Appearance is the priority
Use the character reference as visual guidance for this fictional adult character. Show her wearing a navy coat beside a quiet canal, realistic style, medium framing.
Reference mode comparison
Choose character guidance, pose guidance, or both
Compare which reference mode matches your goal, what an uploaded image can guide, and which outputs can be shared. Start with the trait you want to preserve rather than uploading a reference without a clear purpose.
| Question | Character Reference | Pose Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Main goal | Guide recognizable appearance | Guide posture and composition |
| Useful reference | One visible face with clear lighting | Readable overall posture and framing |
| What the prompt supplies | New scene, clothing, action, and style | New subject, clothing, scene, and style |
| Guaranteed exact copy? | No; similarity varies | No; pose interpretation varies |
| Uploaded reference public? | No | No |
| Community publishing | Character-reference outputs blocked | Pose-only outputs may be eligible; adding a character reference blocks publishing |
Start from the detail that matters most
Choose Character Reference when the face or recurring appearance matters. A clear single subject gives the model more readable visual information. Use the prompt for the new clothing, activity, and setting rather than expecting the reference to communicate every change.
Choose Pose Reference when body position and framing matter. The reference should make the posture easy to read without clutter or heavy obstruction. Describe the adult fictional subject you want in the prompt. A pose reference is not an identity guarantee.
Combining references changes the task
When the generator supports a character reference alongside a pose reference, the two inputs provide different kinds of guidance. They can also conflict: a close face portrait and a distant full-body pose may leave some details ambiguous. Keep the prompt focused on the intended subject and scene, and inspect both appearance and posture.
Face-plus-pose output follows the private character-reference publishing restriction. Pose-only output may be eligible for Community under the existing rules. The uploaded references themselves remain private in either case.
An edit is a different starting point
If you already have the image and want to change a particular object or clothing region, consider Image Edit. It uses a source image, written instruction, and painted mask. It is a better conceptual fit for a focused regional change than rebuilding a whole scene from reference guidance.
Image Edit outputs are blocked from Community publishing. Reference-mode access and trial availability depend on the current plan; check the pricing page before choosing a mode.
Example prompts to adapt
These are starting instructions, not promises of a particular result or the prompts used for the preview images.
Posture is the priority
Use the pose and framing as guidance. Create an original fictional adult woman, age 30, in a light hiking jacket on a forest path, realistic style, full body visible.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pose Reference preserve the same face?
Its purpose is pose and composition guidance. If appearance is important, consider Character Reference where available. Neither mode guarantees exact preservation.
Can face-plus-pose results be published?
No. Adding a character or face reference makes the output ineligible for Community publishing under the existing rules.
Are the uploads shared with other visitors?
No. Uploaded character, pose, edit, and mask references remain private.
Put your idea into an image
Choose a creation mode and an available style in Dreamgens. Review the current plan details for Gems, limits, and reference access before generating.
Choose a reference mode