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Artlist AI Tools: Creating References

Last updated: September 24, 2026

References let you save a Character, Location, or Prop once and reuse it across generations, instead of re-uploading the same image or retyping the same description every time. Once saved, a Reference can be attached to a prompt and tagged directly in your generations, keeping the same look recognizable from one image or video to the next.

What's a Reference?

Every Reference has a Type: Character, Location, or Prop. You pick the Type when you create it — Character is selected by default — and it stays editable afterward from the Reference's edit view.

Character is the one Type with an extra option: a Character Sheet (multiple angles of the same character), in addition to the standard single-photo upload. Location and Prop References only support the single-photo flow.

Note: If you created Characters before this update, they're already saved as References with Type set to Character. No action needed on your part.

Where to find References

There are two ways to get to your References:

  • Click References in the left side navigation.
  • Click the + (reference) icon in the prompt box, then select My References from the menu.

Note: My References only appears for models that support image references. See Supported models below.

Creating a new Reference

  1. Click the + icon in the prompt box, then select My References > New.
  2. Pick a Type: Character, Location, or Prop.
  3. If you picked Character, choose Use as is (a single photo) or Character Sheet (multiple angles of the same character). This toggle only appears for Character — Location and Prop always use the single-photo flow.
  4. Upload a photo (or photos, for a Character Sheet) by dragging it in or clicking to browse. A photo is required — the Add button stays disabled until one is added.
  5. Enter a name. This is also required (each Type has its own default placeholder — e.g. "Untitled character" — if you'd rather rename it later).
  6. Click Add.

You're returned to the prompt box with your new Reference already attached as a reference chip.

💡 Tip: Use a clear, front-facing, well-lit photo for the most consistent results.

Using a Reference in a generation

  1. Click the + icon in the prompt box, then select My References.
  2. In the My Library modal, click the References tab (alongside Artlist AI Tools Creations, Studio Creations, and My Uploads). Use the Type filter — All, Character, Location, or Prop — to find it faster.
  3. Select the Reference you want to use.
  4. Click Use. The modal closes and the Reference is added to your prompt as a reference chip.

Once a Reference is attached, type @ in the prompt field to tag it directly by name, the same way you'd tag an image reference. Each tagged Reference shows its Type underneath its name, so you can tell characters, locations, and props apart at a glance.

Note: @ tagging is only available for models that support prompt tagging.

Turning an existing creation into a Reference

  1. Open My Library and find the image you want to use.
  2. Click the Use menu on that asset.
  3. Select Save as Reference.
  4. Pick a Type, confirm a name, and click Add.

The image becomes a new saved Reference and is added directly to your prompt as a reference chip in one step.

Managing your References

Click the three-dot menu on any Reference tile to:

  • Edit — update the name, photo, and/or Type. Changing only the name updates instantly; uploading a new photo regenerates the Reference. Save changes stays disabled until something's actually changed.
  • Delete — permanently remove the Reference after confirming. If it was attached to your current prompt, its reference chip is cleared too.

Supported models

References currently work with:

  • Seedream 5.0 Pro
  • Seedream 5.0
  • Seedance 2.0, Seedance 2.0 Mini, and Seedance 2.0 Fast
  • Gemini Omni Flash
  • Veo 3.1
  • Nano Banana Pro, Nano Banana Lite, and Nano Banana 2

More models are being added over time. The My References option only appears for models that accept image references — for video, that means models with image-reference support; for image, the same applies (start/end-frame-only models aren't included).

Good to know

  • Location and Prop References are always created from a single uploaded photo; Character References can use either a single photo or a multi-angle Character Sheet.
  • Only References you create yourself appear in your library.

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