Skip to content

Cloud Image Setup

Cloud image providers generate images without a local ComfyUI server. You need a provider account, an API key, and billing or credits.

For general image settings, see Image Generation.

Warning

The provider receives the image prompt and, when enabled, reference images. Its billing, moderation, and data-retention policies apply.

Connect a provider

  1. Open Workflow → Secondary.
  2. In Image Generation, select Settings.
  3. Open Connections → Add connection.
  4. Select a provider and enter its API key.
  5. Select Test connection.
  6. Under Styles, assign the connection to a style.
  7. Choose a Model and Resolution. Resolution offers known presets and also accepts a typed widthxheight value. Set Quality or Reference images when the provider supports them.
  8. Select Save.

Testing checks the key and loads the provider's models. It does not generate an image or charge for a render.

The connection stores access details. Each style stores its own model, resolution, quality, and reference-image settings, so several styles can share one key.

Supported providers

Provider Notes
xAI (Grok) Quality settings and reference images; fixed aspect ratios
OpenAI Quality settings and reference images; no negative prompts or seeds; some models require organization verification
OpenRouter Several vendors; no reference images, negative prompts, or seeds through its image endpoint
Together AI Seeds and flexible sizes; reference images only with Kontext models
NanoGPT Model capabilities vary; check the selected model
AI/ML API No default model; image-to-image models are required for reference images. This integration is based on provider documentation.
Custom (OpenAI-compatible) Works with a compatible image API; capabilities depend on the server

The settings panel shows the capabilities Orb applies to the selected provider and model. Check the first image's Render details as well.

Fix a rejected request

Orb shows the message returned by the provider and does not parse that prose to change rejected request parameters or retry a request-parameter refusal. Open the affected style's Compatibility section when the provider says an optional field is invalid:

  • Turn off Send a seed, or enter the inclusive Maximum seed from the provider's documentation or error message.
  • Turn off Send negative prompts while keeping the saved negative style text available for another model.
  • Enter a supported Resolution, or choose one of the offered presets.

Reference images already have their own Off — send prompts only choice. Quality is shown only where the provider exposes it, so neither setting is duplicated under Compatibility.

Custom endpoints

For Custom (OpenAI-compatible), enter a base URL with its version path, such as https://api.example.com/v1. Orb requires HTTPS, except for loopback URLs such as http://127.0.0.1:8080/v1, and rejects URLs containing a username or password.

References and billing

Reference images are off by default. See Reference images for source choices and limits.

Cloud APIs do not expose all ComfyUI controls. Negative prompts, seeds, steps, CFG, samplers, and schedulers may be ignored. Providers may also map your requested resolution to a supported size.

Render details records the request, returned size, and any cost reported by the provider. The provider dashboard is the source of truth for billing.

Every action that creates an image is a new provider request, including Visualize, Regenerate, Reroll, and Rehydrate.