An existing image given to an AI to guide the subject, style, or composition of a new one.
A reference image is an existing picture you give to an AI to guide its output, whether to match a subject, a style, or a composition. It provides visual information that text alone cannot.
References are the foundation of consistency. By pointing the model at a real product or person, you keep it accurate across scenes. Brand systems build on this by saving references as reusable elements you can call up anytime.
To keep a specific subject, style, or composition accurate. References give the model visual detail that words cannot fully capture.
Reusing the same reference for a product or person keeps it looking the same across many generated images.