VAE
The final "color grading" of your image — swap VAEs to change mood, saturation, and tone.
The VAE is the last stage of generation: it converts the AI's internal work into the actual pixels you see. In practice, choosing a VAE is like choosing a color-grading filter — the same image can come out vibrant and punchy or soft and dreamy depending on which one you pick.
VAE options on PixAI
You'll find the VAE selector under Advanced settings. Each option has a distinct personality:
Liquid9745VAE — vibrant modern anime: high contrast, bold colors that pop.
PPPAnimix VAE — character focus: beautifully enhances skin tones and facial features.
Pony Enhanced VAE Pastels — soft, dreamy pastels: ideal for delicate fabrics and romantic scenes.
Pony Standard VAE — natural balance: faithful, even color reproduction.
SharpSpectrumVAEXL — maximum detail and saturation: everything crystal clear and intense.
Tips
Pick the VAE last, after your composition and character are locked in — it's a finishing touch, not a fix for a bad generation.
If your images consistently look washed-out or oddly tinted, try a different VAE before rewriting your prompt.