Guide your shots with reference images

Character references define who is in the frame. Non-character references steer the rest of the shot. When a wardrobe or a setting is easier to show than to describe, you can attach a reference image and tag it by role so Studio knows how to use it. This guide covers the reference roles and how each one is applied.

The non-character reference roles

• Clothes: an outfit or garment you want the subject to wear.
• Style: the look, mood, and palette you want to borrow.
• Background: the scene or location for the shot.
• Pose: a body position you want the subject to take.
• Composition: the framing and camera feel of the shot.

How each role is applied

Reference roles are not all handled the same way. Some references are sent to the model as images, while others are converted into a text description that is merged into your prompt. Pose and clothes references, for example, can be extracted into text describing the position or the outfit, which is then woven into the brief. This keeps the character likeness driven by your character references while the pose or wardrobe comes from the reference you supplied.

Combine references with section prompting

1. Attach your character so identity is reference-guided.
2. Add a clothes reference for the outfit, or describe it in the Wardrobe section.
3. Add a background or pose reference for the part that is easier to show than to write.
4. Use the prompt sections for everything the references do not cover, such as lighting and camera.
5. Generate, then swap a single reference and try again to compare.

References raise the odds that a shot lands the way you wanted, but results can still vary, so plan to iterate. Keep references sharp and uncluttered: a busy background reference can bleed unwanted detail into the result, so crop to the part you actually want.