Image generation

ControlNet

An add-on for image models: sets pose, outlines, depth or floor plan so the result follows the required composition exactly.

The last open version came out in Jul 2024. The family has not been updated for a long time: the model still works, but do not expect fixes or new sizes.

Developer
Lvmin Zhang (Stanford) and the community, USA
First release
Feb 2023
Latest release
Jul 2024
Sizes
0.4B – 1.3B
License
Commercial use allowedOpenRAIL (original), Apache 2.0 for popular SDXL versions
Running
On your own serverNeeds a GPU
Industries
Media and production, Marketing and content
Deploy on your server Hugging Face GitHub

What it does

  • Image from a sketch or outline
  • Keeping pose and composition
  • Interior visualization from a floor plan
  • Series with a consistent angle

Where it is used

Interior design and architectureAdvertisingFashion and apparel

Hardware requirements

LaptopLaptop or regular PC, up to 8 GB of VRAM — smaller versions
fits
1 GPUOne GPU with 16–80 GB — mid-size versions
fits
ClusterServer with several GPUs — flagship versions
no versions

Versions

  1. ControlNet Union SDXL
  2. ControlNet 1.1
  3. ControlNet 1.0

How to run it

On your own serverWeights are downloaded from Hugging Face and served with vLLM (load and API) or llama.cpp (modest hardware). The model then runs in a closed network with no per-request fees.Hugging Face
How much hardware you needCalculate the VRAM for the model size, context length and number of concurrent requests.Open the hardware calculator

I can set this up end to end: pick the model size, deploy it on your server and connect it to your systems.

Frequently asked questions

Can ControlNet be used in a commercial project?

Yes. License: OpenRAIL (original), Apache 2.0 for popular SDXL versions. It allows commercial use, but it is still worth having a lawyer review the license before launch.

What hardware does ControlNet need?

At minimum: Laptop or regular PC, up to 8 GB of VRAM — smaller versions. Without a GPU the model is not practical. You can calculate the exact VRAM for your model size and context in the hardware calculator.

Does ControlNet support Russian?

Language does not matter for this model: it does not work with text.

Where can I download ControlNet and what does it cost?

The ControlNet weights are open and free to download. You only pay for the hardware it runs on and for the setup. Source links are at the bottom of this page.

How I deploy it for clients

  1. SelectionI pick the model size for your task and hardware and test it on your examples.
  2. DeploymentI deploy it on your server or in a closed network and provide an API.
  3. Fine-tuningI fine-tune it on your data (LoRA) or connect a knowledge base — whichever is cheaper for the task.
  4. IntegrationI connect it to your CRM, ERP, bot, website or team chat and set up monitoring.

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Details

Source: huggingface.co/xinsir/controlnet-union-sdxl-1.0. Data checked against the model card on 22 Sep 2026. Have a lawyer review the license before commercial launch.