What is SREF in Midjourney? – How to Use It and Best Examples 🚀

SREF (Style Reference) is one of the most powerful tools in Midjourney, allowing me to control the style of generated images with precision. It helps create consistent aesthetics inspired by specific reference images.

In this article, I’ll cover:
✅ What SREF is and how it works
✅ How to use it in Midjourney
✅ How to set and mix style references
✅ Practical examples

What is SREF in Midjourney?

SREF (Style Reference) is a parameter that lets me specify a particular style by providing a URL to a reference image or using a predefined SREF code, such as --sref 9900. Midjourney analyzes the reference image’s style and applies its characteristics to the newly generated artwork.

📌 With SREF, I can control:
🎨 Color palette
🖌 Brushstrokes and line work
📷 Lighting and depth
🧑‍🎨 Overall artistic style

How to use --sref in Midjourney?

To apply a style reference, I simply add the --sref [URL] flag or use a built-in style code like this:

📌 Example prompt using --sref 9900

/imagine prompt: futuristic cityscape, neon lights, cyberpunk --sref 9900 --ar 16:9

🔥 Midjourney will apply the predefined style associated with 9900 to the generated image.

Example of --sref 9900 in action

The --sref 9900 code corresponds to a highly stylized aesthetic resembling concept art and futuristic digital painting. It features rich colors, strong contrasts, and deep shadows.

📌 Example prompt:

/imagine prompt: mysterious warrior in futuristic armor, glowing sword, cinematic lighting --sref 9900 --ar 16:9

🔥 Expected results:
✅ Strong light and shadow contrast
✅ Detailed costume and environment
✅ A semi-realistic yet artistic look

📌 Another example:

/imagine prompt: mystical forest, bioluminescent plants, ethereal glow --sref 9900 --ar 16:9

🎨 Expected results:
✅ Vibrant, neon-like colors
✅ Cinematic atmosphere
✅ A fantasy/sci-fi mood

Mixing --sref with other parameters

I can combine --sref with other settings for unique effects:

✅ Boosting the style intensity:

/imagine prompt: cyberpunk skyline at night --sref 9900 --sref-weight 1.5

🔹 This increases the influence of the reference style.

✅ Combining multiple styles:

/imagine prompt: space station interior, sleek sci-fi design --sref 9900 --sref 8752

🔹 This blends two different styles.

✅ Adjusting aspect ratio and detail level:

/imagine prompt: post-apocalyptic desert, lone traveler --sref 9900 --ar 21:9 --q 2

🔹 This generates a cinematic widescreen format with higher quality.

Mini FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About --sref

1️⃣ What is --sref?

📌 --sref is a Midjourney parameter that applies a reference image’s style to new AI-generated images.

2️⃣ How do I use --sref 9900?

📌 Simply add --sref 9900 to the prompt, like this:

/imagine prompt: futuristic warrior, neon lights --sref 9900

Midjourney will generate an image based on this preset style.

3️⃣ Can I use multiple --sref codes at the same time?

📌 Yes! You can combine styles like this:

/imagine prompt: sci-fi spaceship --sref 9900 --sref 8752

This allows for hybrid styles.

4️⃣ What does --sref-weight do?

📌 The --sref-weight parameter controls how strongly the reference style influences the final result. The default value is 1.0, but you can adjust it:

• --sref-weight 1.5 makes the style more dominant
• --sref-weight 0.5 applies a subtler influence

5️⃣ Can I use --sref with my own images?

📌 Yes! You can reference your own images by adding their URL:

/imagine prompt: enchanted forest --sref https://example.com/image.jpg

Midjourney will extract the style from the image.

6️⃣ How can I find more --sref codes?

📌 The official list isn’t public, but users share discoveries on Discord and AI forums. You can also experiment by testing different codes yourself!

🔹 The best way to learn is by experimenting! 🚀🎨