How to use Midjourney style references (sref codes)

What are sref codes?

Style References, commonly known as sref codes, are specific codes or parameters you can add to your MidJourney prompts to dictate the artistic style, mood, or specific characteristics of the generated image. They allow you to fine-tune the artistic style of your generated images, giving you greater control and creativity over the final output.

Comparative example

Lets begin by creating a simple image using a standard prompt without any style references. We will imagine a woman taking a photo inside a coffee shop.

You will notice that Midjourney generates images with varying styles, lacking the consistency we initially envisioned. Lets say we actually wanted a simple cartoon style, similar to reference code 839 shown below:

So, we just need to use the exact same prompt from the orginal image, including --sref 839. Check out the result — it looks great!

And what if we wanted a hand-draw style with a vintage aesthetic, like the one reference code 789 provides?

Easy! Just include --sref 789 in our original prompt. See the outcome! Like it?

Dont forget to explore different styles and test them with various prompts. You might be pleasantly surprised! Explore our complete library of styles clicking here.