LayerFilter: SoftLight Node Documentation

Overview

The LayerFilter: SoftLight node is a component of the ComfyUI LayerStyle plugin. It is designed to apply a soft light filter to images, enhancing visual appeal by manipulating light and shadows within the image. This node can be used in various image processing workflows to achieve effects similar to those in professional photo editing software.

Node Functionality

The primary function of the LayerFilter: SoftLight node is to apply a soft light blend to an input image. It performs operations involving blending, thresholding, and layer manipulation to achieve the desired effect. This typically results in images with a subtler transition of lights and shadows, enriching the overall look by highlighting specific features and softening others.

Input Parameters

The node accepts the following input parameters, which allow users to customize the effect to their liking:

1. Image: This is the primary input, representing the image(s) to which the soft light effect will be applied. Images are generally processed in batch form, allowing for multiple images to be handled by a single node instance.

2. Soft (FLOAT): Controls the softness of the light. This parameter accepts floating-point values within the range of 0.2 to 10, allowing for fine-tuning of the light softness. The default value is 1.

3. Threshold (INT): Determines the highlight threshold within the image. This parameter can be set between -255 and 255, with a default value of -10. It affects which parts of the image are considered highlights, affecting the overall balance of light and contrast.

4. Opacity (INT): Governs the transparency of the effect applied. By adjusting opacity between 0 and 100, users can modulate how pronounced the soft light effect is. The default opacity level is 100, meaning the effect is applied fully.

Output

The primary output of the LayerFilter: SoftLight node is an image with the soft light filter applied. The resultant image maintains its original format but exhibits modified lighting characteristics, enhancing or subtling certain visual features based on the parameters chosen.

Usage in ComfyUI Workflows

In ComfyUI workflows, the LayerFilter: SoftLight node can be used to:

• Enhance the visual aesthetics of images by modulating lights and shadows.
• Prepare images for further processing by adjusting their lighting intensity and highlight thresholds.
• Integrate seamlessly within larger workflows that require consistent image quality adjustments, particularly in sequences involving multiple image manipulations.

Users can combine this node with other filters to build complex image processing pipelines, optimizing images for a variety of professional presentations or artistic effects.

Special Features and Considerations

• Batch Processing: The node supports processing multiple images in one operation, optimizing workflows where bulk changes to lighting are needed.
• Adaptive Thresholding: The node employs automatic threshold determination based on the average brightness of the image, which can be adjusted through user input, providing flexibility to achieve desired artistic effects.
• Blending Modes: This node specifically utilizes a 'screen' blend mode to compute the soft light effect, ensuring smoother transitions and less abrupt contrasts.
• Customizable Softness and Opacity: Offers users the ability to significantly alter the softness and intensity of the effect, tailoring output to specific aesthetic requirements or personal preferences.

By understanding and leveraging the capabilities of the LayerFilter: SoftLight node, users of ComfyUI can create visually compelling content suitable for both professional and creative environments.