Inspect two image, mask, or video layers with an interactive before/after wipe without running a generation or flattening the comparison.
Where: Flowgen → Add → Image & Vector → Edit → Compare; also Add → Utils
Key ideas
- Compare is one graph step: Inspect two image, mask, or video layers with an interactive before/after wipe without running a generation or flattening the comparison.
- Typed sockets: Inputs: Before / layer_in — image, mask, or video.; After / compare_layer_in — image, mask, or video.. Outputs: Before pass-through / image_out — forwards the Before value for graph continuity.. Settings stay on the node rather than masquerading as extra wires.
- Card and Properties agree: The compact card and selected-node Properties sidebar expose the same persisted controls: Drag or click the wipe.; Center button.; Arrow keys: 1 step; Shift+Arrow: 10; Home/End: edges; Enter/Space: center..
- Execution behavior: There is no Run button. The node updates as connected layers change and its divider is local UI state.
- Cost and privacy boundary: It calls no generation provider and charges no Sparks/Flowies. Processing happens in the open browser, so it cannot execute in a headless/server-only flow and the source must be readable by the page.
- Compare card: CompareNode uses the authored shared-card path. Compare two image, video, or mask inputs without producing a split render.
- Properties sidebar: Card-owned wipe controls; common properties shell
- Opened surfaces: Interactive before/after wipe
Steps
- Connect the original to Before and the treatment to After.
- Hover video sources to play them.
- Drag/click the divider or use the keyboard.
- Center the wipe for a balanced review.
- Do not expect image_out to contain the comparison.
- Keep After connected to its real delivery branch.
Inputs
- Before / layer_in — image, mask, or video.
- After / compare_layer_in — image, mask, or video.
Outputs
- Before pass-through / image_out — forwards the Before value for graph continuity.
Controls
- Drag or click the wipe.
- Center button.
- Arrow keys: 1 step; Shift+Arrow: 10; Home/End: edges; Enter/Space: center.
Important behavior
- Compare is a viewer and never runs a model or writes a composited result.
- The output passes through Before, not a screenshot of the wipe.
- Video previews play while hovered.
- Different aspect ratios fit inside the Before frame.
MCP authoring
- Create with create_node { type: "compare" }.
- Connect exact handles with connect_nodes when the node has more than one input or output.
- Do not call run_node: this node is a viewer/pass-through and updates from its connected inputs.
Compare controls and presets
- Add path: Flowgen → Add → Image & Vector → Edit → Compare; Utils → Compare.
- Card: CompareNode.
- Properties: Card-owned wipe controls; common properties shell.
- Controls: Drag/click wipe; Center; Arrow keys; Home/End.
- Opened surfaces: Interactive before/after wipe.
Tips
- Test the operation on one representative asset before placing it inside a List iteration.
- Keep the untouched source upstream so the operation can be changed or bypassed later.
- Judge edges and color at the intended delivery size as well as at full preview size.
Limitations and important notes
- It does not export or render a split image.
- image_out forwards only Before.
- Its frame follows the Before aspect ratio.
Troubleshooting
The downstream result still looks like Before
That is intentional pass-through behavior. Connect the After source directly downstream or render a composition when you need a combined deliverable.
FAQ
Does this open the full Image Editor?
No. This is a focused Flowgen node. Use Image Editor when you need layers, selections, paint, paths, or several edits in one document.
Can I use it in a List iteration?
Yes. Wire the current row field into the typed input, collect the exact output handle, and test one row before scaling the run.