By Andrew Miller 
🔍 Overview
This article compares two powerful open-source text-to-image models:
| Model | Developer | License | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qwen-Image | Alibaba | Apache 2.0 | High VRAM, multi-precision |
| Crea (Flux1 Dev) | Black Forest Labs | Custom (non-commercial for some uses) | Efficient, lower VRAM |
Both were tested using ComfyUI, on multiple prompts with a focus on prompt adherence, visual fidelity, multilingual handling, and artistic realism.
✅ Key Differences
| Feature | Qwen-Image | Crea (Flux1 Dev) |
|---|---|---|
| Prompt Adherence | High (especially structured prompts) | High (slightly better realism) |
| Image Realism | Slightly artificial in style | More photorealistic & natural |
| Speed | ~4-5 minutes per image (full precision) | ~30–40 seconds per image |
| VRAM Usage | 80GB+ (full precision) | ~34GB |
| Multilingual Support | Strong in Chinese, weak in English | English-focused |
| Text Rendering | Great with Chinese text | Acceptable, not a core strength |
| Editing Capabilities | Upcoming | N/A |
| Ideal For | Versatile, text-rich prompts, Chinese art | Photorealism, Western aesthetics |
🧪 Test Results Summary
| Test Prompt | Result |
|---|---|
| Patchy lawn + trampoline scene | Qwen-Image adhered better to full scene detail |
| Anime cosplay at convention | Crea generated a more natural image |
| Traditional Chinese ink painting | Qwen failed; Crea succeeded |
| Artistic lotus with dripping paint | Both performed well; Crea looked more vivid |
| Text Rendering in Chinese | Qwen-Image superior |
| Prompt Diversity (cultural nuance, coding, realism) | Crea stronger for Western visual context |
⚙️ Installation Guide (for both models using ComfyUI)
🛠️ Requirements
- OS: Linux (Ubuntu recommended), macOS, or Windows (with WSL2)
- VRAM:
- Qwen-Image: 48GB+ (80GB preferred for full precision)
- Crea: 24–34GB (works on RTX 3090/4090)
- ComfyUI: Required
🧾 Install ComfyUI
git clone https://github.com/comfyanonymous/ComfyUI
cd ComfyUI
python main.py
Install required Python dependencies via
requirements.txtif not pre-installed.
📦 Add the Models
For Qwen-Image:
- Download the model from Hugging Face
- Place model weights in:
ComfyUI/models/checkpoints/qwen_image/
For Crea (Flux1 Dev):
- Get from: https://huggingface.co/BlackForestAI/crea-flux1-dev
- Place in appropriate ComfyUI checkpoint folder.
🧠 Use Pre-Built Workflow
- Many pre-configured
.jsonworkflows are available in the original creator’s repository or shared videos. - Load the workflow via ComfyUI, select the appropriate model from dropdown, and run.
🏁 Verdict
| Use Case | Best Model |
|---|---|
| Photo-realism | ✅ Crea (Flux1 Dev) |
| Chinese-style art & text | ✅ Qwen-Image |
| Efficiency & Speed | ✅ Crea |
| High-detail, expressive prompts | ✅ Qwen-Image |
| Commercial use (license) | ✅ Qwen-Image (Apache 2.0) |
If you want fast, photo-realistic, and low VRAM image generation, go with Crea (Flux1 Dev).
If you prioritize detailed scenes, Chinese support, or need an Apache 2.0 license, use Qwen-Image.