How do I create consistent characters in Midjourney?

Creating consistent characters across multiple Midjourney generations has been one of the biggest challenges for AI artists—until now. With Midjourney V6 and the latest updates, maintaining character consistency has become significantly easier. Here’s your complete guide to mastering this essential skill.

Understanding the Challenge

Character consistency in AI art generation is difficult because:

• Each prompt generates from random noise
• Slight prompt variations can drastically change outputs
• AI interprets descriptions differently each time
• Facial features, proportions, and details tend to drift

However, Midjourney has introduced powerful features that solve these problems.

Method 1: Character Reference (–cref) 🎯

The character reference parameter is the most powerful tool for consistency.

Basic Usage

/imagine prompt: [your scene description] --cref [image URL]

Step-by-Step Process

1. Create Your Base Character

   /imagine prompt: beautiful female elf warrior, long silver hair, 
   violet eyes, detailed face, fantasy art style --v 6 --ar 2:3
   

2. Save the Best Result

   • Right-click → Copy image address
   • Or upload to Discord and copy link

3. Use as Reference

   /imagine prompt: the same elf warrior sitting in a tavern 
   --cref https://[your-image-url] --v 6
   

Character Weight (–cw)

Control how closely Midjourney matches your reference:

--cw 100  (default) = Exact match (face, hair, clothing)
--cw 0    = Only facial features
--cw 50   = Balance between face and overall appearance

Example for outfit changes:

/imagine prompt: elf warrior in modern clothing 
--cref [URL] --cw 50 --v 6

Method 2: Seed Consistency 🌱

Seeds provide reproducible starting points for generation.

Finding Your Seed

1. Generate your character
2. React with ✉️ emoji
3. Check DM for seed number

Using Seeds

/imagine prompt: male detective, noir style, trench coat 
--seed 777 --v 6

Keep the same seed for variations:

/imagine prompt: male detective, noir style, smoking 
--seed 777 --v 6

/imagine prompt: male detective, noir style, running 
--seed 777 --v 6

Pro Tip: Combine seed with style reference for maximum consistency.

Method 3: Character Turnaround Sheets 📐

Create a master reference showing multiple angles:

Optimal Prompt Structure

/imagine prompt: character turnaround sheet, female pirate captain, 
red hair, eye patch, multiple poses, front view, side view, 
back view, three-quarter view, white background, 
character design sheet --ar 16:9 --v 6

Using the Turnaround

1. Generate the sheet
2. Use it as –cref for all future generations
3. Midjourney will understand the character from all angles

Method 4: Style Reference (–sref) 🎨

Maintain artistic style while varying character actions:

/imagine prompt: character doing [action] 
--sref [style image URL] --cref [character URL] --v 6

This keeps both character and art style consistent.

Method 5: Detailed Prompt Templates 📝

Create a master prompt template:

Character Base:
  Name: Aria Starweaver
  Race: Elf
  Age: appears 25
  Hair: Long silver hair with blue highlights
  Eyes: Violet eyes with golden flecks
  Face: Heart-shaped face, high cheekbones
  Build: Athletic, 5'8" tall
  Clothing: Blue and silver robes with celestial patterns
  Accessories: Crystal pendant, silver circlet
  
Prompt Template:
  "Aria Starweaver, elf woman, long silver hair with blue highlights, 
  violet eyes with golden flecks, heart-shaped face, high cheekbones, 
  athletic build, blue and silver robes with celestial patterns, 
  crystal pendant, silver circlet, [SCENE DESCRIPTION]"

Advanced Techniques

1. Multi-Image Character Reference

Midjourney V6 allows multiple character references:

/imagine prompt: character in battle 
--cref [URL1] [URL2] [URL3] --v 6

This averages features from multiple references for better consistency.

2. Regional Variation

Use Midjourney’s Vary Region feature:

1. Generate base image
2. Select Vary Region
3. Modify only specific areas (background, pose)
4. Keep character intact

3. Blend Command for Transitions

Create character evolution:

/blend [young character URL] [old character URL]

Then use the blend as reference for middle-aged version.

4. Permutation Prompts

Test multiple variations efficiently:

/imagine prompt: {young, middle-aged, old} wizard, 
same facial features --cref [URL] --v 6

Common Issues & Solutions

Problem: Face Changes Too Much

Solution:

• Increase –cw to 100
• Add “same face, same person” to prompt
• Use closer crop of face as –cref

Problem: Loses Fine Details

Solution:

• Be more specific in prompts
• Use –quality 2 for better detail
• Include “highly detailed, sharp focus”

Problem: Wrong Gender/Age

Solution:

• Explicitly state gender and age in every prompt
• Use “definitely male” or “definitely female”
• Add age descriptors: “young adult”, “elderly”

Problem: Inconsistent Art Style

Solution:

• Always include style keywords
• Use –sref with a style reference
• Add artist names or art movement terms

Workflow Example

Here’s a professional workflow for a character series:

Step 1: Character Development

/imagine prompt: character design sheet, male cyberpunk hacker, 
Asian features, neon green mohawk, cybernetic eye implant, 
leather jacket with LED strips, multiple expressions, 
white background --ar 16:9 --v 6 --style raw

Step 2: Select and Refine

• Choose best result
• Use Vary Subtle for minor improvements
• Save final reference

Step 3: Create Scene Library

Base prompt structure:
"Kenji (cyberpunk hacker), Asian male, neon green mohawk, 
cybernetic eye, leather jacket with LEDs, [SCENE]"

Scene 1: --cref [URL] "sitting at computer terminal"
Scene 2: --cref [URL] "running through neon city"
Scene 3: --cref [URL] "in combat with drone"

Step 4: Maintain Consistency Log

Create a document with:

• Character reference URLs
• Successful seeds
• Exact prompts that worked
• –cw values for different scenarios

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

Essential Parameters:
--cref [URL]        : Character reference
--cw [0-100]       : Character weight
--sref [URL]       : Style reference
--seed [number]    : Reproducible randomness
--v 6              : Latest version

Consistency Formula:
Base Prompt + --cref + --seed + --sref = Maximum Consistency

Prompt Structure:
1. Character name/description
2. Physical attributes
3. Clothing/accessories
4. Action/scene
5. Style descriptors
6. Technical parameters

Pro Tips from the Community

💡 Create a Character Bible: Document everything about your character including unsuccessful prompts—knowing what doesn’t work is valuable.

💡 Use Real Photo References: Upload real photos as –cref for photorealistic consistency.

💡 Batch Processing: Generate 10-20 variations at once, then cherry-pick the best for future reference.

💡 Cross-Reference Testing: Use your character reference with completely different style prompts to test robustness.

Latest Updates (October 2024)

• –cref now better preserves ethnic features
• Multiple –cref URLs can be combined
• –cw parameter provides finer control
• Vary Region works with character references
• Improved handling of age progression

Troubleshooting Checklist

When consistency breaks:

• Check if –cref URL is still valid
• Verify –v 6 is included
• Ensure prompt doesn’t contradict reference
• Try adjusting –cw parameter
• Test with –style raw for less interpretation
• Regenerate with same seed

Conclusion

Creating consistent characters in Midjourney is now more achievable than ever. The key is combining multiple techniques: character references for faces, seeds for reproducibility, and detailed prompts for specifics. Start with the –cref parameter as your foundation, then layer in other methods as needed.

Remember: Perfect consistency might require 5-10 iterations. Don’t get discouraged—even professional artists iterate extensively.

Next Steps: Download the free Midjourney Character Consistency Template from our resources section to track your character development systematically.

Have a technique that works great? Share it in the comments below!