hen to use a fabric or material swap
Fabric and material swaps let you show the same piece of furniture in different colourways or upholstery options without reshooting. Upload a swatch of the new material and tell the AI exactly which part of the product to update — the seat cushion, the sofa body, the table legs, or any other component.
Step 1: Upload a reference swatch
Add a close-up image of the new fabric or material as a reference image. This gives the AI a clear visual target to match against.
In your prompt, briefly describe the material and its surface texture. Calling out whether the fabric is flat, smooth, or has a natural wrinkle helps the AI render it realistically.
Step 2: Call out the specific part to change
Don’t just say “change the fabric.” Be precise about which part of the furniture should be updated. The more specific you are, the better the result.
Good examples of specific callouts:
“the seat cushion on the dining chair”
“the sofa upholstery”
“the legs of the dining table”
“the headboard fabric”
“the armrest and seat cushion”
Step 3: Protect everything else
Always tell the AI to keep the rest of the product and scene unchanged. If your product is on a white background (a product cutout), say “keep the white background the same.” If it’s in a lifestyle scene, say “keep the rest of the scene the same.” This prevents the AI from altering parts you didn’t intend to change.
Examples
✅ Good prompt: change the seat cushion on the chair to match the fabric in @reference. The reference fabric is a natural linen with a soft, relaxed wrinkle. Only change the seat cushion, keep the rest of the chair and the background exactly the same |
This works because it identifies the exact part to change (seat cushion), describes the material texture (natural linen, soft relaxed wrinkle), references the swatch image, and protects everything else.
✅ Good prompt: swap the sofa upholstery to the olive velvet in @reference. The velvet has a smooth, flat pile. Only change the sofa fabric, keep the legs, cushions shape, and the rest of the scene the same |
Another strong example: it names the specific component (sofa upholstery), describes the material (olive velvet, smooth flat pile), and explicitly protects the legs, cushion shape, and surrounding scene.
❌ Bad prompt: change the fabric to something different |
This gives the AI almost nothing to work with. Which fabric? Which part of the product? What material? What about the rest of the image? The result will be unpredictable.
Which model to use
Start with the Fast model for fabric swaps — it handles most material changes well and gives you quicker iterations. If the Fast model struggles with the swap (for example, if the texture isn’t rendering accurately or the material boundary is bleeding into other parts), switch to the Quality model for a more precise result.
Tips for the best results
Upload a clear, well-lit swatch. Avoid swatches with heavy shadows or folds that obscure the true colour and texture.
Describe the texture. Use words like “flat”, “smooth”, “natural wrinkle”, “tufted”, “nubby”, or “brushed” to help the AI render the material realistically.
Be surgical with your target. Name the exact component: “seat cushion”, “back panel”, “armrests”, “the base fabric only.”
Always protect the rest. Add “only change [part], keep the rest of the chair/sofa/scene exactly the same” to every fabric swap prompt.
Try Fast first, then Quality. The Fast model is usually sufficient. Switch to Quality only if the texture or material boundary needs more precision.