guides

How to Generate Images With a Style Reference in Krea (5 Steps)

The Krea Team 2 min read
How to Generate Images With a Style Reference in Krea (5 Steps)

Style references let you guide the look of an image without rewriting your whole prompt. In Krea Image, you can pick a style transfer preset, write what you want to generate, and let Krea 2 Large carry the preset’s visual language into the result.

Make images in any style

Choose a preset look and generate your subject with Krea 2 Large.

Try style transfer

Start in Image

Open Image and make sure the model is set to Krea 2 Large. Style references work best when the model has enough room to interpret both the prompt and the visual reference.

Krea Image with Krea 2 Large selected

Open Style transfer and hover a preset

Click Style transfer in the prompt bar. Krea opens a grid of preset style references. Hover the presets to inspect the visual direction, then choose the one that matches the mood you want. For this example, we selected a colorful botanical illustration preset.

Hovering style transfer presets in Krea Image

Add your prompt

After selecting a preset, the reference thumbnail appears inside the prompt bar and Style transfer shows 1/4, meaning that you can add up to 4 style references. Write the subject you want Krea to generate. Here, the prompt was:

sunlit greenhouse reading nook with velvet chair flowering plants patterned rug whimsical editorial illustration

Krea prompt bar with a selected style reference and Krea 2 Large

Generate with the style reference

Click the generate button. The prompt card keeps the selected style reference visible, so you can confirm that the result is being generated with Krea 2 Large and the style reference attached. You can also select the percentage of the style reference directly from the image thumbnail by dragging the white line up or down.

Krea generating images with a selected style reference

Review the styled outputs

The finished images keep the subject from the prompt while borrowing color, texture, and illustrative treatment from the style reference. If the subject is right but the style is too strong or too weak, try another preset or adjust the reference strength before generating again — the same style-first approach carries over to editing and stylizing a photo you already have.

Four Krea 2 Large generations made with a style transfer preset

Style reference results

Krea

Generated in Krea Image

Quick checklist

  • Use Krea 2 Large for the generation.
  • Open Style transfer from the prompt bar.
  • Hover the presets and choose one with the look you want.
  • Confirm the style reference thumbnail appears in the prompt bar.
  • Write the subject normally, then generate.

For a deeper look at how style reference strength and combining multiple references works, see the Krea 2 prompting guide.

Generate with a style reference

Pick a Style transfer preset in Image, write your prompt, and generate with Krea 2 Large.

Open Image

Frequently asked questions

What is a style reference?
A style reference is an image or preset that guides the visual look of your generation, such as color palette, texture, line quality, lighting, or composition.
How do I add a style reference image in Krea?
Open Image, click Style transfer in the prompt bar, and choose a preset from the grid. The reference thumbnail then appears in the prompt bar alongside your text prompt.
Do I still need a text prompt?
Yes. The prompt describes what to generate, while the style reference guides how it should look.
How do I know the preset is selected?
After selection, the reference thumbnail appears in the prompt bar and Style transfer shows a count such as 1/4.
Can I use more than one style reference?
Yes. The Style transfer count shows how many references are attached, up to the available limit shown in the UI.