Reference pictures come up everywhere in Storybench, so here is a short, dedicated explanation of what they are and why they matter so much.
What a reference picture is
A reference picture is simply a picture that says "this is what this thing looks like." A character's references show their face, hair, and clothes. A setting's references show a place. A prop's references show an object. They are the visual memory Storybench draws from.
Why they are required
Consistency has to come from somewhere. Words alone cannot pin down exactly how a character looks, because "a girl with red hair" could be a thousand different girls. A reference picture removes the guesswork: it shows the one girl you mean. That is why a character (or any thing you want illustrated) needs at least one reference before it can appear in a picture.
This requirement is also a gentle safeguard. If a page calls for a character who has no reference yet, the illustration is refused before you are charged, so you are never billed for a picture that could not know who to draw. See why an illustration was refused.
Where references come from
You can upload your own art or generate options and keep the ones you like. Both work, and you can mix them. Uploading gives you exact control if you already have a look. Generating is the easy path when you are starting from a blank page. Read more in build your cast.
How to choose good references
- Clear beats dramatic. A picture where the thing is easy to see guides better than a moody, half-hidden one.
- On-model beats interesting. Show the details that define the character or object, exactly as you want them to keep appearing.
- A few strong ones beat many weak ones. There is a limit to how many pictures can feed one illustration, so a small, strong set is ideal.
- Consistent with your World's style. References that match the World's look settle in most smoothly.
If something drifts
If a character, place, or object starts looking slightly off across pages, the first thing to try is strengthening its references: add a clearer picture, or swap out a weak one. References are the lever that steadies everything, so that is almost always where the fix lives.