--cref (character reference) lets Midjourney use an image as a person reference. --cw controls how much is reused, and combining with --seed and --sref produces tightly coherent mini series.
Basic syntax
{your prompt} --cref [direct image URL] --cw 60 --ar 3:4 --v 6
- --cref takes a direct jpg/png URL (not a webpage URL)
- --cw 0: face only; --cw 100: face + outfit + pose
- Recommended range: --cw 30–70
--cw weight in practice
| --cw | Scope | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Only facial features | Outfit / pose changes across the series |
| 30 | Face + partial silhouette | Balanced — recommended starting point |
| 60 | Face + hair + outfit style | Lock the overall look |
| 100 | Nearly identical copy | Only when you need a near-clone |
Standard mini-series workflow
- Generate one strong reference image using a detailed character block
- Save the reference image URL (image host or Discord direct link)
- Every new image uses the same character block + --cref [same URL] + --cw 60
- Only the scene phrase changes — the character block does not
- Optionally stack --sref to lock the visual style
Combine with --sref
{character block}, walking in a foggy alley --cref [person image] --cw 60 --sref [style image] --sw 200
--cref locks the person, --sref locks the visual style. They are independent and combine cleanly — this is Midjourney's strongest series-image setup.
Common gotchas
Low-quality reference image
--cref amplifies defects in the reference. Use a high-quality, front-facing, evenly lit reference.
--cw 100 locks pose
The new image becomes a near-copy of the reference's pose. Stay in the 40–70 range.
URL goes dead
Expired image hosting breaks --cref. Use stable hosting.