Can I use "Style References" based on my own images?

[Haunterrr]

Hello esteemed contributors,

Could you please advise if I generate my own image (let's say a watercolor illustration) in Midjourney that I like, can I use it as a reference (--sref) to maintain the style and color scheme for generating further images? As far as I understand, this does not violate Adobe Stock's rules.

Question #2, which is more complex:
If I take an image from open sources where the author does not have intellectual property rights, am I also not violating any rules? After all, it does not generate an identical image to the reference.

This is not "--cref", which replicates the object/subject.

Has anyone here used this method consistently without any issues?
Of course, it’s possible to use all this in ways that violate Adobe Stock's rules, but I am concerned about making sure that a law-abiding author is not confused with a rule-breaking author and inadvertently banned.

Thank you for your help!

[daniellei4510]

#1 As long as you are referencing your own images, I don't see it being a problem. But make sure the images vary considerably from one to the other and limit the resulting submissions to three or four to avoid similars.

#2 That might OK, but that would depend on the final result. I've never used --sref, so I'm not sure how close it references other images. And how do you know for certain if the images in question are open source?

So those are my two answers, but be aware that my interpretation of the rules aren't necessarily the same as Adobe's.

[Jill_C]

Regarding question #2 - how do you know that the author does not have intellectual property rights?

[Haunterrr]

Well, there are resources on the internet where images are labeled as 'Free.' I'm not an expert in these matters; I only consulted ChatGPT, Gemini, and wrote to Adobe Stock support (I don't think they will respond). It's not that it exactly copies the image but just uses the color scheme and context. Do you think any image generation doesn't use someone's style? Sometimes you get cool illustrations even if the prompt doesn't specify 'Stock Photo' or an artist's style. In any case, I haven't used this method, and if I decide to, it will only be with my images.

[daniellei4510]

You're over-thinking this. And yeah, I'd be surprised if Adobe responded. That's not their job. My submissions are 100% AI and I keep my prompts simple. When I see prompts that are almost two paragraphs long, with --srefs and references to styles, types of cameras and brands of films and what have you, AI ignores 90% of those instructions. It's almost laughable. Just do your own thing.

[daniellei4510]

"Free" does not mean they aren't still owned by someone. They are just willing to givee their assets away for use "as is," not necessarily to mean use this asset any way you wish and change it anyway you want. 

[RALPH_L · Accepted solution]

#2. Open source will get you banned. You must own all rights to your image and any parts within.

[Haunterrr]

Now I feel relieved that I haven't used this. My panicky nature has calmed down.

All of this is complicated for me, intellectual property rights in illustration... I'm even too lazy to think about how to distinguish, for example, a watercolor illustration based on another author's reference from a regular one based on a simple prompt, or how it is even checked when such a flow of AI-generated images is uploaded every day.

P.S. How do I close the topic here?

[daniellei4510]

You can't. A moderator will close it for you if they see fit to do so. 😉