Learn Flux
Black Forest Labs' model family, from the open schnell and dev weights to pro, Ultra, Raw and Kontext editing. Where each model fits and how to steer it.
What Flux is good at
- Photoreal images with strong prompt adherence
- Kontext: edit an image with a plain-language instruction
- Open weights (schnell, dev) you can run locally
- Ultra and Raw modes for large, natural-looking photos
Quickstart
- Pick the model for the jobschnell for speed, dev for local control, pro and Ultra for hosted quality, Kontext for editing.
- Write literal promptsFlux follows prose closely. Say what is in the frame, the light and the lens; skip filler adjectives.
- Edit with KontextUpload an image and describe the change. It keeps what you did not mention, so one change per step.
- Note the hostThe same model behaves slightly differently on each playground. Record the model name, host and seed with each output.
Settings cheat-sheet
| Setting | What it does | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Model | schnell, dev, pro, 1.1 pro, Ultra, Kontext | pro for finals, Kontext to edit |
| Aspect ratio | Standard ratios; Ultra up to about 4 MP | Match the delivery |
| Guidance | How strongly the prompt is followed | Default |
| Steps | Sampling steps on dev/schnell | Default |
| Seed | Repeatable results | Fix when iterating |
| Raw mode | Natural, less polished look | Off for products |
Flux guides
Guides for Flux are on their way. The quickstart and cheat-sheet above are kept current in the meantime.
The five most-asked questions
Which Flux model should I use?
schnell is fast and free to run locally, dev is the open model for local control (non-commercial licence), pro and FLUX1.1 pro are the hosted quality models, and Ultra adds large, high-fidelity outputs. Kontext is for editing.
What is Flux Kontext?
Kontext is an in-context editing model: you give it an image and a text instruction, and it changes only what you asked for while keeping the rest, including a character's identity. It works iteratively.
Where can I run Flux?
On Black Forest Labs' own playground and API, and inside Krea, Freepik, Leonardo, Replicate, fal and others. Local runs need the open weights and a capable GPU.
What is Raw mode?
Raw mode produces less polished, more photographic images with natural imperfections. It suits candid and documentary looks; turn it off for clean product shots.
Can I use Flux images commercially?
It depends on the model and where you ran it: dev has a non-commercial licence, while hosted pro models and most platforms allow commercial use on paid plans. Read the licence of the exact model and host you used.