The Index / tool
Runway Gen-4 Image References
Runway's Gen-4 Image References lets a creator guide a new still image with up to three reference images. Creators can save named references, share them with a workspace, or draw over an image to indicate composition and object placement. Runway recommends iteration for complex changes. A creative team can use the workflow to explore treatment frames, then inspect whether the selected result preserves the product details and likenesses the brief requires.
At a glance
- Provider
- Runway
- Status
- Documented
- Availability
- Runway documents this workflow in Generate Image with References enabled. Uploaded images remain temporary until saved under a name; workspace sharing requires the sharing setting.
- Works with
- Reference images, Sketches, Generated still images
- Last checked
- Sep 13, 2026
- Topics
- Tools & Models
Before you use it
- Terms
- Runway's commercial-use guidance concerns rights between Runway and its user. Check source-image rights and permission to depict the people in a reference before sharing it or releasing a generation.
What to check
- Up to three active references for one still-image generation
- Sketch references can guide composition and object placement
- An exported sketch cannot be edited
History and changes
Runway updates reference consistency
Runway released an updated Gen-4 References model, reporting improvements in object consistency and prompt adherence for all users.
Layout Sketch adds composition guidance
Runway added Layout Sketch for Gen-4 References, allowing creators to draw on a blank canvas or an existing image to guide elements and composition.
References access expands to free accounts
Runway opened Gen-4 Text to Image and References to Free Plan users.
Gen-4 References becomes available
Runway made Gen-4 References available to paid plans, letting creators guide image generation with references for characters, locations, and other subjects.
Related records
No linked public coverage.