Midjourney Prompting Guide
Master the art of crafting effective prompts for Midjourney AI image generation.
This guide will help you create stunning AI-generated images with Midjourney by mastering prompt crafting techniques and understanding key parameters.
Understanding Midjourney
Midjourney is an AI image generation model that creates images from text descriptions. The quality and style of the generated images heavily depend on how well you craft your prompts.
Note:
Midjourney V6 introduces significant improvements in photorealism, accuracy, and coherence. The prompting techniques in this guide are optimized for V6 but work across all versions.
Key Prompting Components
Subject Description
Clearly describe your main subject. Be specific about what you want to see in the image. For example, instead of "a cat," try "a Persian cat with long, fluffy white fur sitting regally."
Style and Medium
Specify the artistic style, medium, or technique. Examples: "oil painting," "digital art," "pencil sketch," "photography," "3D render."
Lighting and Atmosphere
Define the lighting conditions and mood. Example: "dramatic sunset lighting," "soft ambient light," "moody chiaroscuro."
Composition and View
Describe the camera angle, perspective, or composition. Example: "wide-angle shot," "close-up macro," "aerial view," "Dutch angle."
Advanced Parameters
Aspect Ratio
Control your image dimensions using these aspect ratios:
--ar 1:1- Square format (default)--ar 16:9- Widescreen landscape--ar 9:16- Portrait orientation--ar 3:2- Standard photography ratio
Image Quality and Detail
--q 1- Regular quality (faster)--q 2- High quality (slower)--s 100-1000- Control the level of detail (higher values = more detail)
Style Control
--style raw- Minimal artistic interpretation--style 4a/4b/4c- Different aesthetic styles--niji- Anime/illustration style
Prompt Structure Best Practices
- Basic Structure:
[Subject] [Action/Pose] [Environment], [Style], [Lighting], [Camera Angle] --ar [ratio] --q [quality]
- Adding Details:
[Main Element], [Material], [Color], [Size], [Additional Details], [Artistic Style], [Lighting], [Atmosphere]
Example Prompts
Portrait Photography
Professional portrait of a young woman, soft natural lighting, shallow depth of field, shot on Hasselblad, Kodak Portra 400 film simulation --ar 4:5 --q 2
Fantasy Landscape
Mystical floating islands with waterfalls, ancient ruins covered in bioluminescent plants, ethereal atmosphere, golden hour lighting, epic wide shot, fantasy concept art --ar 16:9
Product Visualization
Minimalist white ceramic coffee mug on marble surface, soft gradient background, product photography, studio lighting setup, commercial photography style --ar 1:1
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Overcomplicated Prompts: Keep prompts clear and focused
- Contradictory Terms: Avoid conflicting style descriptions
- Vague Descriptions: Be specific about important details
- Missing Key Elements: Include style and composition information
Tips for Better Results
- Start with basic prompts and iterate based on results
- Save successful prompts as templates
- Experiment with different parameter combinations
- Use reference images with
--iwfor style matching
Note:
Midjourney has content policies that prohibit certain types of images. Always review the guidelines to ensure your prompts comply with platform rules.
Version-Specific Features
V6 Capabilities
- Enhanced photorealism
- Better prompt understanding
- Improved coherence
- More accurate text rendering
- Better handling of complex scenes
Best Practices for V6
- Use natural language descriptions
- Focus on detailed subject descriptions
- Leverage new style mixing capabilities
- Experiment with subtle parameter adjustments
Iterative Refinement
- Start with a basic concept
- Analyze the generated image
- Adjust parameters and descriptions
- Use variations to explore alternatives
- Refine based on preferred elements