mlsanityData to 14 Oct 2026

FastComposer: Tuning-Free Multi-Subject Image Generation with Localized Attention

arXiv 2305.10431 ↗First posted 17 May 2023cs.CVcited by 313

On the map: Diffusion models → Image generation, text-to-image and editing

Abstract (arXiv)

Diffusion models excel at text-to-image generation, especially in subject-driven generation for personalized images. However, existing methods are inefficient due to the subject-specific fine-tuning, which is computationally intensive and hampers efficient deployment. Moreover, existing methods struggle with multi-subject generation as they often blend features among subjects. We present FastComposer which enables efficient, personalized, multi-subject text-to-image generation without fine-tuning. FastComposer uses subject embeddings extracted by an image encoder to augment the generic text conditioning in diffusion models, enabling personalized image generation based on subject images and textual instructions with only forward passes. To address the identity blending problem in the multi-subject generation, FastComposer proposes cross-attention localization supervision during training, enforcing the attention of reference subjects localized to the correct regions in the target images. Naively conditioning on subject embeddings results in subject overfitting. FastComposer proposes delayed subject conditioning in the denoising step to maintain both identity and editability in subject-driven image generation. FastComposer generates images of multiple unseen individuals with different styles, actions, and contexts. It achieves 300×-2500× speedup compared to fine-tuning-based methods and requires zero extra storage for new subjects. FastComposer paves the way for efficient, personalized, and high-quality multi-subject image creation. Code, model, and dataset are available at https://github.com/mit-han-lab/fastcomposer.

Key facts. Cited by 313 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Placed in Image generation, text-to-image and editing, one of 14 directions in Diffusion models. Builds on 48 of its 65 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 17 May 2023.

Builds on

48 of 65 references.

Closest ancestors · 9

Same direction, newest first

  1. 2023Unified Multi-Modal Latent Diffusion for Joint Subject and Text Conditional Image Generation16 Mar
  2. 2023Collage Diffusion1 Mar
  3. 2023Encoder-based Domain Tuning for Fast Personalization of Text-to-Image Models23 Feb
  4. 2023Adding Conditional Control to Text-to-Image Diffusion Models10 Feb
  5. 2023Attend-and-Excite: Attention-Based Semantic Guidance for Text-to-Image Diffusion Models31 Jan
  6. 2022Multi-Concept Customization of Text-to-Image Diffusion8 Dec
  7. 2022SpaText: Spatio-Textual Representation for Controllable Image Generation25 Nov
  8. 2022DreamBooth: Fine Tuning Text-to-Image Diffusion Models for Subject-Driven Generation25 Aug
  9. 2022Hierarchical Text-Conditional Image Generation with CLIP Latents13 Apr

Other references · 39

  1. 2021Learning Transferable Visual Models From Natural Language Supervisioncited by 33,744
  2. 2020Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Modelscited by 21,076
  3. 2021High-Resolution Image Synthesis with Latent Diffusion Modelscited by 18,863
  4. 2014Microsoft COCO: Common Objects in Contextcited by 17,608
  5. 2019Sentence-BERT: Sentence Embeddings using Siamese BERT-Networkscited by 9,170
  6. 2020Score-Based Generative Modeling through Stochastic Differential Equationscited by 9,122
  7. 2015Deep Unsupervised Learning using Nonequilibrium Thermodynamicscited by 7,058
  8. 2021Emerging Properties in Self-Supervised Vision Transformerscited by 6,968
  9. 2023BLIP-2: Bootstrapping Language-Image Pre-training with Frozen Image Encoders and Large Language Modelscited by 6,137
  10. 2018A Style-Based Generator Architecture for Generative Adversarial Networkscited by 6,013
  11. 2022Classifier-Free Diffusion Guidancecited by 5,847
  12. 2021Zero-Shot Text-to-Image Generationcited by 4,288
27 more
  1. 2022LAION-5B: An open large-scale dataset for training next generation image-text modelscited by 4,152
  2. 2014Deep Learning Face Attributes in the Wildcited by 3,693
  3. 2015FaceNet: A Unified Embedding for Face Recognition and Clusteringcited by 2,849
  4. 2022Prompt-to-Prompt Image Editing with Cross Attention Controlcited by 2,431
  5. 2021Masked-attention Mask Transformer for Universal Image Segmentationcited by 2,351
  6. 2015Deep Compression: Compressing Deep Neural Networks with Pruning, Trained Quantization and Huffman Codingcited by 2,329
  7. 2022An Image is Worth One Word: Personalizing Text-to-Image Generation using Textual Inversioncited by 2,245
  8. 2022SmoothQuant: Accurate and Efficient Post-Training Quantization for Large Language Modelscited by 1,386
  9. 2015LSUN: Construction of a Large-scale Image Dataset using Deep Learning with Humans in the Loopcited by 1,355
  10. 2023ImageReward: Learning and Evaluating Human Preferences for Text-to-Image Generationcited by 1,045
  11. 2022Token Merging: Your ViT But Fastercited by 1,021
  12. 2022Plug-and-Play Diffusion Features for Text-Driven Image-to-Image Translationcited by 906
  13. 2016Joint Face Detection and Alignment using Multi-task Cascaded Convolutional Networkscited by 903
  14. 2016Training Deep Nets with Sublinear Memory Costcited by 848
  15. 2023MasaCtrl: Tuning-Free Mutual Self-Attention Control for Consistent Image Synthesis and Editingcited by 727
  16. 2022Pseudo Numerical Methods for Diffusion Models on Manifoldscited by 700
  17. 2021CogView: Mastering Text-to-Image Generation via Transformerscited by 694
  18. 2023Muse: Text-To-Image Generation via Masked Generative Transformerscited by 648
  19. 2023Zero-shot Image-to-Image Translationcited by 505
  20. 2023Scaling up GANs for Text-to-Image Synthesiscited by 492
  21. 2021Pivotal Tuning for Latent-based Editing of Real Imagescited by 427
  22. 2023ELITE: Encoding Visual Concepts into Textual Embeddings for Customized Text-to-Image Generationcited by 416
  23. 2023InstantBooth: Personalized Text-to-Image Generation without Test-Time Finetuningcited by 345
  24. 2021Instance-Conditioned GANcited by 121
  25. 2021Paint by Wordcited by 107
  26. 2022MyStyle: A Personalized Generative Priorcited by 26
  27. 2023X&Fuse: Fusing Visual Information in Text-to-Image Generationcited by 6

Built on by

Cited by year (2026 to 14 Oct)

Citing papers per year: 2023: 37; 2024: 133; 2025: 102; 2026: 41.

313 papers.

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By area:

  1. 2023AnyDoor: Zero-shot Object-level Image Customizationcited by 412
  2. 2024OmniGen: Unified Image Generationcited by 394
  3. 2024OminiControl: Minimal and Universal Control for Diffusion Transformercited by 340
  4. 2023PhotoMaker: Customizing Realistic Human Photos via Stacked ID Embeddingcited by 328
  5. 2023HyperDreamBooth: HyperNetworks for Fast Personalization of Text-to-Image Modelscited by 225
  6. 2023Subject-Diffusion:Open Domain Personalized Text-to-Image Generation without Test-time Fine-tuningcited by 191
  7. 2023DreamVideo: Composing Your Dream Videos with Customized Subject and Motioncited by 188
  8. 2023Grounded Text-to-Image Synthesis with Attention Refocusingcited by 164
  9. 2024PuLID: Pure and Lightning ID Customization via Contrastive Alignmentcited by 144
  10. 2024MS-Diffusion: Multi-subject Zero-shot Image Personalization with Layout Guidancecited by 144
  11. 2025XAttention: Block Sparse Attention with Antidiagonal Scoringcited by 137
  12. 2024GenArtist: Multimodal LLM as an Agent for Unified Image Generation and Editingcited by 133
38 more
  1. 2024DreamBench++: A Human-Aligned Benchmark for Personalized Image Generationcited by 131
  2. 2023State of the Art on Diffusion Models for Visual Computingcited by 127
  3. 2023VideoBooth: Diffusion-based Video Generation with Image Promptscited by 126
  4. 2024ID-Animator: Zero-Shot Identity-Preserving Human Video Generationcited by 124
  5. 2025EasyControl: Adding Efficient and Flexible Control for Diffusion Transformercited by 119
  6. 2023Kosmos-G: Generating Images in Context with Multimodal Large Language Modelscited by 105
  7. 2024MotionClone: Training-Free Motion Cloning for Controllable Video Generationcited by 105
  8. 2024Arc2Face: A Foundation Model for ID-Consistent Human Facescited by 101
  9. 2024DistriFusion: Distributed Parallel Inference for High-Resolution Diffusion Modelscited by 98
  10. 2024DiLightNet: Fine-grained Lighting Control for Diffusion-based Image Generationcited by 93
  11. 2024Controllable Generation with Text-to-Image Diffusion Models: A Surveycited by 83
  12. 2025DreamO: A Unified Framework for Image Customizationcited by 83
  13. 2023PortraitBooth: A Versatile Portrait Model for Fast Identity-preserved Personalizationcited by 77
  14. 2024CustomVideo: Customizing Text-to-Video Generation with Multiple Subjectscited by 77
  15. 2024TIP-Editor: An Accurate 3D Editor Following Both Text-Prompts And Image-Promptscited by 77
  16. 2023VideoSwap: Customized Video Subject Swapping with Interactive Semantic Point Correspondencecited by 69
  17. 2025ConceptMaster: Multi-Concept Video Customization on Diffusion Transformer Models Without Test-Time Tuningcited by 68
  18. 2024Face Adapter for Pre-Trained Diffusion Models with Fine-Grained ID and Attribute Controlcited by 67
  19. 2025Multi-subject Open-set Personalization in Video Generationcited by 66
  20. 2024OMG: Occlusion-friendly Personalized Multi-concept Generation in Diffusion Modelscited by 64
  21. 2023Inserting Anybody in Diffusion Models via Celeb Basiscited by 63
  22. 2024DreamMatcher: Appearance Matching Self-Attention for Semantically-Consistent Text-to-Image Personalizationcited by 60
  23. 2024CustomCrafter: Customized Video Generation with Preserving Motion and Concept Composition Abilitiescited by 60
  24. 2023UDiffText: A Unified Framework for High-quality Text Synthesis in Arbitrary Images via Character-aware Diffusion Modelscited by 59
  25. 2024Magic-Me: Identity-Specific Video Customized Diffusioncited by 59
  26. 2024LoRA-Composer: Leveraging Low-Rank Adaptation for Multi-Concept Customization in Training-Free Diffusion Modelscited by 55
  27. 2024I2VEdit: First-Frame-Guided Video Editing via Image-to-Video Diffusion Modelscited by 55
  28. 2023FaceStudio: Put Your Face Everywhere in Secondscited by 53
  29. 2024JeDi: Joint-Image Diffusion Models for Finetuning-Free Personalized Text-to-Image Generationcited by 52
  30. 2024λ-ECLIPSE: Multi-Concept Personalized Text-to-Image Diffusion Models by Leveraging CLIP Latent Spacecited by 51
  31. 2024MoA: Mixture-of-Attention for Subject-Context Disentanglement in Personalized Image Generationcited by 51
  32. 2024LCM-Lookahead for Encoder-based Text-to-Image Personalizationcited by 48
  33. 2025K-LoRA: Unlocking Training-Free Fusion of Any Subject and Style LoRAscited by 48
  34. 2024UniPortrait: A Unified Framework for Identity-Preserving Single- and Multi-Human Image Personalizationcited by 47
  35. 2024X-VILA: Cross-Modality Alignment for Large Language Modelcited by 46
  36. 2024ConsistentID: Portrait Generation with Multimodal Fine-Grained Identity Preservingcited by 43
  37. 2024Resolving Multi-Condition Confusion for Finetuning-Free Personalized Image Generationcited by 43
  38. 2024DreamVideo-2: Zero-Shot Subject-Driven Video Customization with Precise Motion Controlcited by 43

50 most cited of 313 All 313 (JSON)

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  1. 2025Less-to-More Generalization: Unlocking More Controllability by In-Context Generation
  2. 2024Be Yourself: Bounded Attention for Multi-Subject Text-to-Image Generation
  3. 2024DreamBlend: Advancing Personalized Fine-tuning of Text-to-Image Diffusion Models
  4. 2025Personalized Text-to-Image Generation with Auto-Regressive Models
  5. 2025IMAGE-ALCHEMY: Advancing subject fidelity in personalised text-to-image generation
  6. 2026CRAFT: Constrained Reward via Attention Fine-Tuning for Subject Personalization without Composed Targets
  7. 2025PSR: Scaling Multi-Subject Personalized Image Generation with Pairwise Subject-Consistency Rewards
  8. 2025Stencil: Subject-Driven Generation with Context Guidance