What is Midjourney?
Midjourney is an AI-powered tool that generates high-quality images from text descriptions (prompts). Launched to the public in 2022, the platform has become one of the industry's leading tools for artistic and creative visual production. You can create content across a wide range, from photographic realism to abstract art, conceptual illustrations to architectural designs.
Account Creation and Setup
To use Midjourney, you first need a Discord account. Create a free account at discord.com, then go to midjourney.com and click "Join the Beta." After joining Midjourney's official Discord server, you can start your free trial by selecting one of the #newbies channels. We recommend getting a paid plan; the basic plan is approximately $10 per month offering 200 GPU minutes monthly.
Creating Your First Image
Start by typing "/imagine" in a Discord channel and then enter an English description. For example: "/imagine a cozy coffee shop interior, warm lighting, wooden furniture, photorealistic". Midjourney will generate four different variations in seconds. U1-U4 buttons let you upscale an image, while V1-V4 buttons generate similar variations. Using short and clear descriptions in your early attempts gives better results.
Basic Parameters and Tips
To improve image quality, add parameters to the end of your prompt like "--ar 16:9" (aspect ratio), "--q 2" (quality), "--stylize 750" (artistic style intensity). Use phrases like "in the style of watercolor painting" or "cinematic photography" to specify style. For negative prompts, specify unwanted elements with "--no blur, watermark, text." Studying and adapting successful prompts from others will accelerate your learning process.
Practical Prompt Examples
We have tested these prompt templates and are sharing the ones that produce the best results:
- **Portrait:** "portrait of a young woman with freckles, golden hour sunlight, shallow depth of field, shot on 85mm lens, editorial photography --ar 2:3 --stylize 500" - **Landscape:** "breathtaking mountain landscape at sunrise, misty valleys, dramatic clouds, landscape photography by National Geographic --ar 16:9 --q 2" - **Product Photography:** "product photography of a luxury watch on a dark marble surface, studio lighting, reflection, ultra detailed --ar 1:1 --stylize 300" - **Architecture:** "modern minimalist house in the forest, floor-to-ceiling windows, warm interior lighting at dusk, architectural photography --ar 16:9" - **Fantasy:** "enchanted forest with bioluminescent plants, magical atmosphere, fairy tale illustration, detailed digital art --ar 9:16 --stylize 800"
You can copy each prompt directly and try it, then adapt it to your own needs.
Step by Step: Create Your First 5 Images
Now it is your turn! Follow these steps to gain your first experience with Midjourney:
1. **Simple portrait:** Type "/imagine a friendly golden retriever puppy, studio portrait, white background --ar 1:1". Review the result and upscale your favorite with U1-U4. 2. **Style experiment:** Add "in the style of watercolor painting" to the same prompt and see the difference. 3. **Aspect ratio test:** Try the same subject with "--ar 16:9", "--ar 9:16", and "--ar 1:1"; compare how the framing changes. 4. **Negative prompt:** Write a landscape prompt and add "--no people, text, watermark" to get a clean output. 5. **Stylize comparison:** Run the same prompt with "--stylize 100", "--stylize 500", and "--stylize 1000"; observe how AI's creative intervention changes.
Save the results of each attempt and compare them. By the end of a week, you will have discovered which parameters work best for you.
Key Points and Tips
- **Use English prompts:** Midjourney produces much better results with English prompts. If you want to write in another language, you can translate it first with ChatGPT. - **Start short, add detail:** Keep your first prompt to 10-15 words, then add more detail if you are not satisfied with the result. - **Know the version differences:** There are significant differences between Midjourney v5 and v6; v6 is more realistic and better at text rendering. - **Learn from the community gallery:** You can see other people's prompts at midjourney.com/explore and draw inspiration. - **Repeat command:** Use the "--repeat 4" parameter to run the same prompt 4 times and select the best result. - **Pan and Zoom:** Use pan buttons to expand the generated image; this lets you create panoramic views.
Frequently Asked Questions
**Is Midjourney free?** Midjourney no longer offers a free trial. The Basic plan costs approximately $10/month, Standard is around $30/month, and Pro is about $60/month. We recommend starting with the Basic plan and upgrading as needed.
**Can I use images generated with Midjourney commercially?** Yes, paid plan users can use their generated images commercially. However, images generated during the free trial period are for personal use only. Always review the license terms before commercial use.
**Can I use Midjourney outside of Discord?** Yes, Midjourney now also offers a web interface at midjourney.com. The web interface provides a more user-friendly experience and eliminates the need for Discord.
**My prompt did not produce good results — what should I do?** First, make your prompt more specific; instead of "a beautiful landscape," add details like "alpine meadow at golden hour, wildflowers, snow-capped peaks in background." Adding style and lighting descriptions also significantly improves the output.