CFG scale in Deforum controls prompt adherence — too high saturates and distorts, too low drifts off-prompt

Classifier-free guidance (CFG) scale controls how strictly the diffusion model follows the prompt. In Deforum’s cfg_scale_schedule, a low value gives the model more space for imagination and can produce abstract or unexpected imagery, while too low means the output won’t look like the prompt at all; a high value enforces strict fidelity but produces saturated, ‘bizarre’ output. The documented recommended range is 7-12.5, balancing coherence with visual quality. Because it is a per-frame schedule, it can be keyframed to relax prompt control during transitions and tighten it during stable sections.

Examples

cfg_scale_schedule 0:(7.5) — balanced default. During a transition: 50:(5.0) loosens guidance for an abstract morph; 70:(10.0) tightens again to settle into the next prompt.

Assessment

Explain in one paragraph why a cfg_scale of 20 might make a Deforum animation look ‘bizarre and saturated’, and describe a scenario where you would deliberately use a low cfg_scale of 3 during animation.