La artificial intelligence applied to image creation It has taken a massive leap in a very short time. Where before you needed to know about drawing, composition, and good editing software, now all it takes is writing a well-thought-out sentence for models like Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, or DALL·E to create spectacular illustrations in a matter of seconds. Within this entire ecosystem, Stable Diffusion 3 stands out because it is flexible, very powerful, and can run on your own computer.without always depending on the cloud.
If you are interested in learning How to use Stable Diffusion 3 on your PC without dying in the attemptThis guide provides a complete walkthrough: what exactly this model is, what hardware you need, how to install it with a simple interface, how to generate your first images, adjust important parameters, and finally, how to expand its capabilities with new models and add-ons. Everything is explained in plain Spanish, but with the highest level of technical detail so you can get the most out of it even if you're a beginner.
What is Stable Diffusion and what does version 3 offer?
Stable Diffusion is a generative AI model Designed to create images from text descriptions (prompts). You type what you want, for example "a cyberpunk dragon flying over Madrid at sunset in anime style", and in a few seconds you get several illustrations based on that description.
The main difference compared to other solutions is that Stable Diffusion is open source and can run on your own PCYou're not solely dependent on third-party websites, their usage limits, or changes to their terms of service. You can download the model, modify it, merge different community-trained variants, and even create your own custom models trained with your images.
With the arrival of Stable Diffusion 3Stability AI has introduced significant improvements in quality, consistency of detail, and handling of text within images (signs, labels, logos, etc.). Although many implementations still rely on interfaces originally designed for Stable Diffusion 1.5 or 2.x, the underlying idea remains the same: a diffusive model that starts with noise and "cleans" the image step by step until you obtain the final result following your instructions.
Furthermore, a huge ecosystem has formed around Stable Diffusion: Easy-to-use graphical launchers, derived models for specific styles (photorealism, anime, pixel art, architecture, editorial illustration…), enhancement packages for faces, eyes or backgrounds, and tools that allow transform existing images, paint over them, or generate variations based on the same concept.
The aim of this guide The goal is to provide you with a clear path to take advantage of Stable Diffusion 3 on your PC using two approaches: a simple Easy Diffusion-type launcher and the more advanced web interface (WebUI) that has become the de facto standard.
Minimum and recommended requirements for using Stable Diffusion 3 on PC
One of the strengths of Stable Diffusion is that It does not require a high-end PC to bootHowever, the more powerful your computer, the faster and smoother everything will be, especially when generating large images or many variations.
At minimum levels, You can run Stable Diffusion 3 using only CPUWithout a dedicated graphics card. It's useful for testing, but rendering times will be quite long and you'll have to settle for modest resolutions. For realistic use, ideally you'd have a dedicated GPU with sufficient memory.
For reference purposes, these would be the reasonable minimum requirements for a start:
- CPUAny modern 64-bit processor that supports Windows 10/11, Linux, or macOS.
- RAM: at least 8 GB of system RAM to avoid running too tight while generating images.
- Storage: a minimum of 25 GB of free disk space for installation, models, and caches.
- Integrated GPUIf you use integrated graphics, you should have about 2 GB of shared memory to be able to work at acceptable resolutions.
From there, The recommended way to work comfortably with Stable Diffusion 3 It's raising the bar:
- Dedicated NVIDIA or AMD graphics card With at least 6-8 GB of VRAM. It's possible with 2-4 GB, but you'll have to lower resolutions and limit options.
- Ample VRAM memoryThe more gigabytes you have, the faster images are generated and the fewer size restrictions you'll have. With 8 GB you can work very well, with 12-16 GB you'll be flying.
- System memory 16 GB or more, especially if you tend to have many applications open while generating images.
- Fast SSD drive to make loading models and dependencies more agile.
Keep in mind an important nuance: Many implementations of Stable Diffusion do not directly leverage tensor kernels They don't rely on RTX or the latest AMD AI cards, but rather perform calculations primarily using the GPU's general computing power. Even so, modern graphics cards with good memory bandwidth They continue to make a brutal difference. compared to older configurations.
If you're struggling with your graphics card, You can play with the VRAM usage options that launchers bring (Low, Balanced, Fast modes) to adapt it to the hardware you have, sacrificing some speed or resolution but maintaining stability.
Install Stable Diffusion with an Easy Diffusion launcher
If you're new to all this, the easiest thing to do is to use a launcher like Easy Diffusion, which simplifies installation At its best: you download an installer, run it, and it creates a local web interface ready to generate images without you having to struggle with the console.
The procedure in Windows is usually very similar to that of any classic program. First, download the installer from its official repository (usually on GitHub). and you choose the package corresponding to your operating system (Windows, Linux or macOS).
Once you have the file on your computer, You run the installer and keep clicking on “Next” Following the wizard's steps. The only tricky thing here is the installation folder: it's best to use a simple path, like C:\EasyDiffusionThat is, at the root of the disk, without kilometer-long paths or strange characters.
During installation, the program will automatically download all additional files You will need: Python libraries, basic models, web interface components, etc. This part may take a while depending on your internet connection and disk speed, so please be patient. When it's finished, it's a good idea to check the box to create a shortcut on the desktop.
From that moment on you will be able to Launch Stable Diffusion with a double-click You can access the interface by clicking the created icon or by running the "Start Stable Diffusion UI" script from the installation folder. This process will open a command prompt window and then redirect your default browser to the local interface.
How to use the Easy Diffusion interface step by step
When you open Easy Diffusion you'll see that, in reality, The program consists of two parts: a black console (CMD) window that stays open and is what runs the AI engine, and a web interface in your browser, which is what you use to configure and generate the images.
You shouldn't close the console while you're working, because It is literally the process that is calculating the imagesIf you want to stop Stable Diffusion completely, then yes, close the CMD window and also the browser tab if you had it open.
The web interface usually opens automatically in your default browser, although sometimes it may take a little while if the tool detects that Files are missing or updates are pending.If it doesn't open automatically or you close it by mistake, you can access it by going to the address http://localhost:9000/ (or the specified port) from any browser on the same computer.
On that page you will see several Main tabsThe most important ones to start with are usually:
- Generate: the tab where you enter your prompts and generate images.
- Settings: section to adjust performance, GPU memory, auto-save images and other general options.
- Help and CommunityLinks to tutorials, forums, and useful resources.
- Merge Models: tool to combine different Stable Diffusion models and create hybrid versions.
- What's new?: log of changes and updates from the launcher.
It usually appears in the upper right corner a status indicator It tells you if the system is generating images, is idle, or if an error has occurred. It's a quick way to know what's happening without having to constantly look at the console.
Key settings in the Settings tab
Before you go crazy generating images, it's worth pausing for a moment to The Settings tab to fine-tune the program and tailored to your device. Some of the most important adjustments are these:
Some of the most important settings are these:
- Auto-Save Images: allows All generated images are saved automatically in a folder of your choice. You can also specify how you want the metadata to be saved (the prompt, settings used, etc.).
- Block NSFW ImagesIf you activate it, the system It will blur adult or unsuitable content that may be generated. Useful if you share a PC.
- GPU Memory Usage: lets you adjust how much graphics memory will be usedTypically, modes such as “Low” (for 2-4 GB of VRAM), “Balanced” (4-8 GB) and “Fast” (more than 8 GB) are offered.
- Use CPUIf you select this option, the program will force exclusive use of the CPUThis is the default setting when you don't have a dedicated GPU, but it also means long wait times. If you have a dedicated graphics card, don't check this box.
- Confirm dangerous actions: makes the system ask for confirmation when you go to delete files or perform critical actions within the interface, avoiding surprises.
- Make Stable Diffusion available on your networkIf you activate this, you will be able to access the interface from other devices on your local networkUsing the IP address of the PC where the server is running, plus the specified port. At the bottom of the page, you'll see a section called "Server Addresses" with the exact addresses.
Whenever you change something in this section, remember press the “Save” button so that the adjustments actually take effect. Below that area, you'll usually also see a summary of the hardware detected on your computer.
Generating your first images: basic prompts and parameters
The "Generate" tab is the heart of the system. At the very top, you'll see a large text box that says something like “Enter Prompt”That's where you write the English description of what you want the AI to generate.
If you don't speak much English, you can use... Google Translate or another translatorYou write your idea in Spanish, translate it into English, and copy the result into the prompt box. The more specific you are (artistic style, shot type, lighting, etc.), The closer the image will be to the result you are looking for.
Right below, another box usually appears called “Negative Prompt”In this field you indicate Everything you DON'T want to appear in the imageFor example, “blurry, low quality, extra fingers, deformed eyes, text, watermark…”. This helps the AI avoid typical errors or unwanted elements.
Once you're clear on that, you just have to press the large “Make Image” button (or similar) to add the request to the render queue. The system will process the request and show you the images as they are generated.
Below this button you'll see several drop-down menus with a lot of options. Although they might seem a little overwhelming at first, Controlling these parameters is key to improving quality and adjusting style. to your liking.
Most important image parameters
In the image settings section you will find the controls that define how each output is generated. The most relevant are:
- Seed: is the random seed used to generate the imageWith “Random” enabled you will have a different seed each time, but if you save a specific number you can replicate the exact same composition later.
- Number of Images: it allows you generate multiple images for each promptOne value indicates the total number of images to create, and the other indicates how many are generated in parallel. Generating several in parallel uses more VRAM, but it also speeds up the process on powerful GPUs. It's important that the number of parallel images is divisor of the total to avoid blockages.
- Door Design: here you choose the specific Stable Diffusion model you are going to use (general, realistic, anime, etc.). The more models you install, the more variety of styles you will have. at your disposal.
- Custom VAEVAE are auxiliary models that They help improve specific details of the image (eyes, faces, colors, etc.). You can leave the default one or choose a specialized one depending on what you want to achieve.
- Sampler: is he algorithm that is responsible for removing noise The image is processed step by step until the final result is achieved. Each sampler has its own "personality"; some are faster, others provide more detail or stability. It's worth trying several.
- Image Size: define the width and height in pixels of the image to be generated. It is good practice to maintain a ratio close to 1:1 or use standard resolutions (512×512, 768×768, etc.) to avoid excessive VRAM consumption.
- Inference Steps: indicates the number of inference steps that AI performs to go from noise to the final image. More steps usually result in higher quality and more detail, but they also take longer. In practice, there's a sweet spot beyond which increasing the number of steps barely improves the result.
- Guidance Scale: controls How closely does AI adhere to the prompt text?High values mean that the model will adhere more closely to the text (although sometimes rigidly), while low values allow more creative freedom but may deviate from what you requested.
- Hypernetwork: are modifiers trained for refine the style or the content of the images. They can focus on certain types of characters, very specific artistic styles, etc.
- Output Formats: output file format (PNG, JPG, etc.). It doesn't change the generated image, only how it's saved.
- Image Quality: affects the compression quality When saving the file, especially in lossy formats, the creative result remains unchanged, but the file size and potential artifacts may be affected.
- Render SettingsHere you'll usually find extras like show the creation process in real time (useful, but requires more VRAM), automatically fix faces, apply post-scaling to increase resolution, or decide whether to show only the scaled version.
Style modifiers and working with generated images
In addition to numerical parameters, many interfaces include lists of predefined styles (realistic, watercolor, pixel art, comic, low poly, etc.) that function as shortcuts: when activated, certain terms are automatically added to the prompt or internal adjustments are applied that push the result towards that style.
Each option is usually accompanied by an icon that illustrates the type of resultHowever, you can also manually enter the names of artists, techniques, or visual movements directly in the prompt to further refine the final look. Keep in mind, though, that the quality and accuracy will depend heavily on the model you're using.
Once you have an image you like, most interfaces allow you to interact with it by placing the mouse over itButtons like these often appear:
- Use as Input: reuses the configuration and seed of that image for generate similar variants or edit it with slight prompt changes.
- Create Similar Images: launches several new images maintaining the same “basic idea” but with slight variations.
- Download: download the image in the configured format, ready to use.
- Download JSON or metadata: saves a file with all parameters used for that generation, in case you want to recreate it exactly later on.
- Draw another X stepsThe diffusion process continues for a few more steps, useful for refine details when something almost convinces you but it's still missing a little something.
- upscale: applies a rescaling algorithm to increase the final resolution without having to repeat the entire generation from scratch.
Generate from existing sketches or images
Stable Diffusion isn't just for creating images from scratch. It can also... take a photo or a drawing as a basis and use it as a guide alongside the prompt text. This is often called "image to image" (img2img) or similar functions within the launcher.
you can load an image from your computer or one you have already generatedAnd the AI will attempt to reinterpret it following your textual instructions. For example, you can go from a real photo to an anime style while maintaining the overall composition, or transform a rudimentary sketch into a more elaborate illustration.
Many interfaces also include a "Draw" mode or similar that allows you to create a sketch directly in the browserYou don't need to be an artist: four poorly drawn lines will serve as a composition guide (where the character is, where the background goes, etc.), and the model will complete the details.
However, behavior in these modes is somewhat more unpredictable, because Many more factors come into play: the degree to which the AI respects the original image, how many inference steps are used, which sampler you have chosen, etc. It takes some time to get the hang of it, but it is one of the most powerful parts of Stable Diffusion.
Install Stable Diffusion WebUI manually on Windows
If you're looking for finer control and a huge community of extensions, You can choose the "classic" web interface (WebUI)which is the one most advanced users employ with Stable Diffusion 1.5, 2.x and also to integrate models from the 3 family when they are available.
The manual installation is a little daunting at first, but if you follow the steps carefully, you'll get there. It's not that complicated.A fairly typical path in Windows would be something like the following:
- Open command consoleYou can use Command Prompt or PowerShell. The important thing is to have a window where you can type the necessary commands.
- Install basic dependencies: you need Python 3.10.6 and GitDownload them from their official websites, run the installers, and follow the wizard. In the case of Python, check the "Add Python to PATH" box to avoid problems.
- Get the repository codeThe WebUI repository is usually cloned using Git, although some people also use other methods. directly download a compressed package (for example, an sd.webui.zip file with a specific version) and extract it to the folder you want to use.
- Update the WebUIOnce extracted, it is advisable update the code to the latest stable version using the included scripts or Git commands to ensure you have the latest fixes and compatibility with new models.
- Optional for specific GPUsIf you have an RTX 50 series GPU or very new hardware, they may ask you switch to a “dev” branch using a switch-branch-to-dev.bat type script to take advantage of improvements or patches still under development.
- Start the WebUI: you double-click on 'run.bat', The first time, it will download a number of files (base models, Python packages, CUDA dependencies, etc.). When it finishes, you should see a message like “Running on local URL: http://127.0.0.1:7860”. That's the address you need to open in your browser.
- Add a checkpoint modelThe WebUI is usually installed without a "fat" model included. You have to download a checkpoint template from official repositories (for example, Stability AI on GitHub) or from specialized sites and copy it to the folder webui/models (or similar, depending on the package). Once done, in the web interface, press the "refresh" button in the checkpoint selector and you will be able to choose it to generate.
After completing these steps, you'll be ready to Play with Stable Diffusion from the WebUIThe menu structure is somewhat different from Easy Diffusion, but the concepts (prompt, negative prompt, sampler, steps, resolution, etc.) are practically the same.
Download new models, VAEs and Stable Diffusion add-ons
One of the reasons why Stable Diffusion is so addictive is because The community is constantly creating specialized modelsYou have models geared towards hyperrealistic photography, others focused on comic book styles, anime, landscapes, architecture, e-commerce products, pixel art, etc.
To use these additional models, the usual thing to do is to look files with the extension .ckpt or .safetensorsThese are the standard checkpoint formats. Pages like CivitAI and other well-known repositories contain thousands of variants trained with different datasets.
It is very important to keep in mind that These files can be a malware vector if downloaded from dubious sources.Although they are usually clean, it's always worth scanning them with antivirus software. Download them only from trusted sites or with a good reputation in the community.
The installation process is simple: Download the template file and copy it to the appropriate folder. within the structure of your launcher or WebUI. There is usually a "Models" directory with separate subfolders for:
- Main models (checkpoints): where the .ckpt and .safetensors go.
- VAEs: models focused on color, contrast and visual nuances.
- Hypernetworks and LoRAsLightweight accessories designed for fine-tune specific styles without having to load a complete model.
Within each subfolder there is usually a small text file where It indicates which extensions that directory supports.This way you can check if you need to place a .safetensors, a .pt, etc. file there. Once you've copied it, restart the interface (or use the refresh models button) and you'll be able to select the new options from the dropdown menus.
If at any point you decide that you no longer want to use Stable Diffusion with a particular launcher, To uninstall, simply delete the application folder.There is usually no classic installer that leaves remnants throughout the system: by deleting the main folder you also remove associated models, configurations and scripts.
After going through this entire process—from the requirements, through the installation with a simple interface or WebUI, to the configuration of parameters and the expansion using external models—you should have a fairly comprehensive overview of how to use Stable Diffusion 3 on your PCFrom here, the next step is pure trial and error: testing increasingly elaborate prompts, adjusting samplers, playing with the number of steps, combining models and VAEs, and ultimately, finding your own workflow so that AI becomes a creative tool that works with you and not something mysterious that does things randomly.