Midjourney Image Styles

Using Image Styles in Midjourney: Style Reference, Stylize & Image Prompts

1. What Are Image Styles?

Midjourney offers powerful tools to control style and composition:

Style Reference (--sref): Applies the overall aesthetic of an existing image—like lighting, texture, colors, and mood—without copying specific objects or people. Compatible with V6 and V7 models. YouTube+9Midjourney+9Medium+9 Medium
Stylize (--stylize or --s): Adjusts the amount of creative flair in a generated image. Lower values make it more literal; higher values let Midjourney get more artistic and interpretive. It ranges from 0 to 1000, with 100 being the default. Wikipedia+5Midjourney+5Midjourney+5
Image Prompt (--iw, or simply including an image URL): Influences content, composition, and color based on a reference image, blending visual cues directly into the generated image. The --iw parameter controls how strongly the image influences the output (default 1, up to 3 in V6/V7). Midjourney+2Medium+2

2. Setting Up Style Reference

On the Web:

Upload an image using the Imagine bar (“+”) or select one from your uploads.
Drag it into the Style Reference slot.
Lock it to reuse across prompts. Midjourney+6Midjourney+6Medium+6 WIRED

On Discord:

Add the parameter --sref <image_URL> at the end of your prompt. You can include multiple URLs separated by spaces. Lifewire+4Midjourney+4Christy Tucker Learning+4

3. Fine-Tuning with Style Weight & Version

Style Weight (--sw): A slider from 0–1000 determining how faithful the output is to the style reference. Default is --sw 100. Medium+4Midjourney+4Medium+4
Style Version (--sv): Specifies how Midjourney interprets the reference style.
- For V7, there are six variants; default is --sv 6. --sv 4 reproduces older style behavior pre–June 16, 2025. Medium+2Wikipedia+2 Midjourney
- For V6, there are four versions—--sv 1 through 4, each with a slightly different aesthetic. --sv 4 is the default. Midjourney

4. Combining with Image Prompts

Want both style and composition control? Combine them!

Example Prompt:

/imagine serene forest landscape, morning light --sref <style_image_url> --iw 0.8 --sw 200

Here, the style reference controls the mood (color palette, tone), while the image prompt offers layout cues.

This blend is especially valuable for brand-aligned visuals or serialized illustrations. Medium+7Medium+7Christy Tucker Learning+7

5. Practical Tips & Best Practices

Keep text prompts simple when using style references—conflicting style words can muddy the influence. Midjourney+1
Add descriptive words to reinforce the style when needed.
Match aspect ratios between reference and target images (e.g., 1:1 → 1:1). Midjourney+1 Medium
Upload clear, focused reference images—busy or complex ones can confuse the AI. Medium
Experiment with weights and versions—some versions lend a more “vibey” or literal feel. Medium+1
Save your favorite styles using resources like Midlibrary which catalogs SREF codes and art styles for reuse. Midjourney+3midlibrary.io+3Reddit+3

6. Community Insight

Reddit users confirm that Style Reference doesn’t override your composition—it’s all about vibe, not content. One user notes:

“You won’t be able to create an image by any means in MJ that retains the content of an existing, non‑MJ image. It isn’t designed to copy content. Pretty good at imitating a style though.” Reddit

Sample Prompt Recipes

Goal	Prompt Example
Pure Style Transfer	`/imagine sunny watercolor forest scene --sref <style_url> --sw 300`
Balanced Style + Composition	`/imagine modern home interior --sref <style_url> <optional_image_url> --iw 1.5 --sw 150`
Minimal Style Influence	`/imagine futuristic city street --sref <style_url> --sw 50`

Final Thoughts

Using Style Reference, Stylize, and Image Prompts in tandem gives you that creative control and consistency Midjourney truly excels at. Whether you’re defining a visual brand, iterating character art, or building mood-based scenes—these features help you craft images with both precision and artistic flair