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3 changes: 3 additions & 0 deletions docs.json
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"group": "Get Started",
"pages": [
"index",
"get_started/learning-path",
{
"group": "Local (Self-Hosted)",
"icon": "download",
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"group": "开始使用",
"pages": [
"zh/index",
"zh/get_started/learning-path",
{
"group": "本地 (自托管)",
"icon": "download",
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"group": "はじめに",
"pages": [
"ja/index",
"ja/get_started/learning-path",
{
"group": "ローカル (セルフホステッド)",
"icon": "download",
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244 changes: 244 additions & 0 deletions get_started/learning-path.mdx
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---
title: "Learning Path: From Zero to Pro"
description: "A step-by-step learning path for ComfyUI beginners. Start here if you're new to ComfyUI."
sidebarTitle: "Learning Path"
icon: "map"
---

<Note>
**New to ComfyUI?** You're in the right place.

This guide is designed for people with **zero experience** in AI image generation. We'll walk you through everything step by step — no technical background required.
</Note>

---

## What is ComfyUI?

ComfyUI is an application that lets you create images, videos, 3D models, and audio using AI. Think of it as a visual workshop where you connect different **tools** (called **nodes**) together in a diagram (called a **workflow**) to tell the AI what to do.

Instead of being a simple "type a prompt, get a result" tool, ComfyUI gives you full control over every step of the process. You decide which AI model to use, how to process your image, and what adjustments to make along the way.

### Why does it need a GPU?

AI image generation involves a lot of mathematical computation. A GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a specialized chip originally designed for rendering graphics, but it turns out to be excellent at running AI models.

- **Cloud** users don't need their own GPU — Comfy Cloud runs on **professional RTX 6000 Pro GPUs** on the server side. You get high-performance hardware without buying anything.
- **Local** users need a capable GPU in their own computer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Apple Silicon) to get good performance. Without a proper GPU, generating images locally will be very slow or impossible.

---

## Start with Templates (Recommended)

The easiest way to get started with ComfyUI is to use a **pre-made workflow template**. Think of a template as a ready-to-use recipe — all the nodes are already connected in the right order. You just need to adjust the prompt and hit run.

Templates are available for hundreds of use cases: text-to-image, image editing, video generation, upscaling, 3D modeling, and more. You can find them in the **Template Library** (inside ComfyUI) or browse them here on the docs.

Once you're comfortable, you can start modifying templates and eventually build your own workflows from scratch.

---

## Cloud vs Local: Which One is For You?

ComfyUI has two ways to run. The table below summarizes the key differences:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
<Card title="☁️ Comfy Cloud (Recommended for Beginners)" icon="cloud" href="/get_started/cloud">
**Zero installation.** Run ComfyUI in your browser. No GPU needed on your end.
<br/>
✅ Start in 2 minutes — just sign up
<br/>
✅ No models to download (all pre-installed on RTX 6000 Pro servers)
<br/>
✅ Free credits every month
<br/>
✅ Works on any device (Mac, Windows, Chromebook, tablet)
<br/>
⚠️ Requires internet connection
</Card>
<Card title="💻 Run Locally (Install on Your Computer)" icon="download" href="/installation/system_requirements">
**Install ComfyUI on your own machine.** Full control, works offline.
<br/>
⚠️ Requires a decent GPU (NVIDIA RTX 2060+ / AMD RX 6000+ / Apple M1+)
<br/>
⚠️ You'll need to download models yourself (takes time and disk space)
<br/>
⚠️ 15-30 min setup time
<br/>
✅ Unlimited usage, no monthly credits
<br/>
✅ Works fully offline once set up
</Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note type="tip">
**Not sure which to pick?** Start with Cloud. It's free, requires no setup, and you can always switch to local later. Most users begin on Cloud and move to local when they want more control or unlimited usage.
</Note>

### What About Local Users and Models?

If you choose to run ComfyUI locally, here's what you need to know:

- **Models are the "brain"** of the AI — they determine the style and quality of your results. Different models do different things (images, video, 3D, etc.).
- **You download models from the internet** (Hugging Face, Civitai, etc.) and place them in the correct `models/` folder inside your ComfyUI installation directory.
- **Models take up disk space** — some are 2-7 GB each. Make sure you have enough free space.
- **The reason you need a GPU** is that models run massive calculations. A GPU can perform these calculations many times faster than a regular CPU. Without a capable GPU, generating even a single image could take minutes instead of seconds.

For step-by-step guidance, see the [Local Learning Path](/get_started/learning-path/local).

---

## Custom Nodes: Extending ComfyUI

ComfyUI comes with a rich set of **built-in nodes** that cover most common tasks. However, the community has created thousands of **custom nodes** that add new capabilities.

### What is a Custom Node?

A custom node is an extension created by the community to add functionality not available in the built-in nodes. Think of them as plugins — they can add new ways to process images, new AI models, or new utilities.

<Card title="ComfyUI-Manager" icon="puzzle-piece" href="/manager/overview">
The easiest way to browse, install, and manage custom nodes.
</Card>

<Card title="Installing Custom Nodes" icon="download" href="/installation/install_custom_node">
Step-by-step guide on how to install custom nodes.
</Card>

<Card title="All Built-in Nodes" icon="cube" href="/built-in-nodes/overview">
Browse the full list of built-in nodes — what comes with ComfyUI out of the box.
</Card>

### Important: Cloud Users Cannot Install Custom Nodes

**If you are using Comfy Cloud, you cannot install custom nodes.** Comfy Cloud runs in a shared cluster environment, and for security and stability reasons, custom node installation is not supported.

This means:
- When browsing templates on the docs, **always check if it requires custom nodes**
- Templates listed in the **Template Library** on Cloud are guaranteed to work — they use only built-in nodes
- If you need custom node functionality, you'll need to run ComfyUI locally

### Native vs Community: Which to Choose?

| | Native (Built-in) | Community (Custom Nodes) |
|---|-------------------|--------------------------|
| **Maintained by** | ComfyOrg team | Open-source community |
| **Installation** | Comes with ComfyUI | Requires extra setup |
| **Comfy Cloud** | ✅ Compatible | ❌ Not available |
| **Stability** | High | Varies |
| **Features** | Core functionality | New, experimental features |

> **Recommendation:** Always check if a native implementation exists first. Native nodes are simpler, better maintained, and work on both Cloud and Local. Community nodes are great for advanced functionality that isn't available natively.

---

### Advanced: When You Need Custom Nodes

Once you've mastered the basics, you may find that certain advanced features are only available as custom nodes. Common examples include:

- **Advanced segmentation** — More precise subject isolation
- **Specialized video tools** — Frame interpolation, optical flow
- **Workflow automation** — Batch processing, scheduling
- **Integration with other tools** — Connecting ComfyUI to Photoshop, Blender, etc.

For local users, the [Local Learning Path](/get_started/learning-path/local) has a section on installing and managing custom nodes.

---

## Your Learning Path: Step by Step

### 1. Choose Your Path

First, decide how you want to use ComfyUI:

- **☁️ [Learning Path: Comfy Cloud](/get_started/learning-path/cloud)** — No installation, no model downloads
- **💻 [Learning Path: Local Installation](/get_started/learning-path/local)** — Install on your computer, download models

### 2. Familiarize Yourself with the Interface

Once you have ComfyUI open, spend 2 minutes looking at the screen:

<Card title="Interface Overview" icon="window" href="/interface/overview">
Learn what each part of the screen does — the menu, the sidebar, the canvas, and the controls.
</Card>

### 3. Generate Your First Image

Use a ready-made **workflow template** to create your first AI image:

<Card title="First Generation" icon="rocket" href="/get_started/first_generation">
Follow this guide to load a template, enter a prompt, and generate your first image.
</Card>

### 4. Understand the Key Parameters

After generating, learn what the parameters do:

<Card title="Text to Image Tutorial" icon="book" href="/tutorials/basic/text-to-image">
Explains prompt, steps, CFG scale, sampler, seed — everything you need to control your results.
</Card>

### 5. Level Up: Follow the Tutorial Sequence

Build your skills in this recommended order:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
<Card title="Image → Image" icon="image" href="/tutorials/basic/image-to-image">
Start with an existing image and transform it
</Card>
<Card title="Inpainting" icon="paint-brush" href="/tutorials/basic/inpaint">
Replace or edit specific parts of an image
</Card>
<Card title="Outpainting" icon="expand" href="/tutorials/basic/outpaint">
Extend images beyond their original borders
</Card>
<Card title="Upscaling" icon="magnifying-glass" href="/tutorials/basic/upscale">
Make your images larger and sharper
</Card>
<Card title="LoRA" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" href="/tutorials/basic/lora">
Apply specific styles or characters
</Card>
<Card title="ControlNet" icon="sliders" href="/tutorials/controlnet/controlnet">
Control composition with pose, depth, edge maps
</Card>
</CardGroup>

### 6. Explore More

Once you've mastered the basics, explore different areas:

<Tabs>
<Tab title="Image">
- [Flux Family](/tutorials/flux/flux-1-text-to-image)
- [HiDream](/tutorials/image/hidream)
- [Qwen Image](/tutorials/image/qwen/qwen-image)
- [More Image Models](/tutorials/image)
</Tab>
<Tab title="Video">
- [Wan2.1](/tutorials/video/wan/wan2_2)
- [Hunyuan Video](/tutorials/video/hunyuan/hunyuan-video)
- [LTX](/tutorials/video/ltx/ltx-2)
- [More Video Models](/tutorials/video)
</Tab>
<Tab title="3D / Audio / Utility">
- [3D Generation](/tutorials/3d)
- [Audio Generation](/tutorials/audio)
- [Background Removal](/tutorials/utility/remove-background-birefnet)
- [Video Segmentation](/tutorials/utility/video-segment-sam3)
</Tab>
</Tabs>

---

## Quick Reference

| Problem | Where to Look |
|---------|---------------|
| Model not working | [Troubleshooting: Model Issues](/troubleshooting/model-issues) |
| Custom node error | [Troubleshooting: Custom Node Issues](/troubleshooting/custom-node-issues) |
| ComfyUI Manager | [Install and manage custom nodes](/manager/overview) |
| Keyboard shortcuts | [Shortcuts Reference](/interface/shortcuts) |
| Built-in nodes | [All built-in nodes explained](/built-in-nodes/overview) |

---

**Your first step:** Choose your path — [☁️ Comfy Cloud](/get_started/learning-path/cloud) or [💻 Local Installation](/get_started/learning-path/local). 🚀
83 changes: 83 additions & 0 deletions get_started/learning-path/cloud.mdx
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---
title: "Learning Path: Comfy Cloud"
description: "Step-by-step guide for Comfy Cloud users — zero installation, all models pre-installed."
sidebarTitle: "☁️ Comfy Cloud"
icon: "cloud"
parent: "get_started/learning-path"
---

<Note type="tip">
**Picked Cloud? Great choice.** You don't need to install anything, download any models, or own a GPU. Everything runs on our servers equipped with **professional RTX 6000 Pro GPUs**.
</Note>

This path is for you if:
- You want to try ComfyUI without any setup
- Your computer doesn't have a powerful GPU
- You want to jump straight into creating

---

## Step 1: Sign Up and Open Cloud

1. Go to **[cloud.comfy.org](https://cloud.comfy.org)** and create an account
2. You'll receive free credits every month — enough to explore and create
3. Once logged in, you'll see the ComfyUI interface in your browser

There is nothing to download or install. Everything runs in your browser.

---

## Step 2: Pick a Template

The quickest way to get started is to use a **workflow template**:

1. In the ComfyUI interface, click the **Template Library** button
2. Browse or search for a template — try `01_get_started_text_to_image` for your first image
3. Click to load it — the template will appear on your canvas with all nodes pre-connected

<Card title="What is a Template?" icon="file" href="/interface/features/template">
A template is a ready-to-use workflow. All the nodes are already connected — just adjust the prompt and run.
</Card>

---

## Step 3: Enter a Prompt and Generate

1. Find the **CLIP Text Encode** node on your canvas — it has a text field for your prompt
2. Type a description of what you want to create (e.g., "a cute cat sitting on a sofa, photorealistic")
3. Click the **Queue Prompt** button at the bottom right of the interface
4. Wait a few seconds — your image will appear in the **Save Image** node

<Note>
**About Models:** As a Cloud user, you don't need to worry about models at all. All models are pre-installed on the Cloud servers. When you load a template, the correct model is automatically selected for you.
</Note>

---

## Step 4: Learn the Basics

Once you've generated your first image, explore the following to understand what you're doing:

- **[Text to Image Tutorial](/tutorials/basic/text-to-image)** — Learn what prompt, steps, CFG scale, sampler, and seed mean
- **[Cloud Pricing](/tutorials/partner-nodes/pricing)** — Understand your credits and usage limits

---

## Step 5: Explore More Templates

The Template Library has hundreds of templates. Try different ones:

- **Image editing** — inpainting, outpainting, image-to-image
- **Video** — text-to-video, image-to-video
- **3D** — text-to-3D model
- **Upscaling** — make images larger and sharper

---

## Step 6: Ready to Go Local?

If you eventually want more control or unlimited usage, you can switch to local installation at any time. Your workflows are portable — you can export them from Cloud and load them on your local ComfyUI.

<Card title="Learning Path: Local Installation" icon="download" href="/get_started/learning-path/local">
When you're ready to run ComfyUI on your own computer.
</Card>
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