Midjourney V6: How to Produce Similar Images or Styles in Midjourney — “Style References” vs. “Image Prompt”🎨

As you all know, Midjourney V6 introduced “Style References,” which enables users to specify one or more reference images to define the aesthetic they want to maintain across their generated images.

Some users may be unsure about the difference between “Image Prompt” and “Style References.”

Today, I will explain the distinctions between these two and guide when to use each for different use cases.

What is Midjourney

MidJourney is an AI image generator that creates high-quality visuals from simple text descriptions. It uses powerful algorithms to produce imaginative and accurate images based on user prompts.

It is perfect for AI interior design and creating AI images, it uses advanced algorithms to produce accurate and imaginative results making it a valuable tool for designers and creatives looking to improve their online presence.

If you are starting, crafting the perfect prompt is challenging. So, here is an ultimate guide to get you started:

Ultimate Guide to Midjourney 2024: Master AI Art Creation

A Creative Journey

When it comes to creating awesome visual content, two cool techniques can take your work to the next level: “Image Prompting” and “Style Reference”.

These methods are all about helping you express yourself in unique and creative ways. Let’s explore how these techniques can bring your ideas to life!

Today’s content will be broken down into three parts:

Since Midjourney website will be opened to everyone soon, I want to demonstrate the features with Midjourney website today. Today’s content will be broken down into three parts:

• Part One: What is an Image Prompt
• Part Two: What is Style Reference
• Part Three: Combine the Power of “Style Reference” and “ Image Prompt”

Upload An Image to the Website

Since we are all about using images as a reference, first, let’s learn how to get our images uploaded to Midjourney. We are demonstrating the features with the Midjourney website today.

To upload an image, click the [ + ] button in the imagine bar on the top and upload the image.

After uploading an image, there will now be three icons for you to select when you hover over the image. Select according to your needs.

1. Character Reference(--cref): Inspired by key character attributes.
2. Style Reference(--sref): Inspired by visual style only.
3. Image Prompt (URL in prompt): Inspired by composition, style, subject.

Part One: What is an Image Prompt

Image prompts (sometimes called reference images or image references ) enable you to utilize an image as an input variable.

It allows you to influence the composition, subject, and some style of generated images.

👉🏻 How to Use Image Prompts

Step 1: Pick Your Reference Image

Use an image you generated with Midjourney or upload one

Step 2: Upload your image

Click the [ + ] button in your chat bar and upload an image

Step 3: Use “Image Prompt” with “Text Prompt”

Hover over the image and pick “Image Prompt” and input the text prompt to describe the image

📌 Generate with Discord

If you are using Discord, add the image url plus text prompt like this /imagine prompt:< IMAGE URL > , Text Prompt

Here is the result using only “Image Prompt”, as you can see, it influences the composition and general structure of the new image.

⭐️ Reference Image Recommendations:

• Aspect Ratios Use matching aspect ratios for input and output images (e.g., 1:1 in for 1:1 out, 2:3 in for 2:3 out).
• Simplicity: Keep reference images simple with clear subjects and uncomplicated backgrounds.
• Relevance: Choose reference images that closely resemble the desired final image.
• New Creation: MJ creates new images, not exact copies. You’ll get rough likenesses of people in the pictures.
• Details: Include details in the prompt. For example, if a reference image lacks arms, mention arms, sleeves, biceps, or bracelets in your prompt.

Image Weights (--iw)

You can increase the influence of your reference image using --iw N where N is a value between 0 and 2.

The default is 1.0 so if you want your image reference to be less influential, try --iw 0.5 and if you want it to be very influential try --iw 2.

👉🏻 “Image Prompt” influences the composition, composition, subject, and some style of the image

👉🏻 “Style Reference” influences the visual aesthetics, style and color

Part Two: What is Style Reference

Style References allow you to easily replicate a specific style and maintain its aesthetic by specifying one or more reference images that define the aesthetic you want Midjourney to maintain across your generated images.

It’s similar to image prompts but focuses solely on the STYLE

Highlight Features

• Functionality: Work similar to image prompts where you give a URL to one or more images that ‘describe’ the consistent style you want to work over.
• Use: Type --sref after your text prompt, followed by URLs to one or more style reference images like this: --sref urlA urlB urlC
• Format: /imagine text prompt --sref stylePrompt1 stylePrompt2
• Style Matching: The model looks at image URLs as ‘style references’ and tries to generate something that visually ‘matches’ their aesthetics.

👉🏻 How to Use Style Reference

Step 1: Pick Your Reference Image

Use an image you generated with Midjourney or pick one online.

Step 2: Upload your image

Click the [ + ] button in your imagine bar and upload an image

Step 3: Use “Style Reference” with “Text Prompt”

Hover over the image and pick “Style Reference” and input text prompt to describe the image

📌 Generate with Discord

If you are using Discord, type --sref after your text prompt, followed by URLs to one or more style reference images like this: --sref url

/imagine prompt: Text Prompt --sref url

Here is the result using only “Style Reference”, it influences the overall Aesthetics, Style and Color

⭐️ Style weight --sw & Style Version --sv

You can further influence the style with style weight and style version

Style weight--sw

The visual style is carried over to your canvas, reinforced by the prompt, and by “--sw" (style weight) below 100 for less influence and up to 1000 for more influence.

Style Version --sv

Come with 4 versions with --sv

If you want to explore outside the default, you can now use

--sref <URL> with --sv N (sref version) where N is 1, 2, 3, or 4:

• --sv 1 The original style reference
• --sv 2 The one that was the default
• --sv 3 A new version of sv1 with better performance and more 'vibey' than sv2
• --sv 4 A new version of sv2 with improved performance ( default )

Refer to this article here for more advanced tips:

Midjourney V6 Upgraded “Style Reference” — 3 Advanced Tips You Must Know! 🚀🎨

Part Three: Combine the Power of “Style Reference” and “ Image Prompt”

While Image Prompt is great for influencing the composition of your image. You can infuse a style with “Style Reference”.

This is great for replicating an image with a new style.

Fusion of these two Features: Image Prompts and Style References.

These two features are about to be your best friends, enabling you to create visuals that are not just beautiful but brimming with personality and style.

👉🏻 How to use “Image Prompt” and “Style Reference”

Step 1: Pick and upload your images

Let’s take the images from above.

Step 2: Use Image Prompt + Style Reference

Upload two images to the website and select “Image Prompt” and “Style Reference” for each of your image

📌 Generate with Discord

Use: To use an image prompt with Style Reference on Discord, it must go before --sref

/imagine prompt: Text Prompt ImagePrompt --sref urlA

Here is the result

Creative Use Case — Branding Materials

With Midjourney’s “Style Reference” and “Image Prompt” features, you can easily create amazing, personalized visuals that speak your brand’s language with consistent aesthetics which can be used in:

• Digital Marketing: Social media, online advertisements
• Print Advertisement: Brochure, poster, leaflets
• Website Design: Stock Images, banner

👉🏻 Refer to this article here for more in depth tutorials on creating branding materials

Midjourney V6 Advanced🔥 Create Branding Materials with “Style Reference” & “Image Prompt”🎨

Passive Income with AI Art: Master Midjourney 💰🎨

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This guide is designed for continuous education, new tutorials are added regularly so you stay ahead.

I’ve poured my heart into creating this guide. I hope you enjoy it ❤️

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“AI won’t replace you, but the one who knows AI will”

Hi👋 I am Christie — An AI Art Creator and Educator😊

I hope you found value in this article on tapping into AI or unlimited creativity. If you’re craving more insider tips, prompts and tricks for tools like Midjourney, I’d love for you to join me on this journey.

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