# FLUX.2-klein Notes

## Current default assumptions

- Chris uses `FLUX.2-klein 9B`.
- Prefer `9B fp8` paths first.
- `GGUF` is not the default path unless it is the only strong or practical workflow route.

## Strong current source workflows

- Official Comfy `image edit` templates:
  - `image-edit-9b-base`
  - `image-edit-9b-distilled`
  - `image-edit-4b-base`
  - `image-edit-4b-distilled`
- The maintained `flux2klein-9b-fp8-edit-master` now lines up with the real `9B fp8` diffusion filename and `full_encoder_small_decoder` VAE, so the documented model pair matches the saved graph instead of the older mixed-label shorthand.
- Keep the maintained `9B fp8` edit master as the canonical saved graph; the imported `9B distilled` and `9B base` templates still serialize the older `fp8mixed` widget label, so those are source imports to mine, not promotion targets.
- Current best outpainting starter:
  - `models/flux2klein/image-edit-4b-distilled/`
  - Reason: official, current, and easiest first test even though Chris's main stack is `9B`
- Community Hugging Face workflow worth remembering:
  - `models/flux2klein/community-gguf-kv-yarvixpa/`
  - Interesting because of KV-cache / GGUF optimization ideas, not because it is the default path
- Community multi-reference donor worth watching:
  - `models/flux2klein/geceff-flux2klein9b-multiref-3image/`
  - Useful as a reference-control donor, but still too heavy and opinionated to replace the official `9B fp8` edit baseline by default

## Strong current heuristics

- Prefer official Comfy templates as the baseline unless a community workflow clearly improves something real.
- For `9B`, watch closely for text-encoder mismatches.
- Keep the maintained `9B fp8` master pinned to the literal `flux-2-klein-9b-fp8.safetensors` filename; the imported distilled template still shows `fp8mixed` in the widget value, so do not copy that label back into the maintained graph.
- Community `9B` optimization notes often revolve around:
  - low-step usage
  - `CFG=1`
  - cleaner model/text-encoder pairing
  - avoiding broken loader substitutions
- Keep the official `9B fp8` edit master as the default lane, then borrow from the multi-reference donor only when reference control is the real problem.
- When testing, use the maintained `9B fp8` master as the comparison baseline rather than the raw imported `fp8mixed` widget label.

## Current weak areas

- We still do not have a clean, trusted, explicitly labeled `9B fp8 outpainting` community workflow import.
- Some public workflow pages mention outpainting but do not expose a trustworthy raw workflow asset.
- The multi-reference donor is promising, but it is not a clean maintainable replacement for the current edit master.

## Best current optimization direction

- Build future `optimized/image-edit/flux2klein-9b-master/` from the official `9B` edit template family first.
- Borrow only proven improvements from community sources:
  - cleaner graph organization
  - low-step settings when they are clearly validated
  - better reference/outpaint control if portable
- Treat the `geceff` multi-reference pack as a donor for future reference-heavy variants, not as the first default promotion.
- The 2026-08-28 overnight `image-edit-9b-distilled` smoke still looks clean enough to keep `flux2klein-9b-fp8-edit-master` as the benchmark winner for now: identity retention stayed strong, the full-body silhouette remained tidy, and the white background stayed uncluttered. Queue one more smoke test before any broader promotion.
- The 2026-08-22 overnight `image-edit-9b-distilled` smoke stayed clean enough to keep the current `flux2klein-9b-fp8-edit-master` lane as the benchmark winner for now: strong identity retention, a tidy full-body silhouette, and a clean white background. Keep one more smoke test queued before any broader claim of stability.
- The 2026-08-23 overnight `image-edit-9b-distilled` smoke is still clean enough to keep `flux2klein-9b-fp8-edit-master` as the benchmark winner: identity stayed locked, the body read stayed clean, and the white background remained uncluttered. Queue another smoke test before any stronger promotion.
- The 2026-08-27 overnight `image-edit-9b-distilled` smoke held up on review and is still clean enough to keep `flux2klein-9b-fp8-edit-master` as the benchmark winner for now: identity retention is still strong, the silhouette is tidy, and the white background stayed uncluttered. Queue one more smoke test before any broader promotion.

## What needs Monday proof

- Whether `9B distilled` or `9B base` is the better real default for edit/outpaint on Chris's setup
- Whether a `4B distilled` outpaint starter still beats `9B` in practical iteration speed enough to matter
- Which custom-node optimizations are real versus noise