1. Open the style creation tool (two ways):
    • Click the Recraft V3 button above the prompt field to open the style selector and click +Style in the upper right.
    • In the Create new menu, click +Style in the bottom right
  2. Add reference material
    Upload up to five reference images using any of the following methods:
    • Drag and drop images directly into the style creation area
    • Click anywhere within the gray box at the top to upload from your computer
    • Select from Saved styles
    • Select from Images from canvas
  3. Remix styles (optional)
    You can also remix existing styles with images. To remix a style:
    • First, add it to your Saved styles
    • Once saved, styles appear as remixable options
    • You can remix several images, several styles, or combine both images and styles
  4. Adjust weights
    Use the percentage sliders between each reference image or style to control their influence. This allows you to prioritize certain references over others when generating your style.
  5. Add a style-level prompt (optional but recommended)
    This prompt defines the visual qualities of your style, such as:
    • “colored pencil strokes”
    • “digital illustration with neon colors”
    • “surfing magazine editorial-style photos”
      The style prompt becomes embedded in the style, enabling you to use shorter prompts (e.g., “cute panda”) while still generating results that follow your custom look.
      Tip: For more accurate style prompts, try using an AI model to generate a description. For example, ask: “Describe this illustration style in detail in one sentence. Focus on technique, composition, color, and visual feel—not the subject.”
      Paste the generated description into the style prompt field.
  6. Choose a style model (reference interpretation mode)
    This setting is located below the style prompt field. Recraft offers two interpretation models:
    Style essentials (default): Focuses on overall aesthetic elements such as color, texture, and detail. Works well for simpler compositions.
    Style and composition: Captures both visual style and image structure, including layout, object placement, and perspective. Ideal for complex scenes or stylized compositions, but results may be more unpredictable with minimal designs.     You can switch between these options while building your style to preview and refine the results. Testing both models can help you decide which better matches your intended outcome.
    Choose a style category (optional)
    You can switch between:
    • Photorealism
    • Illustration
    • Vector art
    • Vector icon
    In most cases, the default category works well.
    • If you’re aiming for minimalistic icons, use Vector icon.
    • If you’re trying to get clean vector shapes but the system defaults to Illustration (raster), manually switch to Vector art.
    • It’s also worth experimenting between Photorealism and Illustration for edge cases.
  7. Test the style
    • Use the Test it panel to the right of your uploaded references.
    • Enter a prompt and click Generate test image to preview results.
    • If you’re not satisfied, adjust the reference mix or revise your style prompt.
  8. Save your style
    When you’re happy with the output, click Save style. It will be added to your personal style library for use in any future project.

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Tips for best results with styles

  • Use high-resolution reference images whenever possible. Low-quality references may lead to poor generation fidelity.
  • Don’t be afraid to experiment. Adjust prompt wording, test both style models, and remix references to refine your results.