Self-Attention Decomposition For Training Free Diffusion Editing
On the map: Diffusion models → Image generation, text-to-image and editing
Abstract (arXiv)
Diffusion models achieve remarkable fidelity in image synthesis, yet precise control over their outputs for targeted editing remains challenging. A key step toward controllability is to identify interpretable directions in the model's latent representations that correspond to semantic attributes. Existing approaches for finding interpretable directions typically rely on sampling large sets of images or training auxiliary networks, which limits efficiency. We propose an analytical method that derives semantic editing directions directly from the pretrained parameters of diffusion models, requiring neither additional data nor fine-tuning. Our insight is that self-attention weight matrices encode rich structural information about the data distribution learned during training. By computing the eigenvectors of these weight matrices, we obtain robust and interpretable editing directions. Experiments demonstrate that our method produces high-quality edits across multiple datasets while reducing editing time significantly by 60% over current benchmarks.
Key facts. No citing papers in the map yet (data through 7 Oct 2026). Placed in Image generation, text-to-image and editing, one of 14 directions in Diffusion models. Builds on 17 of its 20 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 26 Oct 2025.
Builds on
17 of 20 references.
Closest ancestors · 4
Same direction, newest first
- 2025Emergence and Evolution of Interpretable Concepts in Diffusion Models21 Apr
- 2024Ctrl-X: Controlling Structure and Appearance for Text-To-Image Generation Without Guidance11 Jun
- 2023Self-Discovering Interpretable Diffusion Latent Directions for Responsible Text-to-Image Generation28 Nov
- 2021DiffusionCLIP: Text-Guided Diffusion Models for Robust Image Manipulation6 Oct
Other references · 13
- 2020Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Modelscited by 20,851
- 2014Deep Learning Face Attributes in the Wildcited by 3,679
- 2017Progressive Growing of GANs for Improved Quality, Stability, and Variationcited by 2,967
- 2015FaceNet: A Unified Embedding for Face Recognition and Clusteringcited by 2,833
- 2015LSUN: Construction of a Large-scale Image Dataset using Deep Learning with Humans in the Loopcited by 1,350
- 2022Plug-and-Play Diffusion Features for Text-Driven Image-to-Image Translationcited by 897
- 2023MasaCtrl: Tuning-Free Mutual Self-Attention Control for Consistent Image Synthesis and Editingcited by 722
- 2020Closed-Form Factorization of Latent Semantics in GANscited by 407
- 2022Diffusion Models already have a Semantic Latent Spacecited by 324
- 2023FreeU: Free Lunch in Diffusion U-Netcited by 195
- 2024Dynamical Regimes of Diffusion Modelscited by 133
- 2023Understanding the Latent Space of Diffusion Models through the Lens of Riemannian Geometrycited by 121
Built on by
Not cited yet.
Similar, not cited
Close in wording, no citation either way
- 2024Towards Understanding Cross and Self-Attention in Stable Diffusion for Text-Guided Image Editing
- 2025AttentionDrag: Exploiting Latent Correlation Knowledge in Pre-trained Diffusion Models for Image Editing
- 2024Learn Once, Edit Anywhere: Visual Direction Transfer for Diffusion Models
- 2024Enabling Local Editing in Diffusion Models by Joint and Individual Component Analysis
- 2024Exploring Low-Dimensional Subspaces in Diffusion Models for Controllable Image Editing
- 2024Latent Space Disentanglement in Diffusion Transformers Enables Precise Zero-shot Semantic Editing
- 2023Boundary Guided Learning-Free Semantic Control with Diffusion Models
- 2023Textual and Visual Prompt Fusion for Image Editing via Step-Wise Alignment