MidJourney

In today's fast-paced design world, Midjourney emerges as a versatile tool catering to various design needs. This platform not only simplifies the design process but also enhances the overall creative journey.

What is Midjourney?

Midjourney is an innovative tool that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to transform textual descriptions into visual masterpieces. Originating from an independent research institute, Midjourney's AI is designed to craft images based on textual prompts. This concept might remind some of other renowned projects like OpenAI's DALL-E or the open-source Stable Diffusion. The primary mode of interaction with Midjourney is through Discord Bot commands, making it easily accessible to a wide range of users.

The tool has seen various model versions, each aiming to enhance its efficiency, coherence, and quality. The latest model, V5.2, released in June 2023, is known for producing sharper and more detailed images with improved colors and compositions. It also offers a better understanding of prompts and is more responsive to various parameters. Earlier versions, such as V5.1 and V5.0, each brought their unique strengths, from high coherency to more photographic generations.

Furthermore, Midjourney offers specialized models like the Niji model, a collaboration with Spellbrush, designed specifically for anime and illustrative styles. This model boasts a vast knowledge of anime aesthetics and styles, making it perfect for dynamic and character-focused compositions.

How to Use Midjourney: A Quick Start Guide

1. Setting Up

Discord Account: Midjourney operates primarily on Discord. If you don’t have a Discord account, you'll need to create one. It's free to sign up.
Joining Midjourney: Visit the Midjourney website and opt to "Join the beta." This action will redirect you to a Discord invite specific to Midjourney. Accept the invite and proceed to Discord.

2. Navigating Midjourney on Discord

Once on Discord, locate the Midjourney icon (resembling a ship) on the left menu.
Within Midjourney's channels, find the "Newcomer rooms." These rooms, often labeled like “newbies-108,” are where you can start your journey.

3. Generate your first image

Before diving in, be aware of the limitations of the free trial. You can generate approximately 25 free images. Beyond this, a paid membership is required.
To initiate the AI image generation, type “/imagine” in the chat of your selected newbie room. This command opens a prompt where you can describe the image you envision. For optimal results, be as detailed and descriptive as possible.
After submitting your description, Midjourney's AI will take a moment to generate multiple image versions based on your prompt.

4. Interacting with Generated Images

Below the generated images, you'll notice a series of U and V buttons labeled from 1 to 4. These correspond to the images:
U Buttons: Used to upscale a chosen image, enhancing its resolution and clarity.
V Buttons: Generate a new version of the selected image.
If you find an image to your liking, you can upscale it (using the U button) and will then be presented with further options, such as making variations or further upscaling.

5. Saving and Managing Images

To save an image, direct message (DM) it to yourself on Discord by selecting the envelope emoji. This action allows you to download the image at your convenience.
For a comprehensive list of commands and interactions, type “/” in the chat. This will display all available commands you can use within Midjourney on Discord.

6. Subscription and Further Usage

If you find yourself frequently using Midjourney and wish to continue beyond the free trial, you can subscribe to one of their plans. To do this, type “/subscribe” in any of Midjourney’s Discord channels. This will provide a link guiding you to the subscription page.

How to Use Reference Photos in Midjourney?

Reference images play a pivotal role in guiding Midjourney's AI to generate art that aligns closely with a user's vision. By incorporating these images, users can better convey the desired style, composition, mood, colors, and other attributes they wish to see in the final output. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to effectively use reference images with Midjourney:

1. Uploading the Reference Image to Discord

Begin by uploading your chosen image to Discord. This can be done by either double-clicking on the plus (+) icon next to the text field or selecting the ‘Upload a File’ option.

After choosing the image file, press enter to upload it. This method is consistent for various file types, including .png, .jpg, and GIFs.

2. Copying the Media Link of the Image

Click on the uploaded image on your desktop and select ‘Open in Browser’. Ensure you copy the URL, which should typically end with extensions like .png or .jpg.

For mobile users on the Discord app, press and hold the image for 1–2 seconds to copy the media link. This link is crucial as it will serve as the image prompt for the Midjourney bot.

3. Initiating the Midjourney Bot with the /imagine Command

In the text field, type /imagine followed by pasting the image’s URL you copied in the previous step. This action prompts the Midjourney bot to initiate the image generation process using your reference photo.

4. Setting the Image Parameters and Adding Keywords

After pasting the URL, you can specify your image resolution and add relevant keywords. The image resolution influences the image weight, while the keywords guide the composition of the job. This step offers customization, allowing users to influence the variations of the generated images.

5. Letting Midjourney Bot Work Its Magic

Once you've input your prompt, the Midjourney bot starts the image generation process. It will then produce images that resonate with your reference. Additionally, you can use the blend command to merge different styles or elements.

6. Receiving Your Generated Images

After the bot completes its task, it will send you a direct message containing the generated images. You can then assess these images against your reference photo to see the resemblance.

Is Midjourney Free?

While it offers advanced features and capabilities, it is not entirely free. Previously, new users had the opportunity to access a limited free trial, but this has since been discontinued. As of now, Midjourney AI does not offer a free version.
However, there are ways to utilize some of its features without incurring costs. For instance, users can join the Midjourney Discord server and navigate to a newbie channel or add the Midjourney bot to their personal Discord server to access the service for free.
It's worth noting that there are limitations to the number of images that can be generated for free on this platform. After reaching this limit, users would need to opt for a paid subscription to continue generating images. The cost for Midjourney starts at $10 for the basic plan.

How to Cancel Midjourney Subscription?

If you've decided to cancel your Midjourney subscription, the process is straightforward.

Access the Midjourney Website: Start by visiting the official Midjourney website.

Sign In: Click on the "Sign In" button, usually located at the bottom right corner of the homepage.

Authorize Access: If you're already signed in to Discord, the Midjourney Bot will request permission to access your account. Click on "Authorize" to proceed.

Navigate to Subscription Management: Once signed in, click on "Manage Sub" located in the left sidebar of the dashboard.

Manage Your Plan: Here, you'll see details about your current plan, its features, and billing details. Next to these details, click on the "Manage" button.

Initiate Cancellation: An option labeled "Cancel Plan" will appear. Click on it.

Confirm Cancellation: A message will pop up explaining that your subscription will end at the conclusion of the current billing period. Click on "Confirm cancellation" to finalize the process.

Note: If you've used less than 1% of your monthly GPU minutes for the period when you decide to cancel, you might be eligible for a refund for that month's payment. In such cases, the final message will provide you with an option to either cancel immediately or retain the plan until the end of the month.

After canceling, unless you were eligible for a refund, you can continue to use your Midjourney plan until the end of the current billing period. Additionally, your generated images will not be deleted, and you maintain commercial rights to them.

Remember, always ensure you're making changes to subscriptions or plans while logged into the correct account to avoid any discrepancies or issues.

How to Write Midjourney Prompts?

Midjourney allows users to create images from textual prompts. The quality of the generated image largely depends on the effectiveness of the prompt. Here's a guide on how to craft effective prompts for Midjourney:

Be Specific: The more detailed your prompt, the more accurate the generated image will be. Instead of a vague "a cat," specify "a photorealistic portrait of a tabby cat with green eyes."

Use Keywords: Incorporate keywords that help Midjourney understand your vision. If you're aiming for an image of a cat, use terms like "cat," "feline," "whiskers," and "paws."

Incorporate Adjectives and Adverbs: These can add depth and detail to your prompt. For instance, "a photorealistic portrait of a tabby cat with green eyes, sitting on a windowsill in the sunlight."

Provide Examples: If possible, give examples to guide the AI. For instance, "a photorealistic portrait of a tabby cat that looks like this [link to a cat image]."

Experiment: Don't hesitate to try out different prompts. The more you test, the better you'll become at crafting effective prompts.

Specify the Desired Style: If you want an image in a particular style, use relevant keywords. For a Vincent van Gogh style, you might use "van gogh" and "impressionism."

By following these guidelines, you can harness the full potential of Midjourney and generate stunning images that align with your vision. Remember, the key is to be as descriptive and specific as possible to guide the AI in the right direction.

Who is Midjourney Best Suited For?

Designers and Artists: Whether you're a seasoned artist or someone who's never held a paintbrush, Midjourney can help bring your visions to life. It's especially useful when you have a concept in mind but lack the means or skills to visualize it.

Content Creators: For those in the content creation realm, be it bloggers, social media influencers, or advertisers, Midjourney offers a quick way to generate unique visuals tailored to your content.

Educators and Students: In educational settings, Midjourney can be a valuable tool for visualizing complex concepts, making learning more engaging and comprehensible.

Business Professionals: For presentations, reports, or marketing materials, Midjourney can provide custom visuals that can enhance the overall impact and clarity of your message.

Enthusiasts and Hobbyists: Even if you're just someone who loves to experiment and play around with new tech, Midjourney offers a platform to explore the boundaries of AI-driven art.

FAQs

How to Zoom in Midjourney?

Zooming in Midjourney is a feature that allows users to focus on specific details of an image. To achieve this:

Use the zoom parameter in your prompt.
Specify the desired zoom level. For instance, zoom=2 will double the size of the image, focusing on the center.
If you wish to zoom into a specific part of the image, you can use coordinates. For example, zoom=2,x=0.2,y=0.8 will zoom into the specified coordinates.

How to Modify an Image in Midjourney?

Modifying images in Midjourney is a blend of creativity and understanding the tool's capabilities:

Remixing: Midjourney offers a remix feature. By using the remix parameter followed by a value between 0 and 1, you can introduce variations to the generated image. A higher value will result in more drastic changes.

Using Reference Images: You can also use reference images to guide the AI. By providing a URL of a reference image and specifying how you want the AI to use it in your prompt, you can achieve desired modifications.

Adjusting Parameters: Parameters like brightness, contrast, and saturation can be adjusted to modify the final look of the image.

What is Midjourney Niji?

Midjourney Niji is a specialized mode within the Midjourney platform, tailored for creating anime-style artwork.

When Did Midjourney Launch?

Midjourney officially began its open beta phase on July 12, 2022. Before this, they launched a Discord server on March 14, 2022. The platform has undergone multiple updates: the second version was introduced in April 2022, the third in July 2022, the fourth's alpha iteration on November 5, 2022, and the fifth's alpha version as of March 15, 2023.