Get the Same Character Every Time in Midjourney: Use the New CF and CW
- kylixie
- Apr 29, 2025
- 4 min read
AI image generators are amazing, but getting the same character to show up in different scenes can be tricky. Midjourney has introduced new tools, --cref and --cw, to help you do just that. Let's explore how to use them to keep your characters consistent.
Why Consistent Characters Matter
Imagine creating a series of images featuring the same person or animated character. Maybe they are in different locations or wearing different clothes. Without a way to reference the original look, your character might change wildly from one image to the next. That's where consistency tools come in handy.
Introducing --cref: Character Reference
The main tool for keeping a character the same is the --cref parameter. This tells Midjourney to look at an image you provide and use its character features as a base for generating new images.
Using --cref with an Uploaded Image
You can start with any image, even one you didn't create in Midjourney. Here's how:
Upload the image (e.g., a photo of a person) to Discord in your Midjourney thread or server. Make sure it's saved in Discord.
Click on the image to open it fully, then right-click (or long-press on mobile) and select "Copy Image Address" or "Copy Media Link".
Start your Midjourney prompt with `/imagine`.
Paste the image link you copied. This goes first.
Add your text prompt describing the scene, action, or clothing (e.g., "wearing a dark suit").
Add `--cref` followed by a space.
Paste the *same* image link again immediately after `--cref` (no space needed between `--cref` and the link).
Your full prompt will look something like: `/imagine [image link] wearing a dark suit --cref [image link]`
Midjourney will then generate images attempting to match the character from your link while following your text prompt.
Using --cref with a Midjourney-Generated Character
What if you created a character you like using Midjourney and want to use *that* character consistently? The process is similar:
Generate your initial character using a prompt like `/imagine English bulldog in a Pixar style`.
Find the image you like the best and upscale it (U button). This makes it a standalone image Midjourney can reference clearly.
Click on the upscaled image to open it fully.
Right-click on the image and select "Copy Image Address" or "Copy Media Link".
Start a new prompt: `/imagine`
Paste the image link you copied (the link to the upscaled Midjourney image).
Add your new text prompt (e.g., "reading a book on the beach").
Add `--cref` followed by a space.
Paste the *same* image link again (the link to the upscaled Midjourney image).
Your prompt will look like: `/imagine [upscaled MJ image link] reading a book on the beach --cref [upscaled MJ image link]`
Midjourney will now generate your character in the new scene, aiming for consistency based on the reference image.
Automate your consistent character workflows! Explore the TitanXT Midjourney Automation Suite to streamline repetitive tasks.
Controlling Character Details with --cw
Sometimes you want to keep the character's face and body shape the same, but you want to change their clothing, styling, or the setting's influence on their look. This is where the --cw parameter comes in. CW stands for "Character Weight."
`--cw 100` (Default): This is the standard setting if you don't specify --cw. It puts a lot of weight on keeping the *entire* character consistent, including clothing, hairstyle, and general appearance details from the reference image.
`--cw 0`: This setting focuses mainly on the character's face and body proportions. It gives Midjourney more freedom to change clothing, accessories, or express different emotions influenced by the prompt, while keeping the core character recognizable.
You can use values between 0 and 100 for a balance.
Example: Changing Clothing with --cw 0
Let's say you have a reference image of a character wearing a specific jersey, but you want to generate them in a different colored jersey. Here's how:
Get the image link for your character (either uploaded or Midjourney-generated).
Start your prompt: `/imagine`
Paste the image link.
Add your text prompt describing the new clothing (e.g., "wearing a pink and blue jersey").
Add `--cref` followed by a space.
Paste the *same* image link again.
Add `--cw 0` at the end.
Your prompt is: `/imagine [image link] wearing a pink and blue jersey --cref [image link] --cw 0`
This tells Midjourney: "Use this character as a guide, but only keep the face and structure (cw 0). Feel free to change the clothing based on the text prompt."
Repetitive Midjourney tasks got you down? Consider the TitanXT Midjourney Automation Suite to manage your workflows and generate consistent characters more efficiently.
Putting It All Together
By combining --cref and --cw, you gain much better control over character consistency in Midjourney. Use --cref to point Midjourney to who the character is, and use --cw to adjust how strictly it follows the reference image's style and clothing versus changing them based on your prompt.
Final Thoughts
These new tools, --cref and --cw, are powerful additions for creators who need to generate related images featuring the same character. Practice using them with different reference images and text prompts to see how creative you can get while keeping your characters recognizable.
Looking to scale your Midjourney creations or manage complex projects with consistent elements? The TitanXT Midjourney Automation Suite offers tools designed to help you work faster and smarter.
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