The Complete Guide to Midjourney: Usage, Features, and Getting Started

Midjourney has emerged as one of the leading AI image generators, transforming how artists, designers, and creatives bring their visions to life. This comprehensive guide explores how to use Midjourney, its features, pricing, and official platforms.

What is Midjourney?

Midjourney is an AI-powered text-to-image generation tool that creates stunning visual content from text descriptions. Founded by David Holz, it launched in 2022 and quickly gained recognition for its exceptional image quality and artistic interpretation capabilities. Unlike many AI image generators, Midjourney excels in creating images with artistic flair, detailed textures, and imaginative compositions that often resemble professional artwork.

Official Platforms and Access

Official Website

The official website for Midjourney is midjourney.com. Here you can find information about the service, showcase examples, and access documentation. However, it’s important to note that you cannot generate images directly on the website.

Discord Integration

Midjourney operates primarily through Discord, a popular communication platform. This unique approach contributes to its community-driven nature. To use Midjourney:

1. Join the official Midjourney Discord server via their website
2. Navigate to one of the “newbies” channels or any available “general” channel
3. Type commands to generate images within the Discord chat

Midjourney Web App

In 2023, Midjourney introduced a web application that provides an alternative interface for subscribers. While still maintaining Discord functionality, the web app offers:

• A cleaner interface dedicated to image generation
• Better organization of your created images
• More intuitive controls for beginners

To access the web app, you need an active subscription and can log in through the official website.

Getting Started with Midjourney

Basic Commands

The foundation of using Midjourney is the /imagine command. Here’s how to start generating images:

1. Type /imagine in a Discord channel where Midjourney bot is active
2. Add your prompt (text description) after the command
3. Press enter to submit your request

For example: /imagine a medieval castle on a floating island with waterfalls, sunset, cinematic lighting

Understanding the Interface

After submitting your prompt, Midjourney will generate a grid of four image variations. Below these images, you’ll find several options:

• U1, U2, U3, U4: Upscale any of the four variations to higher resolution
• V1, V2, V3, V4: Create new variations based on one of the four images
• 🔄: Regenerate the entire set of images
• ⭐: Save the image to your favorites

Advanced Parameters

To refine your results, Midjourney accepts various parameters within your prompts:

• Aspect Ratio: --ar 16:9 sets specific width-to-height ratios
• Quality: --q 2 adjusts the rendering quality and time (0.25-2)
• Stylize: --s 750 controls how strongly Midjourney’s style affects the image (0-1000)
• Chaos: --c 25 adds randomness to the interpretation (0-100)
• Seed: --seed 123456 uses a specific seed number for reproducible results
• Version: --v 5 specifies which Midjourney model version to use

Example with parameters: /imagine beautiful mountain landscape with lake reflection --ar 16:9 --v 5 --q 2

Subscription Plans and Pricing

Midjourney operates on a subscription model with different tiers:

Basic Plan ($10/month)

• Approximately 3.3 hours of GPU time
• Standard response times
• Access to general features

Standard Plan ($30/month)

• Approximately 15 hours of GPU time
• Faster response times
• Access to all features

Pro Plan ($60/month)

• Approximately 30 hours of GPU time
• Priority processing
• Maximum speeds
• Private image generation option

Mega Plan ($120/month)

• Approximately 60 hours of GPU time
• Highest priority in queue
• Fastest possible generation
• Ideal for professional or commercial use

All plans provide access to the Discord server and the web app, with the main differences being GPU time allocation and processing priority.

Advanced Features and Techniques

Image Prompting

Beyond text prompts, Midjourney allows image prompting to influence style and content:

1. Upload an image to Discord
2. Copy the image URL
3. Use the format: /imagine [image URL] a castle in the style of the reference image

This technique is particularly useful for matching specific styles or incorporating elements from existing images.

Remix Mode

Remix mode allows you to modify aspects of your prompt while keeping others constant:

1. Generate an initial image
2. Use the “Remix” button
3. Edit specific portions of your prompt
4. Generate a new version that maintains certain elements while changing others

Multi-Prompting

Midjourney supports complex prompting techniques:

• Weight adjustments: Use :: to assign different weights to prompt elements
• Negative prompting: Use --no to specify elements to exclude

Example: /imagine beautiful forest landscape::1.5 with ancient ruins::0.8 --no fog, people

Tips for Optimal Results

Crafting Effective Prompts

1. Be specific: “A cyberpunk cityscape with neon signs and flying cars at night with rain” works better than “futuristic city”
2. Reference art styles: Mention artists, art movements, or visual media to guide the style
3. Describe lighting and atmosphere: Terms like “golden hour lighting,” “moody,” or “dramatic shadows” significantly impact the result
4. Use descriptive adjectives: Words like “intricate,” “detailed,” or “vibrant” help refine the output
5. Specify camera settings: Terms like “wide-angle,” “telephoto lens,” or “macro photography” affect the composition

Avoiding Common Issues

1. Prompt length: While detailed prompts help, extremely long ones can confuse the AI
2. Conflicting elements: Contradictory descriptions may produce unpredictable results
3. Copyright considerations: Avoid requesting specific copyrighted characters or exact replicas of existing artwork
4. Text in images: Midjourney struggles with coherent text; use parameters like --no text if necessary

Community and Learning Resources

One of Midjourney’s strengths is its vibrant community. Within the Discord server, you can:

1. Gallery channels: View exceptional images created by other users
2. Discussion channels: Ask questions and share techniques
3. Showcase your work: Share your best creations and receive feedback

Additional learning resources include:

• Official Midjourney documentation
• Community-created guides and tutorials
• YouTube tutorials focusing on prompt engineering for Midjourney

Commercial Usage and Rights

Midjourney grants users certain rights to their generated images, which vary by subscription level:

• Basic and Standard plans: Images can be used commercially by individuals or small businesses with revenue under $1 million annually
• Pro and Mega plans: Expanded commercial rights, including options for private generation

All users are granted a non-exclusive license to their generated content, though Midjourney retains certain rights as well.

Conclusion

Midjourney represents a powerful tool in the creative arsenal of artists, designers, and visual storytellers. By understanding its interface, mastering prompt engineering, and exploring its advanced features, users can create stunning visual content that bridges the gap between imagination and reality. Whether you’re a professional artist seeking inspiration or a business needing visual assets, Midjourney offers an accessible pathway to high-quality AI-generated imagery.

As AI image generation continues to evolve, Midjourney remains at the forefront, consistently improving its algorithms and expanding its capabilities through regular updates. By joining the Midjourney community, you gain not only access to cutting-edge AI technology but also connection to a network of creative individuals pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the realm of visual creation.