If you have ever generated a gorgeous fantasy landscape in Midjourney only to get something completely different the next time, you are not alone. Fantasy landscape creation with AI has always suffered from inconsistency each image stands alone, making it nearly impossible to build a coherent world across multiple generations. Midjourney V7’s Omni Reference feature fixes this by letting you anchor visual elements across images, enabling true world-building with consistent aesthetics.
This guide teaches you how to leverage Omni Reference for fantasy landscape work, providing 12 prompts that demonstrate different applications of this powerful feature.
What Is Omni Reference and Why It Matters for Fantasy Worlds
Omni Reference uses an image reference to carry visual elements characters, objects, landmarks, architectural styles, or atmospheric effects into new generations. Midjourney’s documentation describes it as compatible with V7 and usable alongside Personalization, Moodboards, stylize, and Style References. It is not the same as a pure style reference, which copies aesthetic qualities like color and lighting. Omni Reference preserves visual subjects, which is exactly what you need when building a fantasy world.
For fantasy landscapes, Omni Reference anchors things like a fortress shape, a species of tree, a recurring vehicle, a magical artifact, a landmark, or a visual motif that should appear consistently across your world. The practical benefit is portfolio pieces or narrative art sequences that feel like they belong to the same world rather than unrelated generations.
Omni Reference costs 2x more GPU time than regular V7 images, and it is not compatible with Fast Mode, Draft Mode, Vary Region, Pan, or Zoom Out.
V7 vs Competitors: How Midjourney Stacks Up in 2026
The AI image generation market reached $8.7 billion in 2024 and is forecast to hit $60.8 billion by 2030 at a 38.2% compound annual growth rate. Midjourney holds 26.8% of the global AI image generation market, ahead of DALL-E at 24.4% and NightCafe at 23.2%.
| Platform | Market Share | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Midjourney V7 | 26.8% | Artistic quality, cinematic output, style range |
| DALL-E 3 | 24.4% | Text-in-image accuracy, ChatGPT integration |
| NightCafe | 23.2% | Community features, free tier access |
| Adobe Firefly | 15.6% | Commercial licensing, Creative Cloud integration |
| Stable Diffusion | ~10% | Local generation, uncensored output |
Sources: AIPRM via About Chromebooks, Imagera AI Statistics 2026
Midjourney’s key advantages are artistic quality and style range. Where it falls short is text-in-image accuracy and, for character consistency specifically, Nano Banana Pro currently outperforms it.
How to Use These Prompts
Replace the bracketed reference URL with an image you have rights to use. The strongest reference is clear, uncluttered, and focused on the element you want to preserve. A clean image of a tower works better than a chaotic collage if the tower is the important recurring object.
Use --oref for the reference image and adjust --ow when you need to change reference strength. Higher weight pushes the output closer to the reference; lower weight gives the prompt more freedom. The recommended strength range is 300 to 500 for best results.
For landscapes, combine Omni Reference with normal prompt structure:
- subject
- environment
- lighting
- camera angle
- weather
- scale
- materials
- color palette
- mood
- aspect ratio
The more intentional the prompt, the easier it is to judge whether the reference actually helped.
12 Fantasy Landscape Prompts with Omni Reference
Prompt 1: Ancient Forest Realm
Prompt: “Fantasy landscape of ancient primordial forest, trees with bark resembling carved stone, bioluminescent moss providing ambient light, undergrowth of ferns and flowering plants, mist between trunks, mythical atmosphere, —ar 16:9 —v 7 —oref [forest reference image URL]”
This prompt establishes an ancient forest with consistent organic architecture. The reference image should establish the forest’s key visual elements.
Prompt 2: Floating Sky Islands
Prompt: “Fantasy landscape of floating islands suspended in sky, waterfalls cascading into clouds below, vegetation on island undersides, ancient ruins on plateau surfaces, dramatic cloudscape, sense of impossible scale, —ar 16:9 —v 7 —oref [island reference image URL]”
Sky islands require consistent gravity-defying elements. The reference establishes how islands connect to their surroundings.
Prompt 3: Crystal Cavern System
Prompt: “Fantasy landscape of vast underground crystal cavern, formations emitting own light in varied colors, underground lake reflecting formations, scale impossible to judge, otherworldly mineral atmosphere, —ar 16:9 —v 7 —oref [cavern reference image URL]”
Crystal caverns benefit from consistent lighting interpretation. The reference establishes the crystal aesthetic and lighting.
Prompt 4: Desert Sorcerer City
Prompt: “Fantasy landscape of desert city built into canyon walls, sand-colored structures blending with rock, narrow streets and passages, market activity visible, heat shimmer effect, terracotta and gold color palette, —ar 16:9 —v 7 —oref [city reference image URL]”
Desert cities require consistent architectural language and atmospheric treatment. The reference establishes the building style and conditions.
Prompt 5: Frozen Northern Reaches
Prompt: “Fantasy landscape of frozen tundra at twilight, aurora borealis overhead, ice formations along horizon, wind-carved snow structures, minimal color palette of blue and white, sense of isolation, —ar 16:9 —v 7 —oref [arctic reference image URL]”
The northern reaches need consistent cold atmosphere and aurora behavior. The reference establishes the color.
Prompt 6: Volcanic Forge Lands
Prompt: “Fantasy landscape of volcanic region, active lava flows near ancient fortress, heat distortion visible, orange and black color palette, smoke and ember particles, industrial architecture integrated with geology, —ar 16:9 —v 7 —oref [volcanic reference image URL]”
Volcanic landscapes require consistent fire and heat effects. The reference establishes how smoke, light, and color interact.
Prompt 7: Submerged Atlantis Ruins
Prompt: “Fantasy landscape of underwater ruined city, shafts of light from surface penetrating water, coral growing on structures, fish swimming through archways, turquoise water filtering light, sense of ancient grandeur, —ar 16:9 —v 7 —oref [underwater reference image URL]”
Underwater ruins need consistent water light behavior. The reference establishes how light rays and color filtering work in this world.
Prompt 8: Mushroom Forest Floor
Prompt: “Fantasy landscape of forest floor dominated by massive mushrooms, varying heights creating depth, bioluminescent caps providing illumination, tiny creatures visible, fairy-tale atmosphere, saturated color palette, —ar 16:9 —v 7 —oref [mushroom reference image URL]”
Mushroom forests require consistent fungal architecture. The reference establishes scale relationships and light behavior.
Prompt 9: Storm-Racked Cliffs
Prompt: “Fantasy landscape of dramatic coastal cliffs during storm, waves crashing below, lightning illuminating scene intermittently, wind affecting vegetation, dark dramatic sky, sense of raw power, —ar 16:9 —v 7 —oref [coastal reference image URL]”
Stormy coastlines need consistent weather behavior. The reference establishes how lightning and waves appear in this world.
Prompt 10: Autumn Wizard’s Domain
Prompt: “Fantasy landscape of autumnal magical realm, fallen leaves creating carpet, ancient stone tower in distance, warm light from tower windows, gentle magic suggested by floating leaves, golden hour lighting, nostalgic mood, —ar 16:9 —v 7 —oref [autumn reference image URL]”
Wizard domains require consistent magical atmosphere. The reference establishes how magic manifests visually.
Prompt 11: Jungle Temple Complex
Prompt: “Fantasy landscape of overgrown temple emerging from jungle, vines covering structures, trees growing through ruins, moss and ferns on stone surfaces, hidden entrance suggested, sense of forgotten knowledge, —ar 16:9 —v 7 —oref [ruins reference image URL]”
Jungle temples need consistent vegetation-stone relationships. The reference establishes how quickly nature reclaims structures.
Prompt 12: Starlit Plateau
Prompt: “Fantasy landscape of elevated plateau at night, thousands of stars visible due to altitude, low vegetation adapted to altitude, distant mountains visible, ethereal mist, contemplation and wonder mood, —ar 16:9 —v 7 —oref [night landscape reference image URL]”
High altitude night landscapes require consistent star field and atmospheric behavior. The reference establishes celestial and terrestrial relationships.
“Build a system. Create references, test variations, save winners, refine the visual bible, and generate in connected sets. That is how you move from pretty fantasy images to a believable fantasy world.”
Building Worlds with Omni Reference: The Reference Strategy
Effective world-building requires establishing reference images for each major environment type before generating variations. Spend time perfecting reference images because they control consistency across all subsequent generations.
Start with three anchor references:
- A landmark reference a castle, tower, gateway, shrine, ship, or city silhouette
- A material reference crystal, obsidian, carved bone, bronze, mossy stone, or glowing fungus
- A mood reference twilight mist, golden desert heat, storm light, moonlit snow, or underwater haze
Then create separate prompt sets for wide establishing shots, medium environment shots, and close-up details. This gives the world scale. A fantasy setting feels more believable when the same design language appears in roads, doors, bridges, tools, temples, and distant skylines.
Do not try to force every image with one overloaded reference. Too many competing visual instructions create muddier results. Build consistency through repeated, controlled references and a clear vocabulary.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest mistake is using references you do not have permission to use. Avoid copyrighted concept art, private commissions, or artists’ work unless you have rights. Use your own generated images, sketches, licensed stock, public-domain references, or original photography.
The second mistake is confusing style consistency with world consistency. A style reference makes images feel visually similar, but world-building also needs recurring forms, materials, symbols, and geography.
The third mistake is skipping iteration. Generate a first pass, choose the strongest image, then use that as a cleaner reference for the next set. This controlled loop produces better consistency than trying to solve the whole world in one prompt.
Production Workflow for Fantasy World Projects
For a game, book, or portfolio project, work in passes:
- Create the visual bible: palette, architecture, materials, magic rules, and camera language
- Generate anchor references for major regions
- Create wide shots to establish geography
- Create medium shots for settlements, roads, forests, towers, and ruins
- Create detail shots for doors, weapons, flags, plants, textures, and artifacts
- Review consistency before expanding the world
This keeps the work coherent. Midjourney produces beautiful surprises, but a finished fantasy world needs direction.
Prompt Editing Tips
If an image feels too generic, add specific materials. “Ancient castle” becomes stronger as “ancient castle carved from black basalt, green copper roofs, wet stone stairs, narrow torchlit windows.” Materials tell the model how the world is built.
If scale is weak, add foreground, middle ground, and background. A traveler in the foreground, ruins in the middle distance, and a mountain city on the horizon give fantasy landscapes depth.
If the reference overwhelms the scene, reduce the reference strength or simplify the prompt. If the reference barely appears, increase the weight or use a cleaner reference.
If the world feels inconsistent, create a short vocabulary and reuse it: basalt towers, amber lanterns, moonlit fog, thorn bridges, blue flame, glass roots. Repeated language helps images feel connected.
Ethics and Originality in Fantasy AI Art
Fantasy art often pulls from shared visual traditions: medieval castles, mythic forests, enchanted ruins, floating islands, dragons, temples, and magical storms. Shared themes are normal. Copying a living artist’s exact style or using their images as references without permission is a different matter.
For professional work, build references from licensed, public-domain, self-made, or generated material you control. Keep records of important references and prompts. If you work for a client, make sure the client understands which parts are AI-generated and which assets are safe to use commercially.
Originality comes from decisions: world logic, recurring symbols, geography, architecture, culture, story, and restraint. Omni Reference can help preserve those decisions, but it cannot make them for you.
FAQ
How many references should I use with —oref? Typically one strong reference works best. Multiple references blend their influences, which can dilute the consistency you are trying to achieve.
Where do I find good world-building references? Concept art from fantasy games and films, landscape photography with appropriate mood, and historical architecture all work well.
Can I use AI-generated images as references? Yes. Using your own consistent AI generations as references creates a closed feedback loop of style consistency.
How does —oref differ from —sref? Style reference (—sref) controls visual aesthetic like color and lighting. Omni Reference (—oref) helps maintain world-building coherence across multiple scenes by preserving specific visual subjects.
What is the optimal Omni Reference strength for fantasy landscapes? The recommended range is 300 to 500. Below 75, the character loses most defining features. Above 600, you get very high fidelity but may introduce artifacts.
What aspect ratio works best for fantasy landscapes? 16:9 works well for desktop wallpapers and cinematic presentations. Square (1:1) formats better suit social media and portfolio presentation.
Key Takeaways
- Omni Reference enables world-building consistency across generations by anchoring specific visual subjects
- Establish environment-type references before generating variations
- Reference images control aesthetic coherence, not just style
- Modular references for architecture, lighting, and atmosphere can combine
- Invest time in reference images for better final outputs
- Start with three anchor references: landmark, material, and mood