Have these ready
List what must match a real subject and what can be imagined. Prepare an authorized reference for the fixed parts.
Choose the right workflow
When to use an image reference instead of text alone
Use a reference when a specific object or character must remain recognizable. Text alone is a better starting point for an imagined scene without a fixed visual identity.
You choose your own source and review the current cost before generation.
Choose the smallest useful change
Explain the role of each reference and inspect the result. Uploading an image guides generation but does not guarantee exact preservation.
Work through a practical example
Make the first version
Use a reference when face, product shape or an existing character matters. Describe the new environment and composition separately. For a wholly invented landscape or concept, start from text and review whether the result matches the brief before adding unnecessary references.
Choose the next move
References reduce ambiguity but do not verify every generated detail. Keep factual checks tied to the real source and use text to explain the intended change.
Try this before committing
Use a reference when a specific object or composition matters, and describe the change you want. Start from text when the subject is open to invention. A reference guides generation but does not guarantee exact product details or identity.
Open my creative starting point ↗02
Look closely at the examples
Why consider this directionA simple bottle reference helps separate product identity from new decisions about the surrounding scene.
Check before choosingCompare silhouette, cap and base before decorative light. This example is not evidence of your own SKU or packaging accuracy.
Why consider this directionThe styled product scene can help you consider a supporting surface, negative space and a restrained lighting direction.
Check before choosingCheck contact and the object’s shape separately from the setting. An earlier example does not establish a general quality ranking between models.
Why consider this directionThe imagined landscape provides broad shapes and open areas for considering a cover, banner or background composition.
Check before choosingPlace the actual text over the image and test alternative crops. It is an illustration, not evidence of a real destination or geography.
Questions for this project
Do I need to describe everything already in the photo?
Focus on the cues that matter and the changes you want. Repeating every visible detail can distract from a precise instruction. Name non-negotiable product or identity features, explain each reference’s role, and remove conflicting descriptions.
When you have chosen a direction
Open my creative starting point ↗Photo guidesContent reviewed: