Midjourney's style reference system actually delivers
My first-hand testing reveals what works and what still needs fixing
Style References
Style References (Sref) have always been one of Midjourney's standout features, the kind of thing that makes other AI art generators look primitive by comparison. The recent upgrade to the Sref system and Style Explorer promised better results and more variety. After extensive testing with several thousand style codes, I'll show you the good, the bad, and useful applications that you might not have considered.
The basics remain refreshingly simple. Add --sref [your style code] to any prompt and maintain consistent aesthetics across unlimited generations. Colors, lighting, and overall mood stay locked in place while subjects change completely.
For example, this is a valid prompt:
a cat --sref 1450261419 --sv 4 --v 7 The prompt is “a cat”
The Sref code is
1450261419The --sv 4 parameter indicates the Sref version of the code is “4” (You will use --sv 6 for newest version of Sref codes)
The --v 7 means using Midjourney version 7 model
The Sref feature goes way beyond just making things look pretty. Style references work as visual consistency tools for video series, image collections, and brand building. You can also use the codes to retexture existing photos and integrate with Midjourney patchwork tool for complex storytelling projects.
Pro Tip: Those legacy style codes (--sv 4) collecting dust in your files deserve another look. The upgraded Style Reference system makes many older codes significantly more attractive than their original iterations. Sometimes even better than the new --sv 6 codes!
Read this article if you are new to the upgraded Midjourney Style References system.
Choosing a style in Midjourney
I'll discuss what to look for when selecting an aesthetic style, whether through Style Explorer or by mining the Sref random codes yourself.
The focus is on Style Reference version 6 (the most recent Sref system), which applies to both the Style Explorer output and the generated random Sref style code.
If you’re new to the Style Reference versions, read this article here.
What the Sref system upgrade actually improved
Legacy codes genuinely look better now. This improvement comes from multiple factors working together: the upgraded style reference system, Midjourney V7 model enhancements, and personalization features creating a combined effect that's hard to ignore.
The new system generates much more diverse imagery when mining the style codes. Cultural contexts that were previously rare now appear more regularly. You'll find these improvements particularly noticeable: Asian influences, Indian aesthetics, and other ethnicities that were practically invisible before show up consistently in mining results.
The variety brings both striking successes and genuinely strange abstract territory that sometimes works brilliantly and other times looks empty. This increased diversity makes outcomes less predictable and gives you more options to select the styles that match your taste.
Images with negative space usage have increased dramatically, creating minimalist effects that weren't common before.
More styles can be converted into seamless tile due to their compatibility with the --tile parameter.
As previously stated in this article, the new Sref system improves style transferability.
Example 1: Legacy code looks better in the updated Sref system
Legacy Sref code (--sv 4) in Midjourney V6.1
The code looks great in the legacy system but it could be better in the new Sref system and V7
The code is now used in Midjourney V7 without personalization
You can immediately notice the jump in quality and details in V7 and the updated Sref system
The aesthetic quality of the legacy Sref code is further enhanced by using Personalization code in Midjourney V7
Pro Tip: Use your Personalization code with the legacy Sref code. The resulting aesthetic enhancement may surprise you.
Example 2: More Style codes that could be used with --tile
Unlike legacy Sref codes, the new Sref codes are more likely, but not all, to be compatible with the --tile parameter while maintaining seamlessness. (Less likely to "melt" (become distorted) than the previous system)
Sref code before using with --tile parameter
A seamless tile is generated using the new Sref code and the --tile parameter
The mining reality check
You can mine the Style code using this prompt:
. --sref random --sv 6 --v 7The --sv 6 and --v 7 are optional but I highly recommend you add them so that you can identify the Sref code version and the model that you used to generate them in the future.
Random style code generation using --sref random remains a numbers game with harsh odds. I have tested several thousands of codes. It reveals a success rate under 10% for possible usable Sref codes (rough assumption based on personal experience). Many codes still can’t get to the final selection stage as they don't meet practical quality standards. The Sref system upgrade didn't transform this fundamental challenge.
Building a collection of reliable style references demands time, energy, and persistence. Think panning for gold rather than shopping for groceries.
Pro Tip: Alternatively, you can use the pre-mined high-quality Sref codes in the Boutique collection to save time and energy.
Where problems persist
Several frustrating issues continue to limit the system's effectiveness. These problems show up consistently across different types of generations: