Reference Images

Use reference images to keep a character consistent, put a product in a new scene, make mockups or restore a photo. Which models take them and what changes.

A reference image gives the model something to work from besides your words, such as a product to place in a new scene, a photo to restyle or restore, or a character to keep the same across a comic, children's book or brand campaign. You attach it next to your prompt, then describe what you want.

Where you can use them

Where	Reference images
Home prompt box ("What will you design?")	Up to 9
Image app, Auto	Up to 10
Ideogram 4.5	Up to 5
Nano Banana 2, Nano Banana Pro	Up to 10
GPT Image 2.0, GPT Image 2.5 Flare, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst	Up to 16
Ideogram 4.0, Ideogram 3.0, Ideogram 4.0 Transparent, Ideogram 3.0 Transparent, Z-Image, P-Image-Ideogram	None

When you send from the Home prompt box, Ideogram opens Auto in the Image app with your prompt and images and starts the run for you.

Each file must be JPEG, PNG or WebP, up to 25 MB.

Add a reference image

From the Home prompt box

1. Click Add reference images.

2. Choose your images.

You can also paste or drag an image onto the box.

In the Image app

1. Choose a model that takes references.

2. Add images in the Reference images field of the panel.

From your Library

1. Open an image's menu.

2. Choose Use as reference.

You can also type @ in the prompt to pick one of your own images (see below).

With references attached, Ideogram 4.5 adds Very low to Quality.

Switching models

Your reference images stay with you when you change models. If the new model takes fewer, the extra tiles stay but turn inactive. If it takes none, Ideogram clears them, and any @ mentions in your prompt turn into plain text.

If you have more images than the model allows, you see "Too many references for this model. Remove references before generating." Remove some and try again.

Mention an image with @

1. Type @ in the prompt. A search of your own generations opens.

2. Pick an image. It drops into the prompt as a pill and attaches as a reference.

That way you can say which image does what in your prompt.

• The search shows up to 50 of your images. You can't mention a collection.

• You don't have to mention every image you attach.

• If a mentioned image is no longer there, you see "A mentioned reference is unavailable. Remove the mention or attach its media again."

What changes on Ideogram 4.5

Once you attach a reference image to Ideogram 4.5, your prompt becomes an edit instruction, and the panel changes to match:

• Magic Prompt disappears.

• Quality gains a Very low option.

• Aspect ratio and Resolution give way to Size:

  • Auto picks a size from your images and prompt.

  • Source image size keeps the first image's own width and height.

  • Custom lets you set Width and Height. Each must be a multiple of 32 and at least 256 px, the total can't pass 2048 × 2048 pixels, and the shape can't be wider than 6:1.

Remove all reference images and the usual controls come back.

Keep a character consistent

To put the same person, mascot or character in a new scene, use Ideogram 4.5 with reference images:

1. In the Image app, choose Ideogram 4.5.

2. Add one to five clear images of the character in Reference images. Shots of the face from a few angles work best.

3. Describe the new scene and refer to the character by its tag, for example: @img_1 sitting at a café table, reading a newspaper, morning light.

4. Click Generate. Use the same reference images each time you want that character again.

With references attached, your prompt works as an edit instruction, so say what should change and keep the rest of the prompt short. See What changes on Ideogram 4.5.

On Auto

With reference images, Auto treats your prompt as an edit instruction and picks a model for you. Number of images set to Auto gives you 2 images instead of 4.

Masks

To change only one area of an image, paint a mask on it. Ideogram 4.5 (in the Precise Edit app) and GPT Image 2.5 both take masks. See Masks and Inpainting.

Style references on Ideogram 3.0

Ideogram 3.0 takes no reference images, but you can steer its look with up to 10 Style reference images under Advanced settings. See Image Settings.

Related

• Describe: turn an image into a prompt instead of attaching it.

• Models: what each model does well.

• Create Videos: video takes images, video and audio as references.