A higher reference-strength value does not mean every part of an AI image becomes more accurate. First read what that control governs. A style setting, a structure setting and an identity-related control, where one exists, do not promise the same behavior. Increasing one can make an unwanted property more dominant alongside the property you intended to preserve.
Name the controlled relationship
Adobe's Firefly API documentation distinguishes style reference from structure reference. Style concerns the reference's aesthetic influence; structure concerns characteristics such as outline and depth. These are Adobe-specific documented controls. Do not assume another service uses the same scale, default, direction, or meaning, or that Imagild exposes an equivalent slider.
Before changing a value, state what you want to follow: the palette, line treatment, arrangement of large shapes, or a recognizable person. Then state what must remain free to change. A reference that is useful for composition may contain the wrong subject, clothing, or text. Stronger adherence is not the same as a better interpretation of that separation.
Use an ordered comparison card
| Trial | Intended reference contribution | Must remain free | Failure to reject |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower supported setting | Broad palette or layout | Requested new content | Missing essential structure |
| Middle supported setting | Same contribution | Same new content | Unwanted reference subject appears |
| Higher supported setting | Same contribution | Same new content | Layout dominates and blocks the brief |
This is a reader test plan, not a completed experiment. Use actual supported settings from your chosen tool and a modest attempt allowance. The words lower, middle and higher are relative labels; they are not transferable numeric recommendations.
Keep other conditions stable
Use the same authorized reference, prompt goal, framing and output requirement. If random variation cannot be controlled, record that limitation. A single attractive result does not establish that its setting is generally superior. Keep unsuccessful attempts rather than comparing only the strongest result from each group.
Judge reference adherence and task success separately. For an illustrated poster, the color treatment may follow beautifully while the new object is missing. For a composition study, the outline may remain faithful while an important caption becomes illegible. A setting that improves one criterion can still make the image unusable for its actual delivery.
Choose a sufficient constraint
Select a setting that supplies the required contribution while leaving room for the requested content. If every setting transfers the wrong subject, revisit the reference's assigned role or use a more suitable source rather than continuing to raise the value. If no setting preserves a necessary feature, consider whether another editing or compositing method is more appropriate.
For Imagild preparation, write the reference's purpose even if there is no strength control. When working in an external tool with such a control, retain its name and actual setting in the handoff. That prevents a collaborator from treating a number as a universal likeness score or applying it to a different type of reference relationship.