Install Stable Diffusion Locally (Quick Setup Guide)

Matt Wolfe
20 Feb 202314:02

TLDRThis video tutorial guides viewers on how to install and operate Stable Diffusion, an AI art generation tool, both locally on a PC and in the cloud, suitable for older computers or Mac users. The local installation offers unlimited creative potential, unrestricted content creation, and the ability to use custom-trained images. The process involves creating a Hugging Face account, downloading necessary software, and setting up the Stable Diffusion Web UI. For those without a capable PC or GPU, an alternative cloud option, Run Diffusion, is introduced, offering an affordable hourly rate and access to various GPU types for faster image generation. The video also teases future content exploring advanced features and tools for creating animated videos and manipulating poses with AI.

Takeaways

  • 🔧 Stable Diffusion Setup: This guide shows you how to install and run Stable Diffusion locally on a PC or in the cloud for Mac users or those with older computers.
  • 🌐 Why Local Installation: Installing Stable Diffusion locally allows for unrestricted creativity and flexibility, unlike other platforms that have content restrictions.
  • 🖼️ Personal Models: Use your own trained models in Stable Diffusion to create unlimited images with your face or other custom elements.
  • 🎨 ControlNet Features: Stable Diffusion supports cool features like pose modeling and realistic drawings from scribbles via ControlNet.
  • 📂 Installation Steps: Set up accounts on Hugging Face and GitHub, download Git for Windows, and create an AI folder for the Stable Diffusion web UI.
  • ⚙️ Download Models: Get various Stable Diffusion models (1.4, 1.5, 2.1) from Hugging Face and add them to the models folder in the Stable Diffusion UI.
  • 🐍 Python Installation: Install the latest version of Python to enable Stable Diffusion functionality.
  • 🚀 Running Web UI: Double-click 'webui-user.bat' in the Stable Diffusion UI folder to start the application and access it via the local URL.
  • ☁️ Cloud Alternative: Use RunDiffusion for cloud-based Stable Diffusion if you don't have a suitable PC. It offers different GPUs and rates starting at $0.50 per hour.
  • 🔗 Additional Features: Future tools like Deforum for video generation and various ControlNet plugins are easier to use once Stable Diffusion is installed locally.
  • ✨ Explore Further: Visit Future Tools for curated AI tools, or subscribe to the newsletter for a weekly TL;DR on the latest in AI and Matt's top five tool picks.

Q & A

  • Why might someone want to install Stable Diffusion locally on their computer?

    -Installing Stable Diffusion locally removes limitations on content creation, allowing the user to create unrestricted AI art, including not-safe-for-work content and images with restricted themes like 'blood' which might be blocked on other platforms like MidJourney.

  • What are the benefits of having Stable Diffusion installed locally?

    -Local installation of Stable Diffusion offers several benefits such as using custom trained images, various control net features like pose modeling and scribble conversion, and the ability to use image-to-image transformations. It provides limitless creativity compared to cloud-based restrictions.

  • What are the system requirements to install Stable Diffusion locally?

    -To install Stable Diffusion locally, one needs a PC with a decent graphics card. This is necessary to handle the processing demands of generating AI-based images.

  • What should you do if you don't have a suitable PC for installing Stable Diffusion?

    -If you don't have a PC with a strong enough GPU or if you're using a Mac, an alternative is to run Stable Diffusion in the cloud, which provides similar benefits to a local install without requiring powerful hardware.

  • What initial steps are required to set up Stable Diffusion on your local machine?

    -The setup process involves creating free accounts on Hugging Face and GitHub, downloading Git for Windows, and setting up a specific directory on your hard drive to clone the Stable Diffusion repository using Git.

  • How do you add different models to your local Stable Diffusion setup?

    -You can download different model versions from Hugging Face, like Stable Diffusion 1.4, 1.5, and 2.1. Each model file needs to be saved in the designated 'models' directory in the Stable Diffusion setup folder.

  • What is the purpose of the 'web ui-user.bat' file in the Stable Diffusion directory?

    -The 'web ui-user.bat' file runs a series of scripts necessary to start the Stable Diffusion web interface, allowing the user to interact with the model locally through a web browser.

  • How does the cloud-based service 'Run Diffusion' work as an alternative to local installation?

    -Run Diffusion allows users to access Stable Diffusion's capabilities on powerful cloud GPUs for a fee, offering a practical alternative for those without powerful PCs. It provides fast image generation and access to multiple model versions without local installation.

  • What kind of AI art can you generate with Stable Diffusion once it's set up?

    -With Stable Diffusion, users can generate a wide range of AI-generated images based on text descriptions, including realistic, stylized, or fantastical art, with various settings to adjust the appearance and style of the output.

  • What are some advanced features of Stable Diffusion mentioned in the video?

    -Advanced features include ControlNet for precise pose modeling, the Scribble feature which converts scribbles into realistic images, and Deforum for generating animated videos, providing a rich toolkit for creative expression.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Introduction to Stable Diffusion and Local Installation

The video begins with an introduction to Stable Diffusion, an AI art tool that can be set up locally on a PC or run in the cloud for greater flexibility. The host explains the benefits of local installation, such as zero limits on content creation, the ability to use custom trained images, and access to advanced features like ControlNet, scribble control, and video generation. The process for local installation involves setting up a Hugging Face account, a GitHub account, and downloading necessary software like Git for Windows. The host guides viewers through creating a new folder for AI projects, cloning the Stable Diffusion Web UI from GitHub, and downloading the Stable Diffusion model files from Hugging Face.

05:01

📂 Setting Up Stable Diffusion Web UI and Model Integration

After downloading the Stable Diffusion model, the host instructs viewers to place the file in the specified 'models' folder within the Stable Diffusion Web UI directory. The video also mentions the possibility of using a custom trained model from a previous tutorial. The host then demonstrates how to run the Web UI by executing a batch file, which initiates a series of scripts. After a waiting period, a local URL is provided, which, when accessed through a web browser, launches the Stable Diffusion interface. The host emphasizes experimenting with different settings, such as batch size, sampling steps, and CFG scales, to achieve varied results. An alternative cloud-based solution called 'Run Diffusion' is introduced for those without a capable PC or GPU, offering a paid service that uses cloud GPUs to run Stable Diffusion.

10:02

🌐 Cloud-Based Stable Diffusion with Run Diffusion

The host provides a quick overview of how to use Run Diffusion, a cloud-based platform that allows users to run Stable Diffusion without local installation. The process involves creating an account, selecting a GPU type based on the desired image generation speed, and starting a session. The host emphasizes the cost-effectiveness and convenience of this service, as it charges by the hour and provides a refund for unused time. Once the cloud session is ready, the interface is nearly identical to the local installation, offering access to various models and settings for image generation. The host concludes by expressing excitement about the possibilities opened up by having Stable Diffusion installed locally or on a cloud GPU and hints at future videos exploring advanced features and tools.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Stable Diffusion

Stable Diffusion is an open-source machine learning model capable of generating high-quality images from textual descriptions. In the video, it's described as a tool that allows users to create unrestricted AI art locally on their computers, enhancing creativity without the limitations often imposed by cloud services. This technology is integral to the video's theme as it explores how to install and leverage Stable Diffusion for diverse artistic expressions.

💡Local Installation

Local installation refers to the process of setting up software directly on a personal computer rather than running it through a web or cloud service. The video emphasizes the benefits of installing Stable Diffusion locally, such as having no usage limits and the ability to use customized models, providing a comprehensive guide to achieving this setup.

💡GitHub

GitHub is a platform for version control and collaboration, allowing users to manage and store revisions of projects. In the context of the video, GitHub is crucial for downloading the necessary software components to run Stable Diffusion, illustrating the collaborative and open-source nature of such AI tools.

💡Hugging Face

Hugging Face is a company that hosts machine learning models, providing an essential repository for downloading various versions of Stable Diffusion. The video instructs viewers to create a Hugging Face account to access and download different model weights, emphasizing its role in facilitating easy access to advanced AI models.

💡Control Net

Control Net features in AI models like Stable Diffusion allow users to manipulate specific aspects of an image generation, such as pose or elements within a scene. The video discusses these features to highlight how local installation of Stable Diffusion enables the use of advanced functionalities like scribble control or image-to-image generation.

💡Cloud GPUs

Cloud GPUs refer to graphics processing units available over the cloud, enabling powerful computing capabilities without requiring physical hardware. The video explores alternatives like Run Diffusion for users without access to powerful local GPUs, allowing them to utilize cloud computing to run Stable Diffusion and generate complex images.

💡Model Training

Model training in the context of Stable Diffusion involves customizing the AI to generate images based on personal datasets, such as one's face. The video details how users can train their model with personal data, enhancing the personalized aspect of AI-generated content.

💡Checkpoints

In machine learning, checkpoints are saved states of a trained model that can be reloaded and used to continue training or to start inference. The video explains how to download and use these checkpoints (e.g., sdv1-4 ckpt) for Stable Diffusion, allowing users to generate images with different stylistic features and capabilities.

💡Automatic 1111

Automatic 1111 refers to a user interface for Stable Diffusion, mentioned in the video as a tool to interact with the model more effectively. It facilitates easier use of Stable Diffusion by providing a graphical interface where users can directly input commands and see results, simplifying the image generation process.

💡Run Diffusion

Run Diffusion is presented in the video as a cloud-based alternative for running Stable Diffusion, offering access to cloud GPUs for a fee. This service allows users to generate AI art without local hardware constraints, making advanced AI accessible to a broader audience and demonstrating its utility in expanding creative possibilities.

Highlights

Guide to setting up and running Stable Diffusion locally on a PC, and cloud alternatives for Mac and older computers.

Benefits of installing Stable Diffusion locally include no content restrictions and the ability to generate NSFW content.

How to use a custom trained model with Stable Diffusion to generate personalized AI art.

Introduction to control net features in Stable Diffusion, allowing for pose modeling and scribble-based realistic drawing generation.

Step-by-step guide to installing Stable Diffusion using Hugging Face and GitHub.

Explanation of downloading and setting up necessary software like Git for Windows and Python.

Details on downloading Stable Diffusion model versions and their respective weights.

How to manage multiple model versions to explore different artistic effects.

Using the web UI setup for Stable Diffusion to generate AI-based art and videos.

Tutorial on launching and configuring the Stable Diffusion web UI locally.

Instructions on how to use cloud-based service Run Diffusion for users without a powerful GPU.

Comparison of different GPU speeds and pricing on Run Diffusion.

Benefits of cloud-based AI art generation including access to multiple pre-installed models.

Tips on adjusting settings in Stable Diffusion for varied artistic styles.

Future possibilities with Stable Diffusion including animated videos and advanced image manipulation.