Reference Images for Character Consistency

This is one of Kreatorflow's most powerful features - the ability to use reference images to maintain consistent characters, styles, or elements across multiple generations.

How Reference Images Work

1

Upload References

Click "Reference Images (0/10)" to open the upload modal

2

Add Images

Upload up to 10 reference images

3

Reference in Prompt

Use @image1, @image2, etc. in your prompt

4

Generate

The AI will maintain consistency with your references

Example 5: Single Reference for Character Consistency

Use Case: Maintaining character consistency across different scenes and contexts using reference images.

Step 1: Open Reference Images Upload Modal

Click on the "Reference Images (0/10)" button in the control panel to open the upload interface.

Reference images upload modal showing 10 available slots and usage instructions
Figure 15: Reference images upload modal showing 10 available slots and usage instructions

The modal shows:

  • 10 upload slots (numbered 1-10)
  • Instructions on how to use reference images
  • Examples: "Give the person in @image1 the hairstyle from @image2"
  • Format requirements: JPEG/PNG, Max 10MB per image, Aspect ratio 1.5 to 3:1

Step 2: Upload Your Reference Image

Click on slot 1 and upload your reference image. For this example, we'll use one of the casual selfie images from Example 4.

Reference modal with casual selfie uploaded in slot 1
Figure 16: Reference image successfully uploaded in slot 1, ready to use as @image1

Notice:

  • The uploaded image appears in slot 1 with a preview
  • The counter changes from "0/10" to "1/10"
  • A "Clear All" button appears to remove all references
  • The image is now ready to be referenced as @image1 in prompts

Step 3: Enter Prompt with Reference Syntax

Close the modal and enter your prompt using the @image1 syntax to reference the uploaded image.

Prompt input showing @image1 professional business headshot with syntax highlighted
Figure 17: Prompt input showing @image1 reference syntax (highlighted in purple)

Prompt Used:

@image1 professional business headshot, corporate photography, neutral gray background, professional attire, studio lighting, confident expression, linkedin profile photo, high-end corporate portrait

Notice how @image1 is highlighted in purple/pink, indicating it's recognized as a valid reference.

Aspect Ratio:
3:4 (Portrait)
Quality:
High
Batch Size:
4 images
Cost:
4 credits

Step 4: Compare Reference and Results

Here's the original reference image compared with the generated results:

Original casual selfie used as reference image
Figure 18: Original casual selfie used as reference (@image1) - note the natural lighting and casual setting
Professional business headshot generated from the casual selfie reference
Figure 19: Professional business headshot generated using @image1 reference - same person, completely different context
Dashboard showing four business headshot variations maintaining character consistency
Figure 20: All four business headshot variations maintaining perfect character consistency with the original selfie
Clean single professional business headshot output
Figure 20a: Clean, high-quality result without UI (4096×4096)

Character Consistency Achieved:

  • Same facial features, hair color, and overall appearance
  • Different setting: casual living room → professional office
  • Different attire: casual crop top → professional business suit
  • Different lighting: natural window light → studio lighting

What This Example Demonstrates:

  • Character Consistency: Same person from casual selfie to professional headshot
  • Context Transformation: Changed setting, lighting, and clothing while keeping the person
  • Single Reference Usage: How to use @image1 to reference one image

Example 6: Multiple Reference Images

Use Case: Combining multiple reference images for product photography and lifestyle content by blending a model, specific clothing items, and accessories.

Scenario:

You want to create professional lifestyle photography that combines:

  • The model/person from one image (@image1)
  • A specific clothing item (like a jacket) from another image (@image2)
  • A specific product/accessory (like a water bottle) from a third image (@image3)

Real-World Application: Perfect for e-commerce, product catalogs, influencer marketing, and brand campaigns.

Step 1: Upload Multiple References

Click on the Reference Images (0/10) button to open the upload modal, then upload your reference images to different slots.

Reference modal showing three uploaded images in slots 1, 2, and 3
Figure 21: Three reference images uploaded - notice the counter shows '3/10'

Our Three References:

  • Slot 1 (@image1): Casual selfie - the model/person for character consistency
  • Slot 2 (@image2): Black leather jacket - the specific clothing item to apply
  • Slot 3 (@image3): Stainless steel water bottle - the specific product/accessory to include

Step 2: Enter Multi-Reference Prompt

Close the modal and enter a prompt that references all three images using @image1, @image2, and @image3 syntax:

Prompt using three references - @image1, @image2, and @image3 each highlighted in different colors
Figure 22: Prompt using @image1, @image2, and @image3 - notice each reference is highlighted in different colors

Prompt Used:

@image1 wearing the leather jacket from @image2 and holding the water bottle from @image3, professional lifestyle photography, modern urban setting, natural lighting

How the AI Interprets This:

  • • @image1 → Extract the model's facial features, hair, and identity
  • • @image2 → Extract the jacket's style, color, and design details
  • • @image3 → Extract the water bottle appearance and integrate it
  • • Combine all three → Create a cohesive lifestyle image

Step 3: Review Generated Results

Dashboard showing four lifestyle photos combining model, jacket, and water bottle
Figure 23: Four variations combining the model from @image1, leather jacket from @image2, and water bottle from @image3
Dashboard interface view with generation controls and result
Figure 24: Dashboard view showing the interface and generated result
Clean urban lifestyle photo showing person in leather jacket holding water bottle
Figure 25: Clean, high-quality result without UI (4096×4096)

What Was Successfully Combined:

  • Model (@image1): Same person with consistent facial features, hair, and appearance
  • Clothing (@image2): Black leather jacket applied perfectly with accurate style and details
  • Product (@image3): Stainless steel water bottle integrated naturally into the composition
  • Cohesive Result: All three elements blended seamlessly in a professional urban lifestyle setting

Use Cases for Reference Images

Brand Mascots

Keep consistent characters across marketing materials

Product Variations

Show same product in different settings

Style Transfer

Maintain artistic style across multiple images

Character Development

Create consistent characters for storytelling

Model Consistency

Use the same model across different product photos

Tips for Using Reference Images:

  1. 1.
    Clear References: Use high-quality, clear reference images for best results
  2. 2.
    Multiple References: Combine up to 10 references for complex consistency needs
  3. 3.
    Reference Syntax: Always use @image1, @image2 format in your prompt
  4. 4.
    Describe Changes: Clearly describe what should change from the reference
  5. 5.
    Experiment: Try different reference combinations to find what works best

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