Midjourney style references (--sref): how to get a consistent look

By Marco Cavazzana · Updated
Short answer
--sref tells Midjourney to copy the visual style (colour, texture, lighting, mood) of a reference image or a numeric style code, without copying its content. Add --sref followed by an image URL or a code such as --sref 2980181076, and use --sw to control how strongly that style is applied.

Image URL or style code

There are two ways to give Midjourney a style reference:

  • An image URL. Midjourney reads the look of that image and applies it to your prompt.
  • A style code. A number like 2980181076 that stands for a particular look. Codes are easy to share and reuse, which makes them ideal for series work and brand consistency.

Typing --sref random gives you a random style, and the job shows the code that was used, so you can keep the ones you like.

Controlling strength with --sw

--sw (style weight) sets how much the reference influences the result. Lower values give a light touch; higher values push the image strongly toward the reference. Start at the default and move in steps until the balance between your prompt and the style feels right.

Combining styles

You can list more than one reference after --sref to blend looks, and add weights with :: to favour one over another, for example --sref 1111111111::2 2222222222::1.

Keeping looks consistent across a project

  1. Collect. Each time you get a style you like, save its code with a preview image.
  2. Name and group. Organise styles by client, project or mood so you can find them later.
  3. Note the model version. Style codes can render differently on different Midjourney versions, so record which version a code was made on.
  4. Reuse the same code and weight for every image in a series.

Doing this faster with Dreamdrive

Dreamdrive's Style Vault is built for exactly this: save --sref codes next to their preview images, sort them into collections, favourite the ones you reuse, and browse a library of 1,000+ curated styles when you need a starting point.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between --sref and an image prompt?
An image prompt influences both content and style. --sref transfers only the style: colour, texture, lighting and mood, not the objects in the image.
Where do I find Midjourney style codes?
Use --sref random to discover new ones, note codes from your own jobs, or browse curated libraries such as the Dreamdrive Style Vault.
What does --sw mean in Midjourney?
--sw is style weight. It controls how strongly the --sref reference is applied to your image.
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