Midjourney v6 Character Consistency: The Ultimate Prompting Guide

Creating consistent characters has long been one of the biggest hurdles in AI image generation. In Midjourney v6, the introduction of the Character Reference (--cref) parameter has revolutionized this process. This comprehensive guide will show you how to generate the same character across different settings, poses, and emotions.

Understanding the --cref Parameter

The --cref parameter allows Midjourney to use a reference image as a template for your character's face and hair. To use it, simply copy the URL of a previously generated Midjourney image and paste it at the end of your prompt.

/imagine prompt: [your new scene description] --cref [image-url] --cw 100

Controlling Consistency Weight (--cw)

The Character Weight (--cw) parameter controls how closely Midjourney follows the reference image. It accepts values from 0 to 100:

• --cw 100 (Default): Copies the face, hair, and clothing. This is ideal when your character needs to wear the same outfit across scenes.
• --cw 0: Focuses only on the face. This is perfect if you want your character to wear different clothes or change their hairstyle in new scenes.

Step-by-Step Character Creation Workflow

Step 1: Generate the Base Character

Start by generating a clear, front-facing portrait of your character. Keep the background neutral (e.g., "studio background" or "white background") to make it easier for the AI to isolate the face. For example:

/imagine prompt: A cinematic portrait of a young woman with curly red hair, freckles, wearing a blue denim jacket, neutral expression, studio lighting --ar 3:2 --v 6.0

Step 2: Copy the Image Link

Once you get the portrait you like, upscale it (U1, U2, etc.). Right-click on the upscaled image in Discord, click "Copy Link", or open it in a browser to copy the direct URL ending in .png or .jpg.

Step 3: Put the Character in Action

Now, write your new scene and append your reference link. Let's make her walk in the rain with a new outfit:

/imagine prompt: A young woman with curly red hair walking down a busy street in Tokyo under the rain, holding a red umbrella, neon lights reflection, cinematic shot --cref https://image.url/original.png --cw 0 --ar 16:9 --v 6.0

Pro Tips for Perfect Character Sheets

For graphic novels or storyboards, combine --cref with --sref (Style Reference) to ensure both the character and the artistic style (color grading, brush strokes, shading) remain 100% consistent throughout your project.