Stable Diffusion 3 Medium: The Beginner's Guide

Last updated on: Aug 20, 2024

This is the ultimate guide to Stable Diffusion 3 Medium in 2024.

In this new guide I'll show you:

1. A 2 Billion Parameter Model and Key features of SD3 Medium
2. Stability and Optimization
3. Safety and Responsible Use
4. Open and Commercial Licensing
5. How to Get Started with Stable Diffusion 3 Medium
6. Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Innovations

Just moments ago, Stable Diffusion 3 Medium (SD3 Medium) arrived as promised. A few days ago, Stability AI announced on social platform X that SD3 Medium would be officially open-sourced on June 12. This time, there were no delays; it's here and ready to impress.

A 2 Billion Parameter Model for Consumer Devices

According to the official blog by Stability AI, the SD3 Medium model consists of 2 billion parameters, capable of generating higher quality, more detailed images. Due to its relatively small size, SD3 Medium is especially suitable for running on consumer PCs, laptops, and enterprise GPUs. This makes it a potential new standard for text-to-image models.

For more information, you can refer to the Stable Diffusion 3 Guide here.

Key Features of SD3 Medium

• High-Quality Image Generation : SD3 Medium successfully overcomes common issues with hands and faces, providing high-quality images without complex workflows. Innovations such as the 16-channel VAE enable stunning image detail and realism.
• Understanding Complex Prompts : The model can comprehend complex prompts involving spatial relationships, compositional elements, actions, and styles. This is particularly beneficial for artists and designers needing to convey intricate ideas through text prompts.
• Text Generation Capabilities : SD3 Medium excels in text generation, producing text without spelling errors or awkward formatting. The Diffusion Transformer architecture ensures accurate and natural text generation, making it a versatile tool for creating images and integrating textual content.
• Low VRAM Usage : SD3 Medium is ideal for standard consumer GPUs, without performance degradation. This makes it very user-friendly for hobbyists and small businesses.
• Detail Absorption : The model can absorb nuanced details from small datasets, making it perfect for customization. This is a significant advantage for users aiming to create unique and personalized content.

Stability and Optimization

Stability AI invested significant effort into training SD3 Medium, utilizing synthetic data and curated public datasets. The pre-training involved a massive dataset of 1 billion images, while fine-tuning focused on 30 million high-quality aesthetic images and an additional 3 million preference-based images.

Moreover, Stability AI has collaborated with NVIDIA and AMD to optimize the model's performance. The TensorRT-optimized version of SD3 Medium, leveraging NVIDIA® RTX™ GPUs, promises up to a 50% performance increase. AMD has optimized inference for SD3 Medium on various devices, including the latest APUs and MI-300X enterprise GPUs, making high-quality generative AI more accessible than ever.

Safety and Responsible Use

As with any powerful technology, the potential for misuse is a significant concern. Stability AI is keenly aware of this and has implemented stringent safety measures to prevent the generation of harmful or biased content. The company conducted extensive internal and external testing to ensure the model does not produce inappropriate content. Users are required to adhere to SD3 Medium's usage guidelines, setting up protective measures to prevent the dissemination of harmful content.

Open and Commercial Licensing

In line with their mission to democratize AI technology, Stability AI has released SD3 Medium under an open non-commercial license. Researchers, developers, and enthusiasts can freely explore and experiment with the model. For commercial applications, Stability AI offers a low-cost Creator License, and large-scale commercial users can contact Stability AI directly to discuss enterprise licensing options.

This flexible licensing approach ensures that SD3 Medium can be utilized by a diverse range of users, from individual artists to large companies, while supporting Stability AI's goal of making cutting-edge AI technology widely accessible.

How to Get Started with Stable Diffusion 3 Medium

If you are looking for a free Stable Diffusion 3 Medium that can instantly transform your text prompts into stunning images online, try the Stable Diffusion 3 Medium Online.

Download the Model Weights

• Visit the Stability AI page on Hugging Face.
• Download the SD3 Medium model weights from the provided link.

Try SD3 Medium via API and Applications

• API Access : Access SD3 Medium through the Stability AI API powered by Fireworks AI. Sign up for the API to integrate SD3 Medium into your applications and workflows.
• Stable Assistant : Use the Stable Assistant chatbot for an interactive experience with SD3 Medium. Sign up for a free three-day trial to explore the model's capabilities.
• Stable Artisan on Discord : Join the Stability AI Discord community and use Stable Artisan to test SD3 Medium. Engage with other users and share your creations within the community.

Explore Other Versions

While using SD3 Medium, you can also try other versions of Stable Diffusion 3, such as SD3 Large and SD3 Ultra, available through the same platforms (API, Stable Assistant, and Stable Artisan).

Commercial Use

Licensing: For commercial inquiries, contact Stability AI to obtain the necessary licensing details. Explore the low-cost Creator License for small-scale commercial use or the Enterprise License for large-scale applications.

Additional Resources

FAQs and Documentation: Visit Stability AI's detailed FAQs to learn more about SD3 Medium and its features. Access comprehensive documentation to assist with setup, customization, and troubleshooting.

Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Innovations

Stability AI is not resting on its laurels with the release of SD3 Medium. The company has ambitious plans to continue improving the model based on user feedback and advancements in AI research. Future updates are expected to enhance performance, introduce new features, and expand the model's capabilities, setting new standards for creativity in AI-generated art.

The ongoing collaboration with the AI community, including researchers, artists, and developers, is a cornerstone of Stability AI’s approach. By fostering an open and collaborative environment, Stability AI aims to drive innovation and ensure their models meet the evolving needs of users.

Conclusion

The launch of Stable Diffusion 3 Medium represents a significant advancement in the field of generative AI. With its impressive capabilities, accessibility, and commitment to safety, SD3 Medium is poised to become a vital tool for a wide range of users. Whether you're an artist looking to push the boundaries of your creative projects, a developer exploring new AI applications, or a business seeking to leverage advanced AI technology, SD3 Medium offers unparalleled opportunities.

As Stability AI continues to innovate and refine their models, the future of AI-generated art looks brighter than ever. The open release of SD3 Medium is a testament to Stability AI's vision of making powerful, user-friendly AI accessible to all, empowering creators and pushing the limits of what's possible in the digital art world.