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Question

What is the difference between a source image and a reference image?

The source image is the picture being changed; a reference image only guides the change. Edits keep the source's content and layout as the starting point, while a reference contributes one quality, such as a texture, color, light or character, without becoming the picture itself.

Example: a portrait in a plain jacket is the source. A close-up of pleated fabric is the reference. The instruction "use this texture on the jacket; keep the face, hands, crop and background" changes the source using the reference for one detail.

Mixing them up is a common cause of odd results: if the model treats a reference as the source, you get its subject or layout instead of your picture. Labeling them in the prompt ("image 1 is the photo to edit, image 2 is the fabric") avoids it.

ImageQuarry works this way: you can upload a source, add one or more references, and review each new version to see how closely it followed them.

Source: the ImageQuarry homepage (source and reference examples), checked October 20, 2026.

Next step

What is a reference image in AI image generation?More on what references do.Read more

Related questions

What is a reference image in AI image generation?A picture that shows the model what you mean.Read more Can I upload my own photo and edit it with AI?Yes, most AI editors start from an uploaded photo.Read more Will AI copy my reference image exactly?No. It follows the direction, not every detail.Read more How do I tell AI what to keep unchanged in an edit?Name what stays, then the one change you want.Read more

Last reviewed October 20, 2026 by ImageQuarry

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