Reference Images
How to upload reference images in Qolaba's Image Generation workspace — what they do, per-model limits, supported formats, and best practices for effective use.
Reference images give the model a visual anchor for generation. Instead of generating entirely from a text prompt, you provide one or more images that the model uses to guide composition, style, subject, or structure — producing outputs that stay visually consistent with your input material.
What Reference Images Do
When you upload a reference image, the model uses it to influence how the generated output looks. Depending on your prompt and the model selected, reference images can guide:
Style and aesthetic — the visual tone, color palette, and rendering style of the output
Composition and structure — how subjects and elements are arranged in the frame
Subject consistency — keeping a specific person, product, or object visually consistent across multiple generations
Environment and setting — the spatial context and background characteristics
Reference images are most powerful when combined with a clear prompt that specifies what to change and what to preserve.
Uploading Reference Images
To upload a reference image:
Click the Upload area or drag and drop your image into the reference image zone
Select your file from your device
The image thumbnail appears confirming it is attached
Write your prompt describing what to generate from or around the reference
Configure output settings and generate
To select from history: Instead of re-uploading, select previously generated or uploaded images directly from your workspace history. Use the All view to see both generated and uploaded images in a unified library — saving time when iterating on existing assets.
Per-Model Reference Image Limits
Reference image support varies by model. Only the following models support image uploads:
Nano Banana Pro
Up to 13
Nano Banana 2
Up to 13
GPT Image 2
Up to 15
Flux 1.1 Pro
Up to 8
Flux Dev
Up to 8
See Image Models → for full model capabilities.
Supported Formats & Limits
Images
JPG, PNG
Max 20 MB per image
Using Multiple Reference Images
Models that support multiple reference images — Nano Banana Pro, Nano Banana 2, and GPT Image 2 — allow you to upload several references simultaneously. The model blends elements from all uploaded images to produce the output.
This is useful for:
Style + subject separation — upload a subject reference and a separate style reference, then prompt the model to apply the style to the subject
Multi-element composition — upload references for different elements in a scene (subject, environment, lighting) and let the model combine them
Brand consistency — upload multiple brand asset references so the model understands the visual language before generating new assets
Example: A brand wants to generate a new product lifestyle image consistent with their existing photography. Upload 3–5 existing product photos as references, write a prompt describing the new scene, and the model generates an output that matches the established visual style.
Writing Prompts for Reference-Guided Generation
When using reference images, structure your prompt to specify what to change and what to preserve:
What to change:
What to preserve:
Combined example:
Best Practices
Use clean, high-quality source images — blurry, low-resolution, or heavily compressed references produce lower quality outputs
Match aspect ratio to your output dimensions — uploading a portrait reference for a landscape output results in cropping or distortion
Be explicit in your prompt — reference images guide the model but your prompt directs it. The clearer your prompt, the more accurately the model uses the reference
Start with one reference before adding more — if results are inconsistent, reduce the number of references rather than adding mo
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