic styles.

5. Fast Inference Times

The Large Turbo model stands out for its speed, generating high-quality images in just four steps. This makes it one of the fastest models of its size, while still maintaining prompt adherence and image quality on par with much larger models. Users who need quick turnaround times for image generation, such as during live demonstrations or iterative design workflows, will benefit greatly from this model.

Enhancements

Stable Diffusion 3.5 models include several architectural improvements that enhance both performance and flexibility:

• Query-Key Normalization: This technique stabilizes the training process. It makes it easier to fine-tune the models without running into instability or overfitting issues. It also helps preserve a broader knowledge base in the model. This ensures that the model remains capable of generating diverse and complex outputs even after extensive fine-tuning.
• MMDiT-X Architecture: Specific to the Medium model, this improved architecture enhances the model’s ability to generate images at multiple resolutions. This feature is especially useful for applications that require different output sizes without compromising quality.

Where the Models Excel

Stable Diffusion 3.5 shines in several key areas. It is one of the most flexible and powerful generative image models currently available:

• Customizability: Users can easily fine-tune and adapt the models, building on the base models to meet their creative or technical needs.
  
• Performance on Consumer Hardware: Users can generate high-quality images without the need for high-end GPUs, especially with the Medium and Turbo models.
• Diverse, Inclusive Outputs: The models generate images that reflect a broad range of human features and styles, without requiring overly complex prompts
• Efficient Inference: The Large Turbo model offers fast inference times, making it effective for applications where speed is critical.

How to Access Stable Diffusion 3.5?

Stability AI has made Stable Diffusion 3.5 available through several platforms, ensuring that users can access the models in the way that best suits their needs. Here is how you can access it: 

• Hugging Face: Users can download the Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large and Large Turbo models from Hugging Face for free. The Medium model will be available on October 29th.
• GitHub: The inference code for Stable Diffusion 3.5 is available on GitHub, allowing developers to integrate the model into their applications or workflows.
• API Access: For users who prefer cloud-based solutions, the models are also accessible via the Stability AI API, as well as platforms like Replicate, ComfyUI, and DeepInfra.

Licensing and Commercial Use

The models come under the Stability AI Community License.

• Free for non-commercial use: Individuals and organizations can use the models for non-commercial purposes, including research and personal projects, without any cost.
• Free for commercial use (under $1 million in revenue): Startups and small businesses can use the models commercially at no cost, provided their annual revenue is less than $1 million.
• Ownership of outputs: Users retain ownership of the media they generate using Stable Diffusion 3.5, allowing for commercial distribution and monetization without restrictive licensing terms.
• For organizations with annual revenue over $1 million, an enterprise license is required. Stability AI offers contact options for these users.

The Bottom Line

Stable Diffusion 3.5 is a huge upgrade from its previous models. These newer models offer high customizability, fast performance, and broad accessibility. These models provide powerful tools for image generation that can be easily adapted to meet the specific needs of the user. 

The Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium model will be released on October 29th, 2024. Stability AI is also planning to introduce ControlNets shortly after. ControlNets will provide advanced control features for professional use cases.

P.S. All images have been taken from Stable Diffusion.