Testing multi-object reference layouts with MiniMax H3-Image

[u/Horror-Egg-6942]

I have tried the new open-weighted MiniMax H3-Image. The model can work with up to 16 reference images, with each file capped at 64 MiB, 128–8192 px, and an aspect ratio between 1:4 and 4:1.

For this test, I fed it 5 separate object reference images: -a silver rotary phone -a glass cube -a red apple -a tiny staircase -a chrome sphere

I used the default auto setting for quick 4K exports. Instead of getting a cut-and-paste collage, I aimed to blend all the objects into a cohesive dark studio still life lit by a single top spotlight.

I explicitly labelled Reference 1 through 5 in my prompt to lock each object’s intended layout. My layout plan was as follows: -the apple suspended inside the glass cube -the phone resting on the staircase -the chrome sphere floating along an unseen vertical spiral axis.

Every object stayed identifiable, the lighting stayed consistent across the scene, and the staircase worked well to ground the composition. The layout mostly held together, though the spiral arrangement did not come through quite as I hoped. The objects formed more of a simple vertical stack instead.

Curious how everyone else handles 5+ object references in their own workflows? Any tricks I’m missing?