Vintage & Retro SREF Codes for Midjourney

Curated vintage and retro Midjourney SREF codes for nostalgic aesthetics from past decades.

Vintage & Retro SREF codes transform your Midjourney prompts into nostalgic images that capture the aesthetics of past eras. These codes apply period-specific characteristics - from film grain and color shifts to fashion and design trends of different decades - creating authentic vintage looks without needing to describe complex technical details. Simply add the code, describe your subject, and let the SREF handle the time-travel aesthetics.

Quick Start:

Use --sref 2038889777 --sw 120 for authentic 1980s-90s aesthetics, or --sref 257359978 --sw 115 for retro textures with vintage vibes.

Match Era to Subject:

Choose SREF codes that match your subject's time period. A 1950s diner works better with mid-century codes than with 1980s synthwave aesthetics.

Browse by Era

1920s-1930s Art Deco & Early Photography

Glamorous Art Deco period with early photographic techniques.

Quick Codes: --sref 2847193560, --sref 3192847560, --sref 1826473509

1940s-1950s Mid-Century & Post-War

Mid-century modern design and post-war optimism.

Quick Codes: --sref 2038889777, --sref 3628174590, --sref 1947583062

1960s-1970s Psychedelic & Disco

Counterculture vibes and groovy aesthetics.

Quick Codes: --sref 419643348, --sref 795590357, --sref 2520959011

1980s Neon & Synthwave

Bold neon colors, geometric patterns, and new wave aesthetics.

Quick Codes: --sref 2038889777, --sref 795590357, --sref 2520959011

1990s Grunge & Early Digital

Alternative culture and early digital aesthetics.

Quick Codes: --sref 514593424, --sref 2038889777, --sref 1537973865

Film Photography & Analog

Authentic film stock characteristics and darkroom aesthetics.

Quick Codes: --sref 1537973865, --sref 2653204188, --sref 2038889777

Polaroid & Instant Photography

Instant camera aesthetics with characteristic borders and color shifts.

Quick Codes: --sref 3192847560, --sref 2653204188, --sref 1947583062

Victorian & Edwardian

19th and early 20th century photography and illustration.

Quick Codes: --sref 1826473509, --sref 3458927106, --sref 2147539680

Quick Tips

1980s portrait:

portrait of a person in 80s fashion --sref 2038889777 --sw 130

Vintage film aesthetic:

street scene, film grain --sref 1537973865 --sw 120

Art Deco poster:

art deco travel poster --sref 2847193560 --sw 140

Polaroid memory:

family gathering, warm tones --sref 3192847560 --sw 125

Enhancing Vintage Effects

Combine SREF codes with period details:

Mention film stocks (Kodachrome, Fujifilm, etc.)
Add "film grain" or "faded colors"
Specify decade-appropriate fashion or props
Use "vintage" or "retro" in your prompt

Style Weight Guide

100-120 - Subtle vintage influence
120-150 - Standard period aesthetic
150-200 - Strong nostalgic atmosphere

Start with --sw 130 for authentic vintage looks.

Next Steps

Explore all SREF categories or check out Cinematic for film-quality aesthetics.