What is CFG Scale?

How it works

CFG (Classifier-Free Guidance) scale is a key generation parameter that controls the trade-off between prompt adherence and creative freedom. A low CFG scale (1-5) gives the model more creative latitude, producing varied but potentially less accurate results. A high CFG scale (10-20+) forces the model to follow your prompt more strictly, but can produce oversaturated or artifacted output at extreme values. The sweet spot for most generation is typically 5-12. Understanding CFG scale is important for prompt engineering: if your output does not match your prompt, increasing CFG may help. If your output looks oversaturated or harsh, lowering CFG may produce more natural results.