Even if you’ve been using ComfyUI for a while, you’re bound to discover something that seems simple in hindsight, but you just never noticed. I’ve been using ComfyUI for almost two years now, and I still remember how overwhelming it was to open someone else’s workflow — dozens of nodes, hundreds of parameters, and all that spaghetti everywhere.

Recently, while seeing how far I could push my GPU with a new workflow, I found myself thinking about how much easier it would have been if I had known some of the things I do now when I was just starting out. ComfyUI's expansive capabilities can make it easy to miss something simple. Some basic things, like holding shift to drag output connections, just didn't occur to me early on but could have saved me so much time if I had known. Generative AI has been moving so fast that there's always something new to learn.

6 Civitai: Your go-to for Stable Diffusion models

Civitai is a powerhouse for models

If you’re wondering where to find Stable Diffusion models, Civitai is the largest platform for discovering and sharing them. With over 10 million unique monthly visitors and 3 million registered users, Civitai has become a hub for everything Stable Diffusion. It hosts thousands of AI models, LoRAs, workflows, and more.

Civitai has two websites:

• The original Civitai (NSFW) for unrestricted content.
• The new Civitai Green (SFW) for safe-for-work searches.

Use its search filters to narrow results by model type and base model.

5 Convert node settings to input or output points

Turn settings into dynamic inputs

Many node settings in ComfyUI can be converted into input or output points, enabling control from an externally connected node. For example, if you want two KSampler nodes to use the same seed, you can convert the noise_seed setting to an input point and connect it to a single seed node, like those in the tinyterraNodes pack.

To convert a setting to an input:

1. Right-click on the node.
2. Click Convert Widget to Input.
3. Click Convert noise seed to input.

To revert the input back to a setting:

1. Right-click on the node.
2. Click Convert Input to Widget.
3. Click Convert noise_seed to widget.

4 Set CLIP Skip with the CLIP Set Last Layer node

It just has a different name in ComfyUI

You might see "CLIP Skip" mentioned in many model descriptions, but there isn’t a node named that in ComfyUI. Instead, use the CLIP Set Last Layer node. Keep in mind that ComfyUI's node uses negative values:

• A clipskip = 2 is equivalent to stop_at_clip_layer = -2 in ComfyUI.

Place the CLIP Set Last Layer node after a Load Checkpoint node and before other nodes in your workflow.

3 Save workflows as both JSON and PNG

Backup your workflows in multiple formats

ComfyUI updates can sometimes break older workflows, causing nodes to appear completely red and lose their settings. This issue can also arise when importing workflows that rely on custom nodes you don't have installed.

Although the Install Missing Custom Nodes button in ComfyUI Manager Menu can recognize and install missing nodes, it doesn't recover their settings.

When saving a workflow, export it as a JSON script and as a PNG image. By saving in both formats, you’ll have a visual reference in the future if you need it.

Steps to export ComfyUI workflows as JSON:

1. Click Workflow in the main menu.
2. Click Export.
3. Name your workflow, click Confirm, and save it.

Steps to export ComfyUI workflows as PNG:

1. Right-click on the canvas.
2. Click Workflow Image > Export > png.
3. Name your workflow and save it.

2 Use the snap to grid settings for cleaner workflows

Keep your workflow neat and organized

For those who like to keep their workflows neat and tidy, enabling the snap to grid setting is a must. I'm one of those people who has to align stuff and a canvas with a bunch of boxes is a nightmare without this setting.

How to enable snap to grid:

1. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the sidebar.
2. Click LiteGraph in the settings menu.
3. Toggle Always snap to grid and adjust Snap to grid size to your preference.

1 Install a Preview Chooser node

Preview and pause your workflows

The Preview Chooser Node is one of my favorite tools for improving workflow efficiency. It pauses the workflow at specific points when an image has been generated, allowing you to preview an image before deciding whether to cancel or continue your workflow. I use the node created by chrisgoringe in nearly all my workflows.

How to install the Preview Chooser Node:

1. Click Custom Nodes Manager in the ComfyUI Manager Menu.
2. Search for Image Chooser and click Install.
3. Return to the ComfyUI Manager Menu when the installation is complete and click Restart.
4. Refresh your browser once ComfyUI reopens.

There's always more to learn in ComfyUI

Generative AI moves fast, and it can be hard to keep up. With the rise of open-source tools like ComfyUI and open-weight models like Stable Diffusion, 2025 is set to see a surge in new users. However, being ahead of the curve often means fewer tutorials, sparse documentation, and the frustration of running into dead ends during your searches.

I've experienced this myself and hope these tips make your journey with ComfyUI smoother. While it can be daunting at first, tools like Pinokio simplify the installation process, making it a lot more accessible. If you've got any tips of your own or want to see more, feel free to share them in the comments—I'm always eager to learn more and pass it on.