How to recreate an AI image style: best tools
Updated · Prices change often; confirm on each tool's site.
To recreate the look of an AI image, use it as a style reference rather than guessing the prompt. Midjourney is the strongest for artistic looks: Describe suggests prompts from an image and Style Reference (--sref) applies its style to new subjects. Krea lets you add style references or train a reusable custom style, and Ideogram has style references plus clean text for posters and thumbnails.
Found an AI image you love and want that exact look for your own subject? Don't guess the prompt: give the image to a tool as a style reference.
Our top 3 picks
Midjourney
Describe turns an image into four suggested prompts, and Style Reference (--sref with an image URL; strength via --sw) applies its look to anything you prompt. Paid, from $10/mo.
Krea
Add a style reference image to any generation, or train a custom style from a set of images and reuse it whenever you like. Free plan available.
Ideogram
Save a reusable style from up to three images, or add a one-off quick reference. Best when the image also needs readable text. Free plan available.
How to do it
- Save the image you want to match and note what makes the look: medium (photo, 3D, watercolor, anime), color palette, lighting, lens and composition.
- Get a starting prompt: upload it to Midjourney's Describe, or ask ChatGPT or Claude to describe the style in prompt words.
- Generate your own subject with the original as a style reference (Midjourney --sref, a Krea style reference, or an Ideogram style).
- Adjust the style strength until the look matches without copying the content, changing one prompt word at a time.
- Need the same look across many images? Train a custom style in Krea from a set of consistent images you have the rights to use.
FAQ
How do I find the prompt used for an AI image?
Unless the creator shares it, you can't recover the exact prompt. Midjourney's Describe (or asking ChatGPT or Claude to describe the image) gives prompts that produce a similar result, and a style reference gets you the rest of the way.
Is it OK to copy another AI image's style?
A general look (colors, lighting, medium) is usually fine to borrow, but copying a specific artwork, characters, logos or a living artist's signature style for commercial work can raise copyright and trademark issues. Use references you have the right to use and check each tool's terms. This isn't legal advice.
Can ChatGPT recreate an image style?
Roughly, yes: upload the image and ask for a new image of your subject 'in the same style'. It's quick for one-offs; Midjourney, Krea and Ideogram give you more control over how strongly the style is applied.
Is there a free way to do this?
Krea and Ideogram both have free plans you can try style matching on, with monthly limits; some reference features may need a paid plan. Midjourney is paid.
Also worth a look
Game-style assets and consistent characters · Free plan · from $12/mo
Commercially safe images inside Adobe workflows · Free plan · from $9.99/mo
AI image, video and audio tools plus 250M+ stock assets in one platform · Free plan · paid tiers
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How we pick
We match tools to the task, not to commissions. Several of the best tools we recommend (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, Cursor) pay us nothing. Picks come from a curated, hand-checked list and are refreshed regularly. See our method and affiliate disclosure.
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