# Techniques

Techniques are pre-built, multi-step AI workflows that you can add to your canvas and run with a single click. Each technique encapsulates a complex generation pipeline—combining multiple models and processing steps—into a simple node with defined inputs and outputs.

## Overview

Instead of manually building complex workflows from scratch, Techniques let you leverage proven creative pipelines built by FLORA and the community. Think of them as "recipes" for AI generation—you provide the ingredients (inputs), and the technique handles all the intermediate steps to produce the final result.

**What makes Techniques powerful:**

* **Multi-step workflows** - Chain multiple AI models together (e.g., analyze image → generate prompt → create video)
* **Consistent results** - Same pipeline, same quality, every time
* **Time-saving** - Skip the setup and get straight to creating
* **Curated quality** - Each technique is tested and optimized for its specific use case

***

## The Techniques Library

### Browsing Techniques

Access the Techniques Library from the sidebar to explore all available techniques. The library features:

* **Featured carousel** - Highlighted techniques at the top
* **Category filters** - Browse by use case
* **Search** - Find techniques by name, description, or tags
* **Preview cards** - See sample outputs before adding to canvas

### Categories

Techniques are organized into the following categories:

| Category                    | Description                                    |
| --------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Brand & Visual Design       | Logo treatments, brand assets, visual identity |
| Product Visualization       | Product shots, mockups, lifestyle imagery      |
| Marketing & Ads             | Ad creatives, social media content, campaigns  |
| Video & Animation           | Motion graphics, animated sequences, video ads |
| Fashion & Apparel Editorial | Lookbooks, fashion photography, styling        |
| Content Packaging           | Thumbnails, covers, promotional materials      |
| Print Film/VFX              | Film-quality effects, cinematic treatments     |
| Space & Architecture        | Interior design, architectural visualization   |
| Fun & Inspiration           | Creative experiments, artistic styles          |

### Technique Details

Click any technique card to view its detail page, which shows:

* **Description** - What the technique does and ideal use cases
* **Inputs required** - What you need to provide (images, videos, or text)
* **Outputs produced** - What you'll receive when the technique completes
* **Example presets** - Sample inputs and their corresponding outputs
* **Credit cost** - How many credits the technique uses per run
* **Estimated time** - Approximate execution duration

***

## Adding Techniques to Your Canvas

### From the Library

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Browse and Select**

Open the Techniques Library and find a technique that matches your needs. Click the technique card to view details.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Add to Canvas**

Click the **Add to Canvas** button. A Technique Node node appears on your canvas with all input and output slots ready.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Connect Inputs**

Provide the required inputs by connecting source nodes to each input slot on the technique node.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Run the Technique**

Once all inputs are connected, click **Run** to execute the technique. The workflow processes automatically and creates output nodes when complete.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

## The Technique Node

When you add a technique to your canvas, it appears as a Technique Node—a specialized node that represents the entire workflow.

### Block Structure

* **Header** - Displays the technique name, icon, and credit cost
* **Input slots** - Connection points for each required input (left side)
* **Output slots** - Connection points for each output (right side)
* **Run button** - Execute the technique when all inputs are ready

### Input Cards

Each input slot shows:

* **Input name** - What type of content is expected
* **Input type** - Image, video, or text indicator
* **Connection status** - Whether an input is connected or missing
* **Thumbnail** - Preview of the connected input (for images/videos)

***

## Providing Inputs

Techniques require specific inputs to run. There are several ways to provide each input:

### Connect Existing Nodes

Drag a connection from any compatible node output to the technique's input slot:

* **Image inputs** - Connect from Image nodes, uploads, or other image outputs
* **Video inputs** - Connect from Video nodes or video uploads
* **Text inputs** - Connect from Text nodes

### Quick Input Actions

Right-click an input slot or use the input menu to quickly add content:

| Action     | Description                                         |
| ---------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| Add Preset | Insert a sample input from the technique's examples |
| Generate   | Run the technique and generate outputs              |
| Upload     | Upload a file directly to this input                |

### Using Presets

Each technique includes example presets—sample inputs that demonstrate the technique's capabilities. Adding a preset creates a static node with the sample content, letting you test the technique immediately.

***

## Running Techniques

### Execution Process

When you run a technique:

1. **Validation** - FLORA checks all required inputs are connected and valid
2. **Credit check** - Confirms you have sufficient credits for the run
3. **Processing** - The internal workflow executes step by step
4. **Progress tracking** - The technique node shows real-time progress
5. **Output creation** - Result nodes appear connected to the technique's outputs

### Credit Costs

Each technique has a fixed credit cost displayed in the header. This cost covers all the internal generation steps—you pay once for the entire workflow, not per internal step.

{% hint style="info" %}
Credits are charged when the technique starts. If a technique fails, credits are automatically refunded.
{% endhint %}

### Progress Indicator

While running, the technique node displays:

* **Progress bar** - Visual indicator of completion percentage
* **Current step** - Which internal node is currently processing
* **Estimated time remaining** - Approximate time until completion

***

## Working with Outputs

### Output Nodes

When a technique completes, it automatically creates output nodes on your canvas:

* **Image outputs** - Appear as result image blocks
* **Video outputs** - Appear as result video blocks
* **Text outputs** - Appear as result text blocks

These output nodes are connected to the technique node and can be used as inputs for other nodes in your workflow.

### Feedback

After a technique completes, you can provide feedback on the outputs using the thumbs up/down buttons. This helps improve technique quality over time.

### Chaining Techniques

Output nodes from one technique can be connected to inputs of another technique or any other node, enabling complex multi-technique workflows.

***

## Detaching Techniques

Want to see how a technique works internally? You can "detach" a technique to expand it into its constituent nodes.

### How to Detach

1. Select the Technique Node
2. Click the **Detach** option in the toolbar or context menu
3. The technique expands into individual nodes on your canvas

### What Happens

* The technique node is replaced by all internal nodes
* Connections are preserved and mapped to the expanded nodes
* You can now see and modify each step of the workflow

{% hint style="warning" %}
Detaching is one-way—you cannot re-collapse nodes back into a technique node. Consider duplicating the technique before detaching if you want to keep the original.
{% endhint %}

***

## Tips for Using Techniques

* **Check the examples first** - Review technique presets to understand what inputs work best
* **Match input quality** - Higher quality inputs generally produce better outputs
* **Mind aspect ratios** - Some techniques work best with specific aspect ratios (noted in input descriptions)
* **Test with presets** - Try the built-in presets before using your own content
* **Watch credit costs** - Complex techniques with many steps may cost more credits
* **Use technique outputs downstream** - Chain technique outputs into other nodes for extended workflows

***

## Technique vs. Manual Workflows

| Aspect         | Technique                           | Manual Workflow                   |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| Setup time     | Instant—just add and connect inputs | Requires building from scratch    |
| Consistency    | Same pipeline every time            | May vary between sessions         |
| Customization  | Fixed internal workflow             | Full control over every parameter |
| Learning curve | Use immediately without expertise   | Requires understanding each model |
| Credit cost    | Single fixed cost                   | Varies based on nodes used        |

***

## Common Use Cases

* **Product photography** - Transform product shots into lifestyle imagery
* **Ad creation** - Generate multiple ad variations from a single product image
* **Video production** - Convert static images into animated video content
* **Brand assets** - Create consistent branded materials from reference images
* **Social content** - Produce platform-optimized content from source materials
* **Concept exploration** - Quickly test creative directions without manual setup

***

## App Mode

Techniques can also be run outside of the canvas using App Mode. This provides a streamlined, focused interface where you simply provide inputs and run the technique—no canvas setup required. App Mode is ideal for quick, repeated use of your favorite techniques without the overhead of managing a full project.

***

## Technique Builder

Technique Builder lets you package any multi-step workflow on your canvas into a reusable Technique — define inputs, define outputs, and publish. You can also edit published Techniques to update their workflow, inputs, outputs, or listing details.

{% hint style="info" %}
For the full guide on creating, editing, and publishing your own Techniques, see [**Technique Builder**](https://docs.flora.ai/nodes/technique-builder).
{% endhint %}