Custom styles in DreamRunner.ai allow you to control the visual appearance of your characters and locations through a sophisticated system of AI models. This guide will help you understand the technical components and how to use them effectively.

Technical Concepts

Model Stack

A model stack is the combination of AI models that work together to generate images with a specific artistic style. Each style you create consists of:

1. Checkpoint (Required) - The base AI model
2. LoRAs (Optional) - Fine-tuning models that add specific features
3. Embeddings (Optional) - Textual inversions that enhance specific concepts

Checkpoints (Base Models)

A checkpoint is the foundation of your style - it's the primary AI model that determines the overall artistic direction. Think of it as the "art engine" that generates your images.

Available Architectures:

• Flux Models - High-quality modern image generation
  • flux1d - Flux 1 Dev (highest quality, more credits)
  • flux1s - Flux 1 Schnell (faster, fewer credits)
  • fluxkontextpro - Flux Kontext Pro
  • fluxkontextmax - Flux Kontext Max
  • fluxkontextdev - Flux Kontext Dev
• HiDream Models - Specialized models for specific use cases
  • hidreamdev - HiDream Development version
  • hidreamfast - HiDream Fast (optimized for speed)

Choosing a Checkpoint:

• Each checkpoint has different strengths (realism, anime, fantasy, etc.)
• Higher quality checkpoints cost more credits per generation
• The checkpoint determines which LoRAs and embeddings are compatible
• You must select a checkpoint before saving a style

LoRAs (Low-Rank Adaptation)

LoRAs are specialized fine-tuning models that add specific features or styles to your base checkpoint without replacing it entirely.

What LoRAs Do:

• Add specific artistic styles (watercolor, oil painting, sketch, etc.)
• Introduce character features (specific clothing styles, accessories)
• Enhance specific concepts (lighting effects, atmospheres)
• Fine-tune the base model's output

Using LoRAs:

• You can add multiple LoRAs to a single style
• LoRAs must be compatible with your chosen checkpoint's architecture
• Each LoRA has a strength/weight setting that controls its influence
• Combining too many LoRAs may cause conflicts

Best Practices:

• Start with 0-2 LoRAs for clean results
• Test each LoRA individually before combining
• Adjust LoRA weights to balance their effects

Embeddings (Textual Inversions)

Embeddings are learned representations of specific concepts that enhance the AI's understanding of particular subjects or styles.

What Embeddings Do:

• Define specific characters, objects, or artistic concepts
• Improve consistency for niche subjects
• Add specialized vocabulary to the model
• Enhance the quality of specific elements

Using Embeddings:

• Add embeddings that represent concepts in your story
• Embeddings work alongside your text descriptions
• Multiple embeddings can be used together
• Compatible with the checkpoint's architecture

Creating Custom Styles

Step 1: Open the Style Editor

From the Styles modal, you can:

• Click "Edit" on an existing style to modify it
• Click "Search" to browse and select from available models
• Create a new style from scratch

Step 2: Name Your Style

• Enter a descriptive name (up to 50 characters)
• Leave blank for auto-naming based on the models you select
• Choose names that help you remember the style's purpose
  • Examples: "Anime Character Default", "Dark Fantasy Locations", "Watercolor Portraits"

Step 3: Select a Checkpoint (Required)

1. Click the search/add button in the Checkpoint section
2. Browse available checkpoints by architecture
3. Filter by checkpoint architecture if needed
4. Select your base model

Important: You cannot save a style without selecting a checkpoint.

Step 4: Add LoRAs (Optional)

1. Click the search/add button in the LoRA section
2. Browse compatible LoRAs (automatically filtered by checkpoint architecture)
3. Add up to several LoRAs per style
4. Adjust weights if needed
5. Remove LoRAs that don't work well together

Step 5: Add Embeddings (Optional)

1. Click the search/add button in the Embedding section
2. Browse compatible embeddings
3. Select embeddings relevant to your story's theme
4. Add multiple embeddings for comprehensive coverage

Step 6: Review Cost

Before saving, check the credits per generation displayed at the top of the editor. This shows how many credits each image will cost using this style.

Step 7: Save Your Style

• Click "Save Style" for new styles
• Click "Save Changes" for edited styles
• Click "Revert Changes" to undo modifications
• Click "Delete" to remove a style (existing styles only)

Validation:

• The system will prevent saving if no checkpoint is selected
• An error message will appear under the checkpoint section if validation fails

Applying Styles to Your Story

Styles can be applied at three different levels, with more specific levels overriding broader ones:

Style Hierarchy

1. Story Defaults (Broadest)
   • Applies to all characters OR all locations in the story
   • Set once, affects everything unless overridden
2. Entity-Specific (Most Specific)
   • Applies to individual characters or locations
   • Overrides story defaults
   • Allows unique looks for important characters/locations

Story-Wide Style Application

For Characters:

1. Open the Styles modal during your story
2. Navigate to the "Character" tab
3. Under "Story Defaults" section:
   • Click "Search" to browse existing styles
   • Click "Edit" to modify the current style
   • Select a style to apply it to all characters

For Locations:

1. Open the Styles modal during your story
2. Navigate to the "Location" tab
3. Under "Story Defaults" section:
   • Click "Search" to browse existing styles
   • Click "Edit" to modify the current style
   • Select a style to apply it to all locations

Story defaults affect:

• All characters/locations that don't have entity-specific styles
• New characters/locations added to the story
• Provides consistency across your visual novel

Entity-Specific Style Application

For Individual Characters:

1. Open the Styles modal during your story
2. Navigate to the "Character" tab
3. Under "Character-specific Styles" section:
   • Each character in the current scene is listed
   • Click "Search" next to a character to browse styles
   • Click "Edit" to modify their specific style
   • Click the character's name/icon to open character details

For Individual Locations:

1. Open the Styles modal during your story
2. Navigate to the "Location" tab
3. Under "Location-specific Style" section:
   • The current location is shown
   • Click "Search" to browse styles for this location
   • Click "Edit" to modify the location's specific style
   • Click the location icon to open location details

Entity-specific styles are perfect for:

• Main characters who need distinctive appearances
• Important locations that should stand out
• Special scenes requiring different artistic treatments
• Characters with unique visual requirements

Testing and Regenerating Images

After applying or modifying styles, you can regenerate images to see the changes:

Regenerate All Characters

1. Click "Regen All Characters" button
2. Shows total credit cost for all characters in the scene
3. Regenerates all character images with current styles

Regenerate Location

1. Click "Regen Location" button
2. Shows credit cost for the location
3. Regenerates the location image with current style

Regenerate Individual Entity

1. Find the character or location in the Styles modal
2. Click the regenerate icon next to their style card
3. Option to regenerate with new seed for variations

Best Practices

Style Organization

• Create meaningful style names for easy identification
• Group related styles (e.g., all anime styles, all realistic styles)
• Save styles you plan to reuse across stories
• Test styles before applying them story-wide

Model Selection

• Start Simple: Begin with just a checkpoint
• Add Gradually: Add LoRAs and embeddings one at a time
• Test Often: Regenerate images to see how changes affect output
• Monitor Costs: Higher quality models cost more credits

Architecture Matching

• LoRAs and embeddings must match your checkpoint's architecture
• The system automatically filters compatible models
• If you change checkpoints, you may need to change LoRAs/embeddings

Performance Tips

• Use faster checkpoints (flux1s, hidreamfast) during development
• Switch to higher quality models (flux1d) for final production
• Balance quality needs with credit budget
• Reuse styles across multiple stories to maximize value

Consistency Tips

• Use the same style for a character throughout the story
• Override only when narrative requires visual changes
• Test character styles with different poses and expressions
• Ensure location styles complement character styles

Troubleshooting

"You must select a checkpoint model before saving"

• This error means no checkpoint is selected
• Click the search button in the Checkpoint section
• Select a checkpoint before saving

Style Doesn't Look as Expected

• Try adjusting LoRA weights
• Remove conflicting LoRAs
• Test with just the checkpoint first
• Try a different checkpoint architecture

Images Cost Too Many Credits

• Switch to a faster/cheaper checkpoint
• Reduce the number of LoRAs
• Use story defaults instead of entity-specific styles when possible

Style Changes Don't Appear

• Make sure you saved the style after making changes
• Click "Regenerate" to generate new images with the updated style
• Check that the style is applied at the correct level (story vs entity)

Advanced Techniques

Layering Styles

Combine multiple LoRAs strategically:

1. Base artistic style LoRA (watercolor, anime, etc.)
2. Lighting/atmosphere LoRA
3. Detail enhancement LoRA

Style Transitions

For dramatic story moments, change entity-specific styles:

• Normal scenes: Use story default
• Flashbacks: Apply sepia/vintage style
• Dream sequences: Apply surreal/artistic style
• Action scenes: Apply dynamic/high-contrast style

Credit Optimization

Balance quality and cost:

• Use cheaper styles for background characters
• Use premium styles for main characters only
• Use location defaults for common settings
• Save premium locations for key scenes

Summary

Custom styles give you complete control over your visual novel's appearance through:

• Checkpoints: The foundation - choose your base artistic direction
• LoRAs: Fine-tuning - add specific features and enhancements
• Embeddings: Specialization - improve specific concepts and subjects

Apply styles at different levels:

• Story-wide: Consistent look across all entities
• Entity-specific: Unique appearance for individual characters/locations

Remember: Start simple, test often, and build complexity gradually for the best results.