The Beauty of MidJourney's Seed and Style Reference Parameters

In the world of AI-generated art, consistency is king. For creators working with AI image generators, one of the biggest challenges is maintaining control over the output. Traditional artists have long enjoyed precise control over their creative process, but AI tools introduce an element of unpredictability. However, with the right techniques, it's possible to achieve a high degree of consistency in AI-generated images. This article will explore two powerful features in Midjourney that can help you maintain control: the seed parameter and style references.

Understanding AI Image Generation

Before diving into the specifics of Midjourney's features, it's crucial to understand how AI image generators work. At their core, these tools use diffusion models, such as Stable Diffusion, which are trained on vast datasets of image-text pairs.

The Diffusion Process

1. Training: The model analyzes each image's pixels and their corresponding text descriptions.
2. Diffusion: Images are gradually converted into noise.
3. Reverse Diffusion: The model learns to convert noise back into coherent images.
4. Prompt Analysis: When given a text prompt, the model analyzes each word and their relationships.
5. Image Generation: The model "paints" an image that matches the prompt, considering various configurations.

This process is inherently probabilistic, which is why you rarely get identical results when using the same prompt multiple times. To combat this variability, Midjourney introduced two powerful features: the seed parameter and style references.

The Seed Parameter: Your Starting Point

The seed parameter acts as the starting point for image generation. By setting a specific seed value, you can maintain certain characteristics across multiple generations.

How to Use the Seed Parameter

Set a custom seed for your first image generation.

Use the same seed for subsequent images to maintain similar characteristics.

Image 1 with Seed 12345

Image 2 with Seed 12345

By using the same seed (12345 in this case), you've noticed that the generated dogs share similar features, even when the action changes.

Style References: Borrowing Aesthetics

Style references allow you to influence the aesthetic of your generated images by providing example images or codes from previous generations.

Types of Style References

1. URL-based: Use image URLs as style references.
2. Seed-based: Use the seed number from a previously generated image.

This is what Midjourney says on their website about the Style References.

How to Use Style References

URL Format:

[Prompt] --sref [url 1] [url 2] [url 3]

Seed Format:

[Prompt] --sref [code]

Generating an Image with URL as the style reference

I used the url of this image from midjourney.com website as the reference and below is the outcome.

Generating an Image with SREF Code as the Parameter

I took the style from the above image and generate the below set of images.

Resources for Style References

To help you get started with style references, consider exploring these curated collections:

61 Curated Style References

Midjourney's Style Reference for Photographers

Midjourney V6 Style Codes (for –sref)

Advanced Techniques and Experiments

To truly master consistency in AI image generation, it's essential to experiment with various parameters and combinations.

These prompts combine a style reference with specific chaos, stylize, and weirdness parameters, while also specifying the Midjourney version.

Conclusion

Mastering consistency in AI image generation is an ongoing process that requires practice, experimentation, and a deep understanding of the tools at your disposal. By leveraging Midjourney's seed parameter and style references, you can achieve a higher degree of control over your AI-generated artwork. Remember to experiment with different combinations of parameters and to draw inspiration from the wealth of style reference resources available.

As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more sophisticated tools for maintaining consistency in generated images. Stay curious, keep experimenting, and don't hesitate to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI-assisted creativity.

We at {igebra.ai) GenAI Studio work on a lot of interesting GenAI projects. Contact me if you need any assistance.