Crafting Consistent Characters in Midjourney: A Comprehensive Guide

Mastering Character Continuity with Midjourney’s Character Reference Feature

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The new character reference feature in Midjourney offers a powerful tool to create consistent characters. This guide explores how to utilize this feature to achieve remarkable character continuity in your AI-generated artwork.

Introduction

Creating consistent characters is crucial for storytelling, branding, and various creative projects. Midjourney’s Character Reference feature, known as –cref, allows you to base new images on a reference image, maintaining character consistency across different scenes and styles.

Getting Started with Character References

Uploading and Referencing Images

1. Upload Image to Discord: Start by uploading your reference image to Discord.
2. Get Image URL: On desktop, right-click the image and select ‘Open in Browser’ to copy the URL ending in .jpg or .png. On mobile, use ‘Copy Media Link’ or ‘Share’ to get the URL.
3. Use in Prompt: Type /imagine followed by your prompt and append — cref with the image URL.

Example:

A gorgeous model wearing a pink dress — cref urlA.png

Web Alpha Usage

Drag or paste your image into the Imagine bar on Midjourney’s Web Alpha. Choose ‘use as character reference’ or combine it with other options like style reference.

Modifying Reference Strength

Adjusting the reference strength can fine-tune the consistency level:

• Default (–cw 100): Full reference including face, hair, and outfit.
• Minimal (–cw 0): Focuses mainly on the face, allowing variations in outfit and hairstyle.

Example:

A gorgeous model wearing a pink dress — cref URL1.png — cw 100

Tips for Optimal Results

1. High-Resolution Images: Use upscaled images showing the model’s full face, preferably looking into the camera.
2. Experiment with –cw: Vary the reference strength to see different levels of consistency.
3. Combine Features: Use with the Style Reference feature to blend photorealistic and stylized elements.

Practical Examples

Character Reference Styles

1. Marc:

a handsome brunette man with glasses wearing a black glitter suit, sitting on a leather couch in an industrial setting — ar 2:3 — v 6.0

Use –cw 100 for high consistency in appearance.

1. Abby:

a gorgeous model, vintage 90s anime style, Barbie red hair, cute red latex outfit, y2k fashion, in a pastel green bedroom — ar 2:3 — v 6.0

Use –cw 50 for varied fashion styles while maintaining facial consistency.

1. Anh:

a closeup portrait photo of a Mongolian woman with pink lipstick and a pink sparkly glitter blouse, in front of a white wall — ar 2:3 — v 6.0

Use –cw 0 for diverse outfits and settings.

Limitations and Best Practices

• Best with AI-Generated Images: Works optimally with characters created within Midjourney.
• Avoid Real Images: Not designed for real people’s photos as it may distort them.
• Precision Limits: May not replicate specific facial features like dimples or tattoos.

Advanced Techniques

Using Multiple References: Combine several character reference images in one prompt for blended results.

Example:

— cref URL1 URL2

Remix Setting: Enable the remix setting to easily tweak prompts and apply reference styles without re-entering URLs.

Conclusion

By mastering the Character Reference feature in Midjourney, you can ensure consistent and high-quality character designs, enhancing your storytelling and creative projects