Midjourney SREF Style Guide — 5,001 Codes Organized by Theme & Mood

Q: How do I use an SREF code in Midjourney?

Add --sref [number] at the end of your prompt. Example: a forest at dawn --sref 134. You can combine multiple codes: --sref 134 1439. Use --sw (style weight, 0–1000) to control how strongly the style applies.

What is a Midjourney SREF code?

SREF stands for Style Reference. Add --sref [number] to any Midjourney prompt to impose a specific visual style on your output. The code controls rendering geometry, color palette, line quality, surface treatment, and compositional tendencies — independently of your subject matter.

There is no official directory of SREF codes. SrefMindForge built one: 5,001 codes, each tested and tagged by style family, mood, palette, subject affinity, and geo family. The 127 style clusters below group codes that share visual logic — so you can find the right aesthetic, not just a random number.

Browse by theme, filter by mood, or describe your creative direction in the app. Every code links to a full analysis page with 4 visual samples and a gallery article.

Frequently asked questions

What are Midjourney SREF codes?

SREF codes (Style Reference) are numeric identifiers that tell Midjourney to apply a specific visual style to your prompt. Add --sref [number] to any prompt to impose that style's rendering logic — its color palette, line quality, compositional tendencies, and surface treatment — onto your generated image.

How do I use an SREF code in Midjourney?

Add --sref [number] at the end of your prompt. Example: a forest at dawn --sref 134. You can combine multiple codes: --sref 134 1439. Use --sw (style weight, 0–1000) to control how strongly the style applies.

How many Midjourney SREF codes exist?

There is no official limit — SREF codes are generated internally by Midjourney and new ones emerge continuously. SrefMindForge has analyzed and indexed 5,001 codes, each with visual samples, style tags, mood classification, and geo family assignment.

What is a 'geo family' in SrefMindForge?

Geo family is our classification for the fundamental rendering geometry of an SREF code: how it builds forms, distributes light, and handles edges. The 9 families — line-based, soft-wash, flat-color, organic-curves, continuous-tone, volumetric-hard, surreal-open, geometric-hard, organic-dark — describe structural tendencies, not subject matter. Two codes in the same geo family will produce visually coherent results even with completely different subjects.

Can I combine SREF codes from different clusters?

Yes. Codes from the same geo family combine most coherently — their underlying rendering logic is compatible. Codes from different geo families can produce interesting hybrid results but require testing. Start with codes from the same cluster for reliable visual consistency.

Are these SREF codes free to use?

SREF codes are part of Midjourney's functionality — using them requires a Midjourney subscription. SrefMindForge, the database and search tool, is completely free. No sign-up, no paywall, no limits.

The Complete
SREF Style Guide

What is a Midjourney SREF code?

Browse by style theme

Field sessions & use cases

All 127 style clusters

Frequently asked questions

The CompleteSREF Style Guide

What is a Midjourney SREF code?

Browse by style theme

Field sessions & use cases

All 127 style clusters

Frequently asked questions

The Complete
SREF Style Guide