Reference Images

Reference images are an optional but powerful tool that allows you to give the AI specific visual guidance for materials or artistic styles.

Reference Images

What it is:

Reference images (e.g., REF1, REF2) are photos or texture samples you upload to guide the AI's rendering. You can use them in two distinct ways:

• As a Material (Layer Description): To define the exact texture of a specific surface (e.g., a specific wood grain for the floor) ()[]
• As a Style (Custom Style): To define the overall artistic look of the entire image (e.g., a specific painting style or film grade)

Influence and importance:

Reference images provide precise visual guidance that text prompts alone cannot convey. They help the AI understand exact textures, color palettes, and artistic techniques. However, to get consistent results, your reference image must have one, and only one, job—the AI gets confused by mixed messages.

What To Pay Attention To:

• Choose the Right Purpose: Decide whether your reference is for a material texture or an artistic style—never both in one image.

• Material References: Use texture swatches shot flat-on with even lighting, tightly cropped to show only the material. Avoid perspective distortion or other objects in frame.

• Style References: Use images that clearly display an artistic technique (charcoal sketch, watercolor, film grade), not photos of buildings that might confuse the AI about geometry.

• Image Quality: Use high-resolution images (1000-2000 pixels on longest side) in JPG or PNG format, under 2 MB.

Using References for Materials (Layer Description)

When you want to apply a specific texture to a surface in your model, use reference images in your layer descriptions. learn more about layers

What Makes a Good Material Reference

Your reference should be a texture swatch, not a photograph.

✅ Good Material References

• Shot flat-on (top-down view)
• Even, consistent lighting
• Tightly cropped to show only the material
• No perspective distortion

❌ Poor Material References

• Photos with perspective or vanishing points
• Strong shadows or uneven lighting
• Other objects visible in frame
• Angled or skewed views

Writing Effective Material Prompts

To successfully transfer a texture from an image to your model, follow this three-part structure:

[Material Definition] + [Reference Guidance] + [Application/Scale]

1. Material Definition

State clearly what the material is and its basic properties.

Example: "Rough board-formed concrete with a non-reflective, matte finish"

2. Reference Guidance

Tell the AI specifically what to extract from the reference image using this format:

"Use REF[X] as the primary visual guide for [specific attributes]"

Key attributes to specify:

• Texture pattern
• Color tone
• Surface characteristics
• Grain direction
• Visual variations

3. Application/Scale

Describe how the texture should be mapped onto the geometry.

Example: "Applied as large, continuous vertical panels with realistic scale"

Material Reference Examples

Example 1: Concrete Facade

Context: Texturing a facade using REF1 (flat photo of boarded concrete)

Prompt:

Example 2: Timber Floor

Context: Texturing a floor using REF2 (texture swatch of timber decking)

Prompt:

Using References for Styles (Custom Style)

When you want the entire render to have a specific artistic look, use reference images with the Custom Style option. learn more about styles

What Makes a Good Style Reference

Your reference should represent a pure artistic medium, not a competing design.

✅ Good Style References

• Images that clearly display a technique (e.g., a charcoal sketch, an impressionist painting, a film still with a distinct color grade)
• Pure artistic styles without competing architectural elements

❌ Poor Style References

• Photos of famous buildings (the AI will be torn between keeping your building's shape and copying the reference building's shape)
• Images with mixed purposes (both style and geometry)

Writing Effective Style Prompts

When selecting "Custom" in the Style dropdown, use this syntax structure to ensure the style is applied as a filter rather than a geometric change:

[Artistic Medium] + [Reference Extraction] + [Geometric Constraint]

1. Artistic Medium

Define the art style (e.g., "A watercolor painting," "A noir film still").

2. Reference Extraction

Tell the AI what artistic qualities to take from the image. Use the phrase: "Use REF[X] as the guide for..." followed by traits like brushwork, palette, or lighting.

3. Geometric Constraint

A mandatory safety sentence to prevent the AI from hallucinating new shapes.

Example:

Context: You want the whole image to look like a charcoal drawing and are using REF3 (a charcoal sketch).

Prompt:

Technical Specifications

Recommended File Specifications

Processing Note

When to Skip Reference Images

You don't always need reference images:

• Quick concepts: When speed matters more than specific style
• Using presets: Preset prompts are optimized without references
• Exploring options: Try different prompts first, then add references to refine

Troubleshooting

Reference doesn't seem to affect output

• Ensure the reference matches your intended use (material vs style)
• For materials, verify it's a pure texture swatch without other elements
• For styles, ensure it's a pure artistic reference without competing geometry
• Try a higher-quality reference image
• Make your prompt more specific about what you want from the reference

Upload failing

• Check file size (keep under 2 MB)
• Ensure file is JPG or PNG format
• Check your internet connection