How to Use Reference Images to Improve AI Generation Results
reference-images-improve-ai-generation
Image Generation
Overview
Reference images give the AI a visual anchor — the closer your reference matches the shot type, the better your results. For a character's face, upload a headshot to a Close Up shot; for a location, attach a wide still to an establishing shot. If you don't have a matching shot type in your scene, you can temporarily add one just to host the reference image, then delete the shot once generation is complete.
How to upload a reference image
Open a shot.
Toggle View Images on.
Click the Upload Image icon.
Select a file from your device.
Hit the Generate Images button to populate the remaining shots in that scene with AI-generated images that use the image you uploaded as a reference point.
The one-image-per-shot rule
Each shot holds one image at a time — either an uploaded image or an AI-generated image, not both. Uploading a reference image to a shot fills that slot, which means:
AI generation will be skipped for any shot that already has an uploaded image.
If you upload reference images to every shot in a project, the Generate Images button will appear greyed out — this is expected behavior, not a bug.
To switch a shot from a reference image to AI-generated: remove the uploaded image first, then click Generate.
Mixing reference images and AI generation
You can freely mix both approaches within the same project. A common workflow:
Upload reference images for shots where you have the exact look — a specific actor's face, a prop you want to match, a location landmark.
Let AI generate images for the remaining shots based on your shot descriptions and reference images.
Each shot is independent, so mixing is completely flexible.
When to use reference images
Mood boards — you have reference stills that capture the feel or look of a character.
Actor or talent likeness — AI is unlikely to reproduce a specific face accurately, but can be prompted to generate images with similar characteristics, e.g. blond female in her 20s vs. 40-year-old brunette.
Specific props or set pieces — you have the real thing photographed.
Notes
Uploaded reference images do not count against your AI generation credit allowance.
Uploaded images appear in PDF exports at the same size as AI-generated images.
You can replace a reference image at any time by removing it and uploading a new one.
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