Draw Like an Artist: Complex Scene Generation with Diffusion Model via Composition, Painting, and Retouching
On the map: Diffusion models → Image generation, text-to-image and editing
Abstract (arXiv)
Recent advances in text-to-image diffusion models have demonstrated impressive capabilities in image quality. However, complex scene generation remains relatively unexplored, and even the definition of `complex scene' itself remains unclear. In this paper, we address this gap by providing a precise definition of complex scenes and introducing a set of Complex Decomposition Criteria (CDC) based on this definition. Inspired by the artists painting process, we propose a training-free diffusion framework called Complex Diffusion (CxD), which divides the process into three stages: composition, painting, and retouching. Our method leverages the powerful chain-of-thought capabilities of large language models (LLMs) to decompose complex prompts based on CDC and to manage composition and layout. We then develop an attention modulation method that guides simple prompts to specific regions to complete the complex scene painting. Finally, we inject the detailed output of the LLM into a retouching model to enhance the image details, thus implementing the retouching stage. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our method outperforms previous SOTA approaches, significantly improving the generation of high-quality, semantically consistent, and visually diverse images for complex scenes, even with intricate prompts.
Key facts. Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Placed in Image generation, text-to-image and editing, one of 14 directions in Diffusion models. Builds on 38 of its 52 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 25 Aug 2024.
Builds on
38 of 52 references.
Closest ancestors · 17
Same direction, newest first
- 2024Mastering Text-to-Image Diffusion: Recaptioning, Planning, and Generating with Multimodal LLMs22 Jan
- 2023Ranni: Taming Text-to-Image Diffusion for Accurate Instruction Following28 Nov
- 2023Self-correcting LLM-controlled Diffusion Models27 Nov
- 2023Dense Text-to-Image Generation with Attention Modulation24 Aug
- 2023LAW-Diffusion: Complex Scene Generation by Diffusion with Layouts13 Aug
- 2023LayoutLLM-T2I: Eliciting Layout Guidance from LLM for Text-to-Image Generation9 Aug
- 2023BoxDiff: Text-to-Image Synthesis with Training-Free Box-Constrained Diffusion20 Jul
- 2023Compositional Text-to-Image Synthesis with Attention Map Control of Diffusion Models23 May
- 2023LLM-grounded Diffusion: Enhancing Prompt Understanding of Text-to-Image Diffusion Models with Large Language Models23 May
- 2023T2I-Adapter: Learning Adapters to Dig out More Controllable Ability for Text-to-Image Diffusion Models16 Feb
- 2023MultiDiffusion: Fusing Diffusion Paths for Controlled Image Generation16 Feb
- 2023Adding Conditional Control to Text-to-Image Diffusion Models10 Feb
5 more
- 2023Attend-and-Excite: Attention-Based Semantic Guidance for Text-to-Image Diffusion Models31 Jan
- 2023GLIGEN: Open-Set Grounded Text-to-Image Generation17 Jan
- 2022Training-Free Structured Diffusion Guidance for Compositional Text-to-Image Synthesis9 Dec
- 2022Compositional Visual Generation with Composable Diffusion Models3 Jun
- 2022Hierarchical Text-Conditional Image Generation with CLIP Latents13 Apr
Other references · 21
- 2020Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Modelscited by 20,851
- 2021High-Resolution Image Synthesis with Latent Diffusion Modelscited by 18,694
- 2023GPT-4 Technical Reportcited by 18,132
- 2023Llama 2: Open Foundation and Fine-Tuned Chat Modelscited by 12,865
- 2020Score-Based Generative Modeling through Stochastic Differential Equationscited by 8,964
- 2021Diffusion Models Beat GANs on Image Synthesiscited by 8,185
- 2015Deep Unsupervised Learning using Nonequilibrium Thermodynamicscited by 7,005
- 2023SDXL: Improving Latent Diffusion Models for High-Resolution Image Synthesiscited by 4,290
- 2016Visual Genome: Connecting Language and Vision Using Crowdsourced Dense Image Annotationscited by 2,646
- 2022Diffusion Models: A Comprehensive Survey of Methods and Applicationscited by 1,107
- 2023PixArt-α: Fast Training of Diffusion Transformer for Photorealistic Text-to-Image Synthesiscited by 854
- 2023LayoutGPT: Compositional Visual Planning and Generation with Large Language Modelscited by 337
9 more
- 2023Training-Free Layout Control with Cross-Attention Guidancecited by 312
- 2023Composer: Creative and Controllable Image Synthesis with Composable Conditionscited by 303
- 2022ReCo: Region-Controlled Text-to-Image Generationcited by 177
- 2023Kosmos-G: Generating Images in Context with Multimodal Large Language Modelscited by 105
- 2022Modeling Image Composition for Complex Scene Generationcited by 43
- 2024Improving Diffusion-Based Image Synthesis with Context Predictioncited by 32
- 2021High-Resolution Complex Scene Synthesis with Transformerscited by 31
- 2021Exploiting Relationship for Complex-scene Image Generationcited by 9
- 2022CLIP2GAN: Towards Bridging Text with the Latent Space of GANscited by 8
Built on by
Citing papers per year: 2024: 1; 2025: 4; 2026: 1.
6 papers.
- 2025Diffusion Models Through a Global Lens: Are They Culturally Inclusive?cited by 14
- 2025CoT-lized Diffusion: Let's Reinforce T2I Generation Step-by-stepcited by 8
- 2024What Makes a Scene ? Scene Graph-based Evaluation and Feedback for Controllable Generationcited by 6
- 2025AgentComp: From Agentic Reasoning to Compositional Mastery in Text-to-Image Modelscited by 5
- 2026Advancing Aesthetic Image Generation via Composition Transfercited by 2
- 2025Cross-Subject Mind Decoding from Inaccurate Representationscited by 1
- 2026Advancing Aesthetic Image Generation via Composition Transfer6 May 2026
- 2025AgentComp: From Agentic Reasoning to Compositional Mastery in Text-to-Image Models9 Dec 2025
- 2025Cross-Subject Mind Decoding from Inaccurate Representations25 Jul 2025
- 2025CoT-lized Diffusion: Let's Reinforce T2I Generation Step-by-step6 Jul 2025
- 2025Diffusion Models Through a Global Lens: Are They Culturally Inclusive?13 Feb 2025
- 2024What Makes a Scene ? Scene Graph-based Evaluation and Feedback for Controllable Generation23 Nov 2024
Similar, not cited
Close in wording, no citation either way
- 2023Reference-based Image Composition with Sketch via Structure-aware Diffusion Model
- 2023HD-Painter: High-Resolution and Prompt-Faithful Text-Guided Image Inpainting with Diffusion Models
- 2024I Dream My Painting: Connecting MLLMs and Diffusion Models via Prompt Generation for Text-Guided Multi-Mask Inpainting
- 2024KnobGen: Controlling the Sophistication of Artwork in Sketch-Based Diffusion Models
- 2025The Cow of Rembrandt - Analyzing Artistic Prompt Interpretation in Text-to-Image Models
- 2022Draw Your Art Dream: Diverse Digital Art Synthesis with Multimodal Guided Diffusion
- 2025Detail++: Training-Free Detail Enhancer for T2I Diffusion Models
- 2024CreativeSynth: Cross-Art-Attention for Artistic Image Synthesis with Multimodal Diffusion