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CLIP Set Last Layer

Welcome to the node that lets you mess with CLIP in the most surgical way possible — CLIPSetLastLayer. This node gives you control over how far the CLIP model should go before stopping. If you’ve ever found yourself screaming at your workflow because the text encoder was doing too much (or not enough), this node is for you.

🧠 What This Node Does​

The CLIPSetLastLayer node allows you to truncate the CLIP text encoder at a specific layer of its transformer stack — a way to intentionally limit or manipulate how textual embeddings are generated. This can be useful for stylistic control, fine-tuned prompt injection, LoRA manipulation, and other advanced workflows where you want more creative or interpretive control over how prompts are processed.

⚙️ Node Type​

Name: CLIPSetLastLayer
Category: Conditioning / Utility
Module Type: Transform node for CLIP objects
Purpose: Modify a CLIP model’s processing depth for downstream use

🔌 Node Inputs and Outputs​

▶️ Inputs​

CLIP (clip input)​

  • Type: CLIP
  • Required: ✅ Yes
  • Description: This is your original CLIP model object, typically output from a CheckpointLoaderSimple or CLIP Loader node.
  • Purpose: This is the model you’ll be altering. You’re telling ComfyUI, “Hey, only run this CLIP model up to here, not all the way.”

⚙️ Parameters​

stop_at_clip_layer​

  • Type: Integer (slider or manual input)
  • Default: None (runs full model)
  • Range: 0 – Max layers in the specific CLIP variant (usually up to 12 for OpenCLIP-ViT-G, 12 for ViT-B/32, etc.)
  • Description: Sets the transformer layer at which to stop the CLIP text encoder.
🔍 Detailed Breakdown:​
  • 0 – Only the embedding layer is used (like prompt surgery with a butter knife).
  • 1–11 – Gradually processes more of the transformer stack, introducing richer contextualization with each layer.
  • 12 – Full transformer run (essentially equivalent to not using this node at all).
💡 Why It Matters:​

CLIP’s transformer layers are where the interpretation magic happens. Earlier layers encode simpler, more literal meanings; later layers add complexity, abstraction, and sometimes... chaos. Stopping early can retain prompt clarity, while going deeper can let CLIP do more “interpretive dancing” with your input.

⏭️ Output​

CLIP (clip output)​

  • Type: CLIP
  • Description: The modified CLIP model that now truncates its execution at your specified layer. This can be passed into a text-to-conditioning node like CLIPTextEncode or CLIPTextEncodeAdvanced.

🧩 Recommended Use Cases​

Use CaseWhy It Works
🔁 LoRA/Prompt FusionPrevents over-processing of embeddings when blending prompt styles.
🎨 Prompt StylizationHelps generate more literal or more abstract interpretations, depending on how far you go.
🧪 Embedding ExperimentsGreat for researchers and prompt nerds wanting to see how lower layers affect generation.
🛠️ Custom Embedding ControlUsed with custom prompt tokens or per-layer manipulations.

🧵 Workflow Setup Example​

Here's how you might wire this up in a typical text-to-image flow:

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CheckpointLoaderSimple → CLIP → CLIPSetLastLayer → CLIPTextEncode → KSampler → Image Output

Optional:​

  • Insert a CLIPSetLastLayer before each CLIPTextEncode if you're processing different prompts with different depths.
  • You can use multiple instances to experiment with varying depth levels side-by-side.

🎯 Prompting Tips​

  • If your outputs seem too "interpretive" (like it's ignoring your prompt or going rogue), lower the stop layer (try 9 or 8).
  • If your images feel too literal or lack creativity, raise the stop layer (10–12).
  • Combine this node with prompt weights (e.g., beautiful woman:1.4) to refine the effect.

🔥 What-Not-To-Do-Unless-You-Want-a-Fire​

Let’s be honest — this node hands you a scalpel, not a safety spoon. If you go poking around CLIP’s innards without understanding what you’re slicing, don’t act surprised when your workflow catches metaphorical fire. Here’s what not to do:

❌ Set stop_at_clip_layer Higher Than the Model's Actual Depth​

You want an error? Because this is how you get an error. ViT-B/32 has 12 layers. If you set it to 16, ComfyUI will either:

  • Politely crash,
  • Or silently fail while giving you no clue why your outputs are garbage.

🔥 Pro tip: Know your CLIP variant. Google it if you have to.

❌ Assume This Node “Enhances” Prompts​

This node removes parts of the CLIP transformer. It’s not a magic enhancer. If you’re expecting it to make prompts “better,” you’re doing it wrong. Use it when you want less abstraction, not more.

❌ Forget to Connect the Modified CLIP to the Next Nodes​

If you route the original CLIP model into your CLIPTextEncode, you’ve basically skipped this node entirely. Then you’ll spend 30 minutes yelling at your screen wondering why nothing changed.

❌ Use the Same Truncation for Every Prompt​

Truncating CLIP to layer 6 might work great for cyberpunk robot, but try that with something like misty forest with sunlight filtering through and you’ll get sad trees and zero photons. Not every prompt reacts the same way — test before committing.

❌ Expect Downstream Nodes to Handle It Gracefully​

Some workflows (especially custom or complex ones) assume the full CLIP stack is intact. Truncating it too early might result in:

  • Poor conditioning,
  • Weak generation,
  • Or completely blank outputs that make you question your life choices.

❌ Use It Without Documenting Why​

You’re doing advanced surgery here. Future-you or a teammate will thank you for writing something like:

“CLIPSetLastLayer truncates to layer 9 here to retain literalness in prompt interpretation.”

Otherwise, when things break — and they will — you’ll have no idea where to look.

❌ Think You’re Above Testing​

You will need to run A/B tests. Layer 10 vs. 12? 6 vs. 8? You won’t “just know.” If you don’t run test renders with fixed seeds, you’re basically operating CLIP like it’s a roulette wheel.

Bottom line: use this node like you’re diffusing a bomb. One bad move and your beautifully orchestrated workflow turns into avant-garde AI spaghetti. 🧨

🧠 Final Thoughts​

The CLIPSetLastLayer node is like giving your prompt a leash — long or short, depending on how wild you want your CLIP to get. It's not for beginners, but for those who want to tune every knob and flip every switch in ComfyUI’s ecosystem, it’s a powerful little lever to throw.

So go ahead — cut CLIP off mid-sentence and see what happens. Sometimes, less is more. Or at least, weirder in a good way.