One of Midjourney's most powerful and least-documented features is the ability to combine multiple SREF codes in a single prompt. Instead of being locked into one aesthetic, you can blend two or more codes to create hybrid styles that don't exist as standalone presets.
The Basic Syntax
To combine two SREF codes, list them both after the --sref parameter, separated by a space:
Midjourney will blend both aesthetics. By default, it gives equal weight to each code.
Weighting SREF Codes with --sw
The --sw parameter controls how strongly the sref influences the overall output — but when combining codes, you can also weight each code individually by placing the weight directly after the code number:
This applies the first code at 2x the strength of the second — useful when you want one aesthetic to dominate while the other adds subtle influence.
Practical Combinations That Work Well
Cinematic + Dark & Moody
Combine a cinematic code (film grain, colour grading) with a dark moody code (shadow depth, contrast) for hyper-dramatic imagery that feels pulled from a prestige TV production.
Light & Airy + Editorial
Blend bright, clean tones with editorial sharpness for a high-end lifestyle photography look. The airy code lifts the exposure while the editorial code adds intentional composition and contrast structure.
Abstract + Any Aesthetic
Adding a low-weight abstract code to a realistic aesthetic (::1 weight) introduces subtle textural or painterly qualities to otherwise photographic outputs.
Start with a 2:1 ratio rather than 50:50. Equal weighting often produces muddled results when the two aesthetics are very different. Letting one code dominate (2:1 or 3:1) tends to produce cleaner blends.
How Many Codes Can You Combine?
Midjourney supports combining two to three codes reliably. Beyond three, the results become unpredictable — each additional code dilutes the others, and the output tends to lose coherence. Two codes is the sweet spot for intentional blending.
Combining Codes on Meta AI
Multi-code syntax works on Meta AI too. Use the same format — codes separated by a space after --sref — in your Meta AI prompt. See our Meta AI guide for the full workflow.
Find Codes to Combine
Browse and compare codes across different aesthetic categories on MidjourneyCodes. The three-preview format (portrait, landscape, still life) makes it easy to identify which codes complement each other before combining them in your prompt.