r/StableDiffusion rules, stats, and what to post

This community is for people who use open-source and local AI tools for images, video, and related software. The description says you can post art, ask questions, create discussions, contribute new tech, or just browse, and it is up to you. The people here work with tools like Stable Diffusion, Flux, and PixArt, and they care about how things are made, not just the final result. The first rule makes it clear that posts must center on open-source or local AI tools, and mixed workflows are fine only if they center on local or free tools. News and comparisons are welcome too, so this is a working community of creators and builders, not a passive audience.

The rule that decides most marketing posts is “No Reposts, Spam, Low-Quality, or Excessive Self-Promo”. It says do not post just to promote yourself or drive traffic to paid tools, services, or downloads, no paywalls, affiliate links, or hidden URLs, and tutorials and tools must be free and directly accessible. “Posts Must Be Open-Source or Local AI image/video/software Related” is the other gate, because your post has to center on open-source or local AI tools and explain your workflow. “Use the Correct Flair” is required, so every post needs an accurate tag like News, Tutorial, or Workflow. “No X-rated, lewd, or sexually suggestive content” and “No Gore or Excessive Violence” set hard content limits, and NSFW tags do not bypass them. “No Politics” bans political figures, imagery, and partisan posts, though AI policy discussions are allowed if respectful and on-topic. Finally, “Mod Discretion / Unforeseen Violations” means mods can remove anything that breaks the spirit of the subreddit even when no rule covers it, so keep your post clean and honest.

The best shape here is a post that gives before it asks. If you built a tool or workflow around local AI, share it free and directly accessible, and explain the workflow in the title or body. The rules ask you to clearly list your tools and explain your workflow, so treat that as the core of the post, not an afterthought. A tutorial with the right flair, a comparison between open tools, or a new technique you documented step by step all fit what this community is for. If you show generated images or video, include the context and workflow or it will be treated as low effort. If you are unsure whether your post fits, the rules say to message the mods before posting.

Do not post just to promote yourself or drive traffic to paid tools, services, or downloads. No paywalls, affiliate links, or hidden URLs anywhere in your post. Tutorials and tools must be free and directly accessible, so a gated demo or a paid-only launch post will not survive. Low-effort posts like images or videos without context or workflows are not allowed, so never drop a pretty result with no explanation. Do not use open tools briefly and then switch to paid or proprietary ones, because that pattern is called out as not allowed. Keep everything safe for work, avoid gore and shock content, and stay away from political figures, imagery, or partisan posts, even as jokes. Tag your post with the correct flair, and search before posting so you do not repeat something already covered.

What stands out to me is how much this community cares about the workflow itself, not just the final image. The rules ask you to list your tools and explain how you made something, which is a refreshing change from subreddits where a pretty picture is enough. I also like that rule 8 admits mods will act on the spirit of the subreddit when something new shows up, so I would keep any post here unusually clean and transparent.