MidJourney Prompt & SREF: Creating the Ultimate Retro-Futuristic Synthwave Lighting Style
--sref 2118125150

sref code and prompt case 1 --sref 2118125150
sref code and prompt case 2 --sref 2118125150
sref code and prompt case 3 --sref 2118125150
sref code and prompt case 4 --sref 2118125150

If you generate different style variations using this sref, please make sure you either use the standard Midjourney version shown on this page or copy the full parameter string from the prompt, including the P code. To highlight the unique advantages and features of the style, we have carefully crafted custom prompts for each sref. By using these prompts, you can perfectly replicate the sref's effects.

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sref Style Characteristics Analysis

This SREF style presents a strong fusion of "Retro-Futurism" and "Synthwave" aesthetics, while drawing on the texture of 80s Airbrush Art.

From a professional perspective, its most distinctive feature lies in its extreme application of dynamic lighting and color psychology.

  1. Teal and Orange Contrast: The visuals heavily emphasize the classic "Teal and Orange" color grading. Deep midnight blues and ghostly blacks serve as the background, forming a dramatic conflict with burning orange-red highlights. This color scheme is common in Hollywood blockbuster poster designs and instantly grabs visual attention.
  2. Analog Film Grain: The images are filled with rough noise and graininess. This is not simply a reduction in clarity, but mimics the charming texture of High ISO Film shot in low light, endowing the scene with an "unpolished" sense of reality and vintage age.
  3. Motion Blur & Bloom: Even if objects are stationary, the SREF imbues them with a visual illusion of high-speed movement. The edge "Bloom" effect makes objects look as if they are self-luminous, creating a hazy beauty that sits between photography and illustration.

What makes this style so impressive is that it is not just displaying objects, but displaying "energy" and "speed." It strips away tedious details, retaining only the silhouette and the mood of the light and shadow, like a faded yet still scorching memory.

What is Retro-Futuristic Synthwave Style

In this context, we can define this style as "Retro-Futuristic Synthwave".

This style originates from nostalgia for 1980s pop culture, specifically sci-fi movies, video games, and electronic synthesizer music of that era. It is not a realistic restoration of the past, but a romanticized reconstruction of "the future imagined by people of the past." In the specific expression of this SREF, it combines minimalist composition with high-contrast neon lighting. It emphasizes an atmosphere that is lonely, mysterious, and full of technology, as if the subject in the image is situated in the mist of a cyberpunk world, both retro and avant-garde.

Retro-Futuristic Synthwave Style Use Cases

Due to its strong visual tension and emotional appeal, this style is very suitable for the following creative scenarios:

  • Music Album Covers: Especially for electronic music, Synthwave, Lo-Fi Hip Hop, or rock music; this blurry and psychedelic visual fits the auditory immersion perfectly.
  • High-Concept Poster Design: Suitable for promotional posters for racing events, sci-fi movies, or suspense series. Utilizing its "motion blur" characteristic conveys speed and passion without complex layout.
  • Streetwear Prints: These high-contrast, low-detail graphics are very suitable for screen printing, used for designing street-style T-shirts or hoodies.
  • Game Concept Art: Used for the production of early mood boards, especially for cyberpunk or film noir themed games, helping the team establish the lighting tone.

Retro-Futuristic Synthwave Style Prompt Inspiration

To master this SREF style, your prompt should focus on light and shadow, motion, and minimalist subjects.

Here are some Prompt inspirations you can try directly:

  • Prompt 1: A lonely astronaut walking into a sandstorm on Mars, cinematic lighting, silhouette, heavy grain, synthwave vibe --ar 1:1
  • Prompt 2: A vintage cassette tape floating in dark water, neon orange ripples, motion blur, 80s aesthetics, noisy texture --ar 1:1
  • Prompt 3: A cyberpunk motorcycle speeding through a tunnel, light trails, atmospheric fog, intense contrast, retro-futurism --ar 1:1

Upgrade to become a website member to unlock all website prompts and gain access to more advanced instructions regarding lighting control and material rendering.

More Prompt Tips & Tricks


You can explore further by combining the following prompt command for MidJourney:

  • --sv: There are six versions of the Style Reference feature in Midjourney version 7 when using images. Use the --sv parameter to choose between them. --sv 6 is default. --sv 4 is the old V7 sref model (prior to June 16, 2025). Using --sv 6 and --sv 4 may produce different style results.
  • --s: Default value is 100, can be set from 0 to 1000. The higher the value, the more detailed the image, and the closer the style may be to reality.
  • -niji 6: Using this command will give the image a more anime style.
  • --sw: Default value is 100, can be input from 0 to 1000. A higher value makes the style closer to the original.
  • You can now blend multiple --sref codes together (for example --sref 123 456 )
  • You can weigh individual codes or urls as follows --sref 123::2
  • You can also read more guides on How to use SREF Code

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This website stands out as one of the pioneering libraries I discovered in my AI art journey. What truly sets it apart is its comprehensive offering: not just unique style codes, but also intricate blends and full prompts. The inclusion of complete prompts is particularly valuable, as it's an artistic choice that many creators hesitate to share openly.

Felix Koutchinski

Felix Koutchinski

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As a beginner in MidJourney, I struggled to create the style of images I envisioned and felt lost with keyword usage. This led me to create this website for sref codes and examples with prompts, aimed at helping newcomers easily generate high-quality images and find joy in their creative process.

underwood

underwood

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There are many Midjourney Sref galleries online, but promptsref.com is my go-to resource. If you're looking for a comprehensive collection of Midjourney Srefs, this is the only website you need.

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