If you spend any time on social networks, you won't have missed these ultra-realistic portraits taken with Flux, which have been multiplying in recent days. The craze for Black Forest Labs' new model is real, given its ability to generate impressively realistic photos.

In this article, we'll look at how you can easily use Flux with a LoRA specialized in photorealism to create strikingly realistic images.

This is an English version of this tutorial. A French and a Spanish version are also availabe on my blog.

Flux RealismLora

While the dev and pro versions of Flux are already very good and capable of creating rather realistic images, it's the arrival of the first LoRA Flux-RealismLora a few days ago that seems to have completely changed the game.

The term LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation) refers to a technique for refining AI models for specific styles or subjects. A LoRA is a file created using this technique and used as a complement to a model. It enables AI to specialize in certain visual aspects without the need for complete retraining.

Here, the LoRA has been specifically trained to reproduce more faithfully the texture, lighting and rendering of photographic images.

Flux on fal.ai

fal.ai is a generative AI platform offering developers easy access to advanced AI models via API.

It enables image generation, text processing and other AI tasks without complex infrastructure. With its pay-per-use pricing and automatic scalability, fal.ai democratizes the integration of AI into applications, making development faster and more cost-effective.

The platform also offers demo and playground areas for AI models, enabling them to be run via a simple web interface. This is the tool we're going to use.

💸 Is it free?

fal.ai charges per use: you only pay for the images you generate: around $0.035 / image.

Registering on fal.ai grants a free credit equivalent to $2.2 - enough to generate about fifty images.

Step-by-step guide

Prerequisite: Github account

Before you start, you'll need a Github account to access the fal platform. If you don't already have an account, create one easily from the Github registration page.

1. Create a fal.ai account

Go to the [fal.ai] website (http://fal.ai) and click on the *Get started* button. Log in with your Github account.

2. Select the Flux Realism LoRA model

Go to the Flux Realism page (also accessible from the fal.ai homepage)

3. Add a prompt

Enter a description of the desired image in the *Prompt.* field. The text must be in English and describe the subject and its environment in detail:

4. Generate an image

All you have to do now is click on the purple *Run* button to start generating the image. As soon as it's ready, it's displayed in the right-hand frame for you to download.

5. To go further

Clicking on the little *More* button under the *prompt* field displays the additional generation parameters:

Flux-Realism prompts

To get the most out of Flux and its Realism Lora, you need to write your prompts in English and structure them clearly and precisely. Here are 7 points to keep in mind and try to include in your prompts to develop detailed and effective prompts:

1. Main topic: Describe the physical characteristics and attire of the main subject of your photo.
   example: middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair and a neatly trimmed beard

2. Action/Pose: Specify the subject's activity, action and/or posture.
   example: sitting at a rustic wooden table in a sunlit café.

3. Context/Location: Detail the environment around your subject.
   example: The café backdrop features exposed brick walls, hanging plants, and a chalkboard menu.

4. Specific details: Refine your description with distinctive elements.
   example: wearing a crisp white shirt and navy blazer / The café backdrop features exposed brick walls, hanging plants, and a chalkboard menu.

5. Ambiance: Define the overall atmosphere.
   example: The overall atmosphere is one of urban sophistication and quiet contemplation.

6. Theme: Explain the context or main activity.
   example: His posture and focused expression convey a sense of calm concentration during his morning routine.

7. Style: Indicate a visual or artistic reference.

example: in the style of amateur photography.

A few prompts

A photo of a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair and a neatly trimmed beard, wearing a crisp white shirt and navy blazer. He's sitting at a rustic wooden table in a sunlit café, carefully sipping from a cappuccino in small cup. His other hand holds an open newspaper. The café backdrop features exposed brick walls, hanging plants, and a chalkboard menu. His posture and focused expression convey a sense of calm concentration during his morning routine. The overall atmosphere is one of urban sophistication and quiet contemplation in the style of amateur photography

A close-up shot of a passionate female chef in her 40s with curly black hair tucked under a white chef's hat, wearing a crisp white double-breasted jacket. She's intently focused on plating a colorful dish in a sleek, modern kitchen. Her skilled hands delicately position a vibrant red bell pepper slice on the plate. Stainless steel appliances and hanging copper pots gleam in the background. Steam rises from the freshly cooked food, creating a misty effect around her. Her expression shows a mix of concentration and pride. The scene captures the artistry and precision of haute cuisine, styled like a high-end culinary magazine spread with dramatic lighting emphasizing the textures and colors of the food.


A wide-angle view of a young Asian male student in his early 20s, wearing a comfortable grey hoodie and jeans, sitting cross-legged on the floor of a vast university library. He's surrounded by open textbooks and papers, with a laptop balanced on his knees. Towering bookshelves filled with leather-bound volumes stretch into the background. Soft, warm lighting from antique desk lamps creates a cozy atmosphere. His brow is furrowed in concentration as he types, with a half-empty coffee cup beside him. Other students can be seen studying at tables in the distance. The image conveys the intensity of exam preparation and the timeless environment of academic pursuit, captured in the style of a thoughtful documentary photograph.

As we've just seen, using Flux to generate realistic images is an accessible and efficient process. The fal.ai platform facilitates this experience by offering an intuitive interface for testing and exploiting Flux's capabilities.

The use of LoRA Realism to generate more lifelike photos demonstrates the full power of a tool like Flux, which is now positioned as a must-have option in the AI-driven image generation landscape. No doubt we'll be hearing more about this model in the future - including on the pages of this blog, where we'll continue to share information and tutorials to democratize the use of such tools.