Mastering Midjourney — The New Style Versions for sref

Style Reference Images --sref has a new parameter Style Version--sv — here is a cheat sheet and illustrations.

Every week, there seems to be a new update to Midjourney version 6, and this week is no exception! This new parameter Style Version, is part of the --sref style reference image. It extends the kinds of styles you can introduce to your prompts by using an image as a reference to tell the AI to copy the style of that image into the prompt you are creating. It is not required to use the --svparameter. If you use the --sref command without adding a style version, it defaults to --sv 4 automatically.

Need more information about using the --sref command? Check out my previous article explaining how the Style Reference Images work:

Mastering Midjourney V6 — Style Reference Images: A Guide to Consistent Aesthetics

Midjourney has released a new feature — sref that allows you to pull a style from one image and apply it to another…

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Just released today, here is the official announcement from the Midjourney Discord Server:

We’re releasing 2 new algorithms for style references plus a new ‘versioning’ feature The latest version of the style reference algorithm (now default) is more precise and works for both MJ V6 and Niji V6 You can set the version of your style reference algorithm with — sv There are 4 options to chose from: — sv 1 The original style reference algorithm we released with — sv 2 The one that was default up until today — sv 3 A new version of sv1 with better performance and more ‘vibey’ than sv2 — sv 4 A new version of sv2 that with improved performance (this is default)

To help illustrate how these different style versions affect your images I have run a series of images for you. The top of each section shows you the panda image I used, along with the prompt “A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom,” and then the image I used as the style reference.

After I had run them all it occurred to me that the default style weight --sw is 100 but that weight can go as high as 1000. So I ran a second set of images for each style reference image and added the --sw 1000 to it. This way, you can see both the default and the fully weighted style reference image.

I have included the prompts for all of the sets in case you would like to try any of them for yourself. Setting style weight under 100 can have some interesting effects if you do not require the full style or would like to lighten up what the style reference image is doing to your prompt.

Image prompt left combined with style reference image right.

With default Style Weight 100 below
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/G0dwi2IvAdo --sv 1
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/G0dwi2IvAdo --sv 2
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/G0dwi2IvAdo --sv 3
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/G0dwi2IvAdo --sv 4

With Style Weight 1000 below
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/G0dwi2IvAdo --sv 1 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/G0dwi2IvAdo --sv 2 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/G0dwi2IvAdo --sv 3 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/G0dwi2IvAdo --sv 4 --sw 1000

with style weight 1000 and style version

With default Style Weight 100 below
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/r0q30zzJBQg --sv 1
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/r0q30zzJBQg --sv 2
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/r0q30zzJBQg --sv 3
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/r0q30zzJBQg --sv 4

With Style Weight 1000 below
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/r0q30zzJBQg --sv 1 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/r0q30zzJBQg --sv 2 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/r0q30zzJBQg --sv 3 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/r0q30zzJBQg --sv 4 --sw 1000

With Default Style Weight 100 below
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/_gWLwQiRWeM --sv 1
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/_gWLwQiRWeM --sv 2
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/_gWLwQiRWeM --sv 3
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/_gWLwQiRWeM --sv 4

With Style Weight 1000 below
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/_gWLwQiRWeM --sv 1 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/_gWLwQiRWeM --sv 2 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/_gWLwQiRWeM --sv 3 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/_gWLwQiRWeM --sv 4 --sw 1000

With Default Style Weight 100 below
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/yc8j4T44jxI --sv 1
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/yc8j4T44jxI --sv 2
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/yc8j4T44jxI --sv 3
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/yc8j4T44jxI --sv 4

With Style Weight 1000 below
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/yc8j4T44jxI --sv 1 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/yc8j4T44jxI --sv 2 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/yc8j4T44jxI --sv 3 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/yc8j4T44jxI --sv 4 --sw 1000

With Default Style Weight 100 below
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/0vSiKuWHsCQ --sv 1
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/0vSiKuWHsCQ --sv 2
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/0vSiKuWHsCQ --sv 3
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/0vSiKuWHsCQ --sv 4

With Style Weight 1000 below
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/0vSiKuWHsCQ --sv 1 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/0vSiKuWHsCQ --sv 2 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/0vSiKuWHsCQ --sv 3 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/0vSiKuWHsCQ --sv 4 --sw 1000

https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/6jCuepb_1Zw --sv 1
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/6jCuepb_1Zw --sv 2
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/6jCuepb_1Zw --sv 3
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/6jCuepb_1Zw --sv 4

https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/6jCuepb_1Zw --sv 1 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/6jCuepb_1Zw --sv 2 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/6jCuepb_1Zw --sv 3 --sw 1000
https://s.mj.run/V0XKvi9AY-Y A giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/6jCuepb_1Zw --sv 4 --sw 1000

Note: It is not necessary to use an image prompt with the --sref prompts as I have done here. I did that mostly to ensure a more systematic image for the illustrations. Below, I have run the prompt without an image prompt but with the sref from above. On the left is the default style weight, and on the right, the style weight is 1000.

Left
giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/6jCuepb_1Zw --sv 4

Right
giant panda rolling leisurely while DJing at a classic vinyl record player in a deserted classroom --sref https://s.mj.run/6jCuepb_1Zw --sv 4 --sw 1000

Mastering Midjourney v6 — Using Images to Prompt

Unlock the magic of AI art with Midjourney v6! Dive into using images as prompts for precision and surprise in your…

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Takeaways

If you are a novice and this is just one more thing to remember, do not add --sv and it will just default to number four automatically.
As an advanced user, you may get more out of these new style versions. I am partial to --sv 3 because I like the artiness of it.
Style weight is 100 by default, so if that amount is good you can just leave the — sw off completely, or you can set this from 1–1000 to vary the amount of style applied to your image.
When using style reference images, if it is grainy or out of focus this can affect your images negatively. Be sure that the image you are using as a style reference reflects what you desire in your generated image.

In Conclusion

As Midjourney grows, the number of parameters and their parts has become difficult to keep straight. I would like to remind everyone to be kind to themselves if it feels a bit overwhelming. If something looks interesting to you, play with it. If not, then just keep on doing the things that are working for you. This is particularly true if you are brand new to Midjourney. The Style Versions are entertaining and a great way to spend a lot of time experimenting, but leaving the default style version (by adding nothing) works just fine.

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