Midjourney Prompts 101 (With Examples)
AI is everywhere. And you can leverage its power to profit with eCommerce, creating amazing images and selling them as digital art – or by customizing merch. But choosing the right tool and learning how to use it can be challenging.
We’ve got you covered. This article will explain what Midjourney AI is and how to write Midjourney prompts. Ultimately, you’ll be capable of creating stunning images with AI art and generating extra income online.
What Is Midjourney and How Does It Work?
Midjourney is a cutting-edge AI program that creates images with intricate details from natural language text prompts.
Although being one of the most recent systems of this kind, Midjourney quickly won its place with the most significant contenders like DALL-E or Stable Diffusion. Compared to its competitors, Midjourmey ads a unique flavor tending to the cinematic of its images, quickly making the platform a favorite among creators.
Forget about costly hardware and software – Midjourney works via Discord, the app chat initially focused on gaming.
However, unlike competitors, which generate some pictures for free, Midjourney requires subscribing to a plan before creating any image.
The Diffusion Model
Midjourney’s code is proprietary and closed-source, so little about its inner workings is known. Its machine-learning technology is partially similar to ChatGPT language and diffusion models.
A language model converts a text prompt to numeric vectors that the machine will understand. Then, the vectors guide the process of diffusion, which ends with image creation.
Diffusion means the AI creates a cloud of dots or pixels and gradually removes these pixels while shaping an image according to the prompt and its databank.
Although this seems pretty technical and theoretical, it is essential to understand how diffusion works, as it can be manipulated with parameters like <–stop> to get results closer to your goals – we’ll see more on that below.
The quality of the prompts, including text and parameters, will make the difference between mediocre and mesmerizing images.
What Are Midjourney Prompts?
A Prompt is a command phrase that Midjourney interprets to create an image. Prompts can be simple descriptive phrases or contain parameters and other pictures for comparison and styling.
A prompt comprises up to four elements – the command < /imagine >, image URLs, a text prompt, and parameters.
/Imagine
Every prompt starts with the command < /imagine >. A simple prompt looks like the following:
/imagine [ prompt A koala eating mango in the Sahara desert in the style of Picasso]
In this case, the prompt was made of </imagine> + <text prompt>, and returned the following image:
The Text Prompt
The Text Prompt, or text description, is the most crucial part of a Midjourney prompt. Use it to describe the image you want Midjourney to create. We’ll see that in more detail soon.
Advanced Prompts – URLs and Parameters
An advanced prompt adds to the other two elements and observes the following structure:
< /imagine > + < image URLs > + < text prompt > + < –parameter1 –parameter2 >
If you want Midjourney to resemble other pictures in style and content, or get consistent outputs with a series of photographs, insert image URLs to the prompt. An image prompt should always be the first element after < /imagine >.
Finally, the fourth component of a Midjourney prompt is the Parameters. It is possible to use them to change aspect ratios, quality, randomness, or even to avoid the AI inserting some specific element into the final result. Parameters always come at the end of the prompt after < — >.
How to Generate Images Using Midjourney Prompts
Next, we’ll go through the steps required to write prompts and generate images – from the basic configuration needs to commands and parameters.
Set Up Midjourney
First, you’ll need a Discord account to use Midjourney. Go to Discord.com, sign up, use it in your browser, or download the app – the last option is more convenient.
Go to midjourney.com and click on Join the Beta. That will send you to Discord; you need to join some server and room or open the Midjourney bot and generate your prompts in a chat directly with the bot.
Even prompts generated in a direct chat with the bot are posted on Midjourney’s server.
Depending on your subscription, you may set up the bot to create “private” results. That is the best option to make sure other people don’t copy your images before they are public – in case you intend to use them for commercial uses or as part of a project.
Private instances also help to feel more comfortable experimenting. However, they require a higher-tier plan.
To find the Midjourney bot, enter the Midjourney’s server, then look to the left of the users’ list – the bot will appear there as a user. Right-click on it, then, Message.
Adjust Your Settings
Once you’re in a chat with the Midjourney Bot, it is time to adjust your settings.
Type /settings, then tweak some options.
- First, choose the preferred version – usually the last one, although some prompts around the internet are set up with previous versions.
- Then, depending on the selected version, select the output image quality – Half, Base, or High Quality. Base quality is the standard option and fits most needs unless you require a very detailed illustration. Version 5 doesn’t give this option.
- Style is set up as med. Experiment with the setting to see how it affects the output style. That could be changed when generating a prompt using parameters (more below).
- Finally, turn Remix Mode on, enabling advanced settings and parameters.
Learn Midjorney Commands
Now it is time to start using some commands and generating prompts. The first command, /settings, you’ve already learned.
The most important commands we’ll focus on are /imagine and /describe.
/Imagine
To create a prompt, type /imagine – that will open a box where you type the prompt content. You must wait for the prompt box to open – copying the whole line with /imagine and pasting it won’t activate the bot.
After you type the prompt, Midjourney returns four images.
Below, there will be some buttons with U1, U2, U3, and U4 written in the first row and V1, V2, V3, and V4 in the second.
“U” stands for “Upscale” – click on the number of the image you like the most, and Midjourney will return an upscaled image of it.
Pro-Tip: although you can upscale the resolution, you can’t change the dots per inch (DPI) amount. To adjust your DPI, you can use any graphics editor (like Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Photopea, etc.) or use an online converter.
However, if you like some images but want to tweak them, click on the V button with the respective number. That will open the Remix prompt, which will let you adjust the prompt – for instance, you may take out some element of the image with the parameter –no or change the aspect ratio.
If you like an image and want it to be a style reference for future generations, you can download it and add it to the prompt or get its seed number.
To do that, click on the smile button “Add reaction” on the right, then click on the envelope button – if the button isn’t there, type “envelope” and click on it. That will send you a message in Discord with the image and seed number.
Then, copy the seed number and create another prompt, adding the parameter — seed and the seed number.
If you like the image but something still isn’t good – for example, some proportion of a person is wrong, try clicking Detailed upscale Redo or Remaster, or still an icon with two round arrows, depending on the Midjourney’s version. These commands will redo the picture.
/describe
Sometimes you will have a clear idea of how you want the final image to look, but creating the proper prompt seems impossible. No matter how much you paraphrase, the results are different than expected.
In these cases, the /describe command can be used to describe pre-existing images similar to the result you want to achieve and understand how Midjourney interprets them.
After typing the command, a drop and drag box will open.
Upload the picture to it, and Midjourney will return four options of prompts describing it. Choose the one that looks more accurate and tweak it.
The results are often a hit or miss, but they may help to create similar images or, at least, to understand how Midjourney understands it.
Understand Midjourney Parameters
Parameters are optional commands that change the final image. They always come at the end of the prompt.
Midjourney accepts more than one parameter. To add them, type double hyphens (–) or an em-dash (—) followed by the parameter name and specifics.
These are the most important Midjourney parameters:
1. Aspect Ratio
–aspect
–ar
This parameter changes the final picture’s aspect ratio (width-to-height proportion).
For this parameter, you must use whole numbers separated by a colon. The default value is 1:1. So if you want an aspect ratio of 1.5:1, use “150:100.”
Midjorney’s versions 5 and niji5 accept any aspect ratio, while version 4 works from 1:2 to 2:1.
These are some of the most popular aspect ratios:
–ar 1:1 – Default aspect ratio; returns square images.
–ar 3:2 – Landscape format; popular with print photography.
–ar 7:4 – Good for HD-TV and smartphone screens.
–ar 5:4 – Common for frames and prints.
2. Chaos
–chaos <0–100>
Increase variation and randomness in the results.
3. Image Weight
–iw
This parameter informs how important an uploaded image is compared to the text prompt. A higher value means the uploaded picture will have a bigger impact on the final results.
The default value is 1, but it can range from 0.5 to 2. Other Midjourney Version Models may have different ranges.
4. No
–no
Try to remove an element from the image. For example, use < –no trees > to get a landscape without trees.
5. Quality
–quality <.25, .5, or 1>
–q <.25, .5, or 1>
Change the rendering time and the final image quality. Creating a high-resolution image uses more GPU time from the subscription total.
The default value is 1.
6. Seed
–seed <integer>
Each image generated by Midjourney receives a seed number. Use this parameter to create similar images to the seed’s (see in Learn Midjorney Commands how to get an image’s seed).
7. Stop
–stop <integer from 10–100>
This parameter stops the rendering of an image halfway and can provide pictures both for interesting artistic results and for studying the diffusion and rendering process. The result will be blurred and incomplete.
8. Stylize
–stylize <number from 0-1000>
–s <number from 0-1000>
Defines how Midjourney’s default aesthetic style influences the final results. The default value (100) can be altered with the command </settings>.
Full of Ideas? Start a Print-on-Demand Business
10 Great Midjourney Prompt Examples
From surreal art to a futuristic city skyline with cinematic lighting, let’s go through some of the best Midjourney prompts, phrases, and cheat codes to help you on your creative journey.
Retro Games
Midjourney excels at creating game imagery. Try to mix several terms to achieve ultra-detailed isometric art:
- The phrase 1990s point and click 16bit adventure returns images in a retro, old-school pixeled game style.
- Add 32-Bit Isometric to create angled rooms with a retro look typical of video games from the mid-1990s and later.
Surrealism
Use this art style to create a surreal dreamscape resembling an oil painting with wild and hyper-detailed elements.
Cubism
One of the most exciting art styles in Midjourney. It creates pictures with vibrant colors and geometric shapes immersed inside.
Phantasmal Iridescent
This code adds a unique coloring with iridescent, white, blue, and pinkish lights, suitable for detailed niche illustrations such as gothic, horror, mystery, or fantasy styles.
Steampunk
Create retrofuturistic and alternative history scenarios by adding “steampunk” to your prompt:
Layered Paper
Create exciting textures and fancy paper art suitable as backgrounds, printables, canvas, and more, with the code “layered paper”.
Bauhaus
Writing prompts in the Bauhaus style will return buildings in clean lines and primary colors with modern materials such as glass or concrete. Add extra flavors with natural materials such as wood, and experiment with light for unique photographic results.
Cyberpunk
Emulate a futuristic cityscape from classics like Neuromancer, Blade Runner, and Matrix by adding the cyberpunk style to your prompt.
A as B
Use the “A as B” text prompts to materialize your creative vision and create new elements, from anthropomorphic animals to reinvented objects of daily life.
Art Deco
Write different prompts with the Art Deco style to create optimistic images and eye-catching compositions capturing the stylish imagery from the 1920-30s and its faith in humankind and progress.
Honorable Mentions
- Retrowave – get retro portraits full of neon lights.
- DuoTon – Creates a graphic design made with two colors only.
- Diagrammatic Drawing and Infographic drawing – create incredible images with schematics from animals to gadgets and everyday objects.
Pro-Tip: use the –stop parameter to slightly blur the rendering before its completion if necessary, as Midjourney can’t render text properly.
- Camera lenses – detail camera lenses and specifications for incredibly realistic results with epic detail and dramatic lighting.
- Watercolor sketch – Create beautiful images with pastel tones and subtle brush marks.
- Cinema directors – insert “in the style of <cinema director>” to get remarkable styles.
- Naive Art – Get children’s book illustrations and playful, exquisite results.
Midjourney Prompt Tools
There are several tools dedicated to the creation of Midjourney AI prompts.
The Facebook channel shares creations but not a Midjourney prompts list. However, in the subreddit dedicated to Midjourney, users share prompts, tips, and advice.
ChatGPT is a powerful tool for creating prompts. It requires describing the image you want to get but still can help produce stunning images with intricate details. To get prompts with ChatGPT, start writing the following sentence, and complete it:
“Write an image prompt for generative art to create “
Finally, FutureTools is one of the best repositories with AI tools. Select one or more areas of interest, choose free, open source, or paid options, type “Midjourney” in the search bar, then type Enter.
The search engine will return thousands of results with Midjourney prompts and other resources:
Some, like Artify, give a Midjourney prompts generator based on crude drawings and written descriptions, while others, like MidJourney prompt generator, take a simple entry and offer complex opinions and variants in different styles. By its turn, MJ Toolkit installs a Chrome extension, avoiding the need to use Discord.
Conclusion
And there you have it. By now, you’ve learned to create mesmerizing images with Midjourney prompts – from editing aspect ratios to employing different art styles. Put these new skills to good use, make epic AI art, and profit online by selling digital products or customized merch. Count on Printify to assist you with your POD store.
Make It Happen Today!
Written by
Andris Mucenieks
Share the article
Topics
3 comments
I loved the article and am excited to try Midjourney! Should I start using it on Mac or PC? We actually favor iPads in bed around here.
Fabulous information! Thank you Andris for this! I’m excited to go play with Midjourney and see what I can help create!
Hi there Annice,
We are happy to hear you liked the article!:)