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Haunterrr
Known Participant
May 22, 2024
Answered

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

  • May 22, 2024
  • 3 replies
  • 1456 views

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!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer RALPH_L

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

3 replies

RALPH_L
Community Expert
RALPH_LCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
May 23, 2024

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

H
HaunterrrAuthor
Known Participant
May 23, 2024

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
Community Expert
daniellei4510Community Expert
Community Expert
May 23, 2024

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

Adobe Community Expert | If you can't fix it, hide it; if you can't hide it, delete it.
    Jill_C
    Community Expert
    Jill_CCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 22, 2024

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

    Jill C., Forum Volunteer
    H
    HaunterrrAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 23, 2024

    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
    Community Expert
    daniellei4510Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 23, 2024

    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.

    Adobe Community Expert | If you can't fix it, hide it; if you can't hide it, delete it.
    daniellei4510
    Community Expert
    daniellei4510Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 22, 2024

    #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.

     

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