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Concept

ControlNet

Borrow the pose or structure of any image — your generation follows its skeleton, your prompt decides the rest.

ControlNet lets an uploaded image act as the skeleton of your generation. Unlike Img2img — which copies the overall look of a reference — ControlNet extracts just the structure (a pose, outlines, depth) and generates a completely new image that follows it.

When to reach for it

  • Pose matching: you found a dynamic pose you love, but want your own character, outfit, and style in it.

  • Consistent framing: keep the exact composition across a series of images while changing everything else with your Prompt.

  • Sketch to finish: use your rough drawing's lines as the frame for a polished render.

On PixAI

Find ControlNet in the generation panel's settings, upload your structure reference, and pick the analysis method. Then prompt as usual — the prompt controls what is drawn, ControlNet controls where everything sits.

Tips

  • A selection of ControlNet methods isn't compatible with XL models; use a regular model if your chosen method is greyed out.

  • Prefer describing a layout in words instead of an image? Try Composition.

See also