Character Reference
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    Character Reference

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    Article summary

    You can use images as character references in your prompt to create images of the same character in different situations.

    To add character references to a prompt, use the --cref parameter with the web address (URL) where the image is stored online: --cref URL

    Image of the Discord message send box showing an example /imagine command using --cref style references: '/imagine prompt description of what to imagine --cref https://imageURL1.jpg'


    • Character references work best when using images generated by Midjourney that feature a single character.
    • --cref is not designed to be used with photographs of real people, and will distort them.
    • Precise details like specific freckles or t-shirt logos aren't likely to be copied.
    • --cref can be used with Midjourney and Niji Version 6, and can be combined with --sref.
    • You can use multiple character references in a single prompt, but probably don't need to.
    • Any regular image prompts must go before --cref.


    Privacy Notes
    • Upload images in your direct messages with the Midjourney Bot to prevent other server users from seeing an image.
    • Image prompts and references are visible on the Midjourney website unless you're generating in Stealth Mode.


    See the Image Prompts page for help using image URLs in your prompts on Discord, or the Using Image References on Web page for help using all kinds of image references on midjourney.com.


    Examples

    Reference Image: BlueHairGuy.png

    an illustration of a man with blue hair, glasses, and a yellow hoodie, on a yellow background, generated by Midjourney


    Prompt: illustration of a man sitting in a cafe


    a grid of four portrait-orientation images of different men sitting in cafes, generated by Midjourney with the text prompt 'illustration of a man sitting in a cafe'

    Prompt: illustration of a man sitting in a cafe --cref https://url.com/BlueHairGuy.png

    a grid of four portrait-orientation images of a man with blue hair, glasses, and a yellow hoodie sitting in a cafe, generated by Midjourney with the text prompt 'illustration of a man sitting in a cafe' and the --cref parameter



    Character Weight Parameter

    Use the character weight parameter --cw to set the strength of characterization. --cw accepts values from 0 to 100. --cw 0 focuses on the character's face only. Higher values use the character's face, hair, and clothing. --cw 100 is default.

    prompt example: /imagine prompt illustration of a man sitting in a cafe --cref https://url.com/BlueHairGuy.png

    --cw 0
    a grid of four portrait-orientation images of a man with blue hair, glasses, and a yellow hoodie sitting in a cafe, generated by Midjourney with the text prompt 'illustration of a man sitting in a cafe' and the --cref parameter and a low character weight
    --cw 50
    a grid of four portrait-orientation images of a man with blue hair, glasses, and a yellow hoodie sitting in a cafe, generated by Midjourney with the text prompt 'illustration of a man sitting in a cafe' and the --cref parameter and a medium character weight
    --cw 100
    a grid of four portrait-orientation images of a man with blue hair, glasses, and a yellow hoodie sitting in a cafe, generated by Midjourney with the text prompt 'illustration of a man sitting in a cafe' and the --cref parameter and the default high character weight



    Combining Style and Character References

    To maintain a consistent style while using a character reference, you can combine the --sref and --cref parameters. See the Style Reference page for more information on using --sref.

    /imagine prompt illustration of a man sitting in a cafe --cref https://url.com/BlueHairGuy.png --sref https://url.com/BlueHairGuy.png
    a grid of four cat images generated by Midjourney with the text prompt a cat and the --sref parameter with --sv 1