Why does a high CFG scale sometimes cause distorted results?

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Why does a high CFG scale sometimes cause distorted results?

Asked on Oct 04, 2025

Answer

High CFG (Classifier-Free Guidance) scale in AI image generation models like Stable Diffusion can lead to distorted results because it overly emphasizes the prompt guidance, potentially overriding the model's learned balance between creativity and adherence to the prompt. This can cause the generated image to become less coherent or introduce artifacts as the model tries too hard to match the prompt exactly.

Example Concept: In AI image generation, the CFG scale adjusts how strongly the model follows the text prompt versus relying on its learned patterns. A higher CFG scale increases prompt adherence but can lead to less natural images, as the model may force elements that don't naturally fit together, resulting in distortions or unnatural artifacts.

Additional Comment:

CFG scale is a parameter that balances creativity and prompt adherence, typically ranging from 0 to 20.
Lower CFG values allow more creative freedom, while higher values enforce stricter prompt adherence.
Experiment with different CFG values to find the optimal balance for your specific image generation needs.

✅ Answered with AI image generation best practices.

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