🎯 Objective
To demonstrate how Group nodes can simplify and clarify complex workflows in ComfyUI. We'll use the Wan Image2Video default workflow as an example, removing unnecessary nodes and refactoring the graph using grouping.
🧩 Components Used
ComfyUI (latest build)
Wan Image2Video Workflow (default configuration)
Group Node (ComfyUI built-in feature)
🔍 Explanation
When using complex workflows like the one in Wan Image2Video, the node graph can become overwhelming. It can be hard to track connections, understand what each section is doing, and debug or tweak animations. This is especially true when mixing motion modules, samplers, and conditioning models.
To improve usability and readability:
I identified logical blocks in the original workflow: image pre-processing, latent generation, motion handling, and final video output.
Removed redundant or unused nodes, such as multiple samplers or conversion tools not required for the final output.
Grouped related nodes together into functional units using ComfyUI’s Group Node feature.
Renamed groups clearly .
🎬 Before and After
Original version created from Comfyui Menù : Workflow>>Browse Templates
Select Video and then clic on "Wan VACE Reference to Video"
The workflow is relatively complex and may require some familiarity to navigate effectively.
I removed the disabled notes and the other notes, resulting in a simpler workflow.
Then I selected a group of nodes and used the 'Convert to Group Nodes' option, making the workflow much easier to understand.
For more details on grouping, please refer to my previous article: https://civitai.com/articles/15668/unlocking-workflow-clarity-subgraphs-group-nodes-in-comfyui
You can create additional groups if needed and also hide any unnecessary input or output values.
✅ Conclusion
Group nodes in ComfyUI are a game changer for organizing complex workflows. By grouping the Wan Image2Video default workflow:
We made it more readable,
Easier to maintain,
And cleaner to reuse or share.
Try grouping your own node graphs—you’ll thank yourself later!
The workflow referenced in this article is included as an attachment.