Midjourney's NEW Secret Weapon - Style Reference
TLDRMidjourney introduces Style Reference (sref), a tool for users to replicate preferred styles in image generation. This feature, available in Midjourney version six and Niji version six, allows users to reference an image and create new images with a similar aesthetic. The sref parameter, used alongside the Style Weight (SW) parameter, offers more control over the influence of the reference image. Unlike image prompts, sref focuses on capturing the style rather than composition, making it ideal for consistent styling across a series of images. The summary also explains how to use sref in Discord and on the Midjourney website, highlighting its potential for creating cohesive graphic novels and other projects requiring stylistic consistency.
Takeaways
- 🎨 Midjourney introduced Style Reference (sref) in February 2024 for version six and Niji version six.
- 🖼️ Style Reference allows users to replicate a preferred style by using an image as a reference, simplifying the process for those who struggle to describe styles verbally.
- 🔄 Sref is distinct from image prompts, focusing more on capturing the style and look of the reference image, rather than composition.
- 🌟 Midjourney's default version as of February 2024 supports both sref and other style parameters like style raw and stylize.
- 🔧 Style Raw reduces Midjourney's style preferences to stay closer to the prompt, while Stylize adjusts the level of Midjourney's aesthetic touches.
- 🔄 Version 5 and Niji 5 offer additional style parameters, including Style Tuner and anime style options, providing more control over image styles.
- 📚 The goal of sref is to create consistent styles, beneficial for projects like graphic novels, where maintaining a uniform style throughout is crucial.
- 🔗 To use sref, users need an image URL, which can be obtained by uploading an image or using an online image.
- 🤖 Both Discord and the Midjourney website support the use of sref, with each platform having its own method for applying style references.
- 🔄 Users can blend multiple style references by adding them as separate parameters, with the option to adjust the weight of each reference using the SW (Style Weight) parameter.
Q & A
What is Midjourney's new tool called?
-Midjourney's new tool is called Style Reference, or sref.
When was the Style Reference tool released?
-The Style Reference tool was released in February 2024.
Which versions of Midjourney support the Style Reference feature?
-Style Reference is available in Midjourney version six and Niji version six.
What is the main purpose of the Style Reference tool?
-The main purpose of the Style Reference tool is to help users replicate a desired style by using an image as a reference, which is particularly helpful when users find it difficult to describe the style they want in words.
How does Style Reference differ from image prompts?
-While image prompts mainly focus on composition and layout, Style Reference captures the overall look and aesthetic of the image, helping to maintain a consistent style across generated images.
What is the role of the SW or style weight parameter?
-The SW or style weight parameter allows users to adjust the influence of the style reference image on the generated image, with a scale from zero to 1000.
Can Style Reference and image prompts be used together?
-Yes, Style Reference and image prompts can be used together, as they focus on different aspects of the inspiration image.
How do you use the Style Reference tool in Discord?
-In Discord, you upload the inspiration image, copy its URL, and then type your text prompt followed by '--sref' and the image URL in the message bar.
How do you use the Style Reference tool on the Midjourney website?
-On the website, you upload the inspiration image or use an existing one, add it as a style reference by dragging it into the 'add style reference' box, and then type your text prompt in the prompt bar.
What can you do if you want to blend multiple style references?
-You can blend multiple style references by adding the URLs of each reference image, separated by spaces, and using weights to indicate the influence of each image.
How does the character reference parameter (cref) complement the Style Reference tool?
-The character reference parameter (cref) focuses primarily on recreating a character reference, which can help maintain consistency in character design across images.
Outlines
🎨 Introducing Midjourney's Style Reference Tool
This paragraph introduces Midjourney's latest feature, the Style Reference (sref) tool, which was released in February 2024 for Midjourney version six and Niji version six. The sref tool allows users to replicate a specific style by simply pointing at an image and instructing the AI to emulate it. This is particularly useful for those who find it challenging to describe the style they want or when they wish to combine multiple styles. The paragraph explains that sref differs from image prompts, which mainly focus on composition, by aiming to capture the overall look and style of an image. It also briefly touches on other style parameters available in Midjourney, such as style raw and stylize, and mentions the style tuner from version five. The paragraph sets the stage for a more in-depth exploration of sref and its potential applications, such as creating a consistent style across a graphic novel or other visual narratives.
📸 How to Use the Style Reference Parameter
This paragraph provides a step-by-step guide on how to use the Style Reference (sref) parameter in both Discord and the Midjourney Alpha website. It explains the process of uploading an image, obtaining its URL, and incorporating it into a prompt as a style reference. The paragraph highlights the ease of using sref in conjunction with other parameters like stylize, weird, and chaos, and even with style raw. It also introduces the Style Weight (SW) parameter, which allows users to adjust the influence of the style reference image on the final output. The guide emphasizes the flexibility of the tool, as it can be used with both image prompts and style references simultaneously, catering to different creative needs and preferences.
🔄 Combining Style References and Image Prompts
This paragraph delves into the intricacies of combining style references with image prompts. It explains that while image prompts primarily influence the composition of the generated image, style references help to maintain a consistent aesthetic across a series of images. The paragraph encourages users to experiment with multiple style references, using weights to prioritize certain styles over others. It also addresses the current limitations and potential improvements for using sref on the Midjourney website. The section concludes by emphasizing the convenience of the style reference tool, which simplifies the process of achieving a desired look by eliminating the need for detailed verbal descriptions and instead allowing users to 'point and click' their preferences.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Midjourney
💡Style Reference (sref)
💡Style Weight (SW)
💡Image Prompts
💡Style Raw
💡Stylize
💡Version Six
💡Niji Version Six
💡Style Tuner
💡Character Reference Parameter (cref)
💡Consistent Styles
Highlights
Midjourney introduces a new tool called Style Reference (sref) for version six and Niji version six.
Style Reference allows users to replicate a style they like by simply pointing at an image.
This feature is particularly helpful for those who struggle to describe the style they want with words.
Style Reference is different from image prompts, focusing more on capturing the style rather than composition.
Version six of Midjourney also includes style parameters like style raw and stylize.
Style raw reduces Midjourney's style preferences, staying closer to the prompt's original request.
Stylize is a measure of Midjourney's beauty enhancements, with adjustable values from zero to 1000.
The new Style Weight (SW) parameter complements Style Reference, adjusting the influence of the reference image.
Version five and Niji 5 offer additional style parameters, including style tuner and anime style options.
Style Reference is a step towards creating consistent styles, such as for a graphic novel.
Using Style Reference helps maintain a similar style across different images, even when the action changes.
Style Reference and image prompts can be used together, focusing on different aspects of the inspiration image.
To use Style Reference, you need at least one image URL, which can be from an online source or uploaded within Midjourney.
The process of using Style Reference is demonstrated for both Discord and the Midjourney Alpha website.
An easy shortcut for Style Reference is available on the Midjourney website, allowing users to quickly set an image as a style reference.
Multiple style references can be blended by adding space between each URL or dragging multiple images into the prompt bar.
Weights can be assigned to different style references to control their influence on the final image.
Style Reference is not a style transfer tool but a guide for Midjourney to create new images with a similar aesthetic.
The introduction of Style Reference simplifies the process of achieving desired styles in images without the need for detailed descriptions.