> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.imagine.art/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# What is Add References
> Use reference images to guide your generations — control style, color, characters, objects, effects, and camera perspective.
**Add References** gives you six ways to anchor your generations to real visual inputs rather than relying on description alone. Each reference type targets a different dimension of the image — from the overall look to the specific angle of the shot.
Use any image as a visual blueprint. The AI extracts the aesthetic — lighting, mood, color, texture — and applies it to your new prompt.
Extract the color scheme from a reference image and carry it into your generation, independent of subject or style.
Train a reusable identity from reference photos — a person, character, or product — and call it into any prompt by name.
Pull a specific object or motif from a reference image and inject it into your generated scene.
Replicate the visual treatment of a reference — film grain, light leaks, atmospheric haze, glow — and apply it to your output.
Match the perspective and framing of a reference shot — bird's eye, low angle, close-up — and apply it to your generated composition.
## When to use each
| | What it controls | Best for |
| - | - | - |
| **Styles** | Overall aesthetic — lighting, mood, texture | Mood boards, consistent campaign aesthetics, art direction |
| **Color Palettes** | Dominant colors and tonal balance | Brand color consistency, themed series, editorial work |
| **Characters** | Subject identity — who or what appears | Character consistency, product shoots, brand mascots |
| **Elements** | Specific objects or motifs | Product integration, prop consistency, recurring visual details |
| **Effects** | Visual treatment — grain, glow, grade, atmosphere | Cinematic looks, analog aesthetics, post-processing consistency |
| **Camera Angles** | Perspective, framing, and shot angle | Storyboarding, shot-matching, compositional consistency |
## Combining reference types
You can use multiple reference types together in a single generation. For example:
* Use **Characters** to anchor the subject and **Styles** to set the overall aesthetic.
* Use **Color Palettes** alongside **Effects** for tight control over both hue and visual treatment.
* Use **Camera Angles** with any other reference type to lock in both the composition and the look.
Each reference type operates on a different layer of the image, so combining them gives you more precise control without one overriding another.
## Tagging images and references in your prompt
Type **@** in the prompt box to open the tag menu. It lists the images you've added to the prompt bar under **Images** (named **Image1**, **Image2**, and so on), along with your saved **Styles** and **Color Palette** references. Pick one to insert it into your prompt as a tag, so you can say exactly where each input should be used. For example: `A rainy evening on @Image1 street, cinematic lighting`.
To add an image to tag, click **+** in the prompt bar and pick one from your uploads, your creations, or the **Unsplash**, **Pexels**, and **Pinterest** libraries. See [Image Prompt](/image-tools/image-prompt) for details.
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