⭐Anatomy of Midjourney Promps

Ever found yourself staring at the blank canvas of a Midjourney AI image generator, fingers hovering over the keyboard, and wondering, “What on earth am I supposed to ask this thing?”

I’ve been there too, friend. It’s like standing in front of a vending machine that dispenses art, but instead of inserting coins, you feed it words. And not just any words will do. You have to choose the right ones, in the right order. It’s a bit like casting a spell, really. Sometimes you hit the jackpot, and you’re rewarded with a masterpiece that’s more beautiful, more perfect, than anything you could have imagined. But other times, you might as well be asking a magic 8-ball.

This Midjourney prompting, as it’s known, is a bit of an enigma. It’s a dance, really, between you and the AI. You lead with your words, the AI follows with an image, and together, you create something unique. But the steps aren’t always clear. Do you ask for something simple, like “a sunset over the ocean”? Or do you get more descriptive, painting a picture with your words in the hope that the AI will bring your vision to life? Maybe you try a more structural approach, dictating the composition of the image like a director on a movie set.

And then there’s the inevitable tweaking. Oh, the tweaking! One minute, you’re adjusting a word here, a phrase there, and the next thing you know, you’ve modified your prompt so many times it’s practically unrecognizable. But when you finally get that image, the one that takes your breath away, it’s all worth it.

So, how do you crack this enigma? How do you master the art of the Midjourney prompting? I’ve got some insights to share with you, gleaned from many a late-night dance with the AI. So stick around, because things are about to get interesting…

Alright, let’s dive right in. Picture this. You’re standing at the controls, eyes locked on that blank canvas. Your fingers hover over the keyboard, then tap out a single, simple word: “chair”. Sounds basic, right? But stick with me here.

Now, to spice things up, you decide to crank the chaos dial up to 50. Why 50, you ask? Well, I’ve found that a mid-range chaos setting introduces just enough unpredictability to keep things interesting. It’s like adding a dash of hot sauce to your meal — not enough to burn your taste buds off, but just enough to make your tongue tingle.

The chaos argument, in this case, is our secret ingredient. It’s the wildcard, the element of surprise. It’s what makes the AI go, “Chair, huh? Alright, let’s see what I can do with that!” And trust me, when you’re dealing with AI, a little variety can go a long way.

Prompt: chair --c 50

So, we hit the enter key, lean back, and wait. And what we get is… well, it’s a chair, alright. Just as we asked. But it’s a bit like asking a chef to make you a sandwich and getting a slice of bread with a piece of cheese on it. Sure, it’s technically a sandwich, but it’s not exactly what you had in mind, right?

That’s the thing with midjourney prompting. If your instructions are too vague, the AI is left to fill in the gaps. And while it’s got a lot of skills, mind-reading isn’t one of them.

So, let’s get a little more specific. We’re going to give our chair a makeover. A fresh coat of paint, if you will. And what color will it be, you ask? Well, why not green? It’s bold, it’s vibrant, it’s the color of life. Plus, it’s my favorite color, but that’s beside the point.

Prompt: green chair --c 50

Alright, let’s see what we’ve got. Ah, yes, we’ve got green chairs alright. But they’re all over the place! Some of them look like they’ve been ripped out of an impressionist painting, while another is as crisp and clear as a high-resolution photo. It’s like a wild, eclectic art exhibit titled “Green Chairs: A Study in Chaos”. Fascinating, yes, but not quite what we’re aiming for.

You see, here’s the thing about Midjourney prompting. It’s a bit like dealing with a talented but slightly scatterbrained artist. You’ve got to be clear about what you want, or they’ll just go off on their own creative tangent. And while that can lead to some amazing surprises, it can also leave you scratching your head, wondering how on earth you ended up with a cubist interpretation of a green chair.

So, it’s back to the drawing board — or rather, the keyboard. We want a photo of a green chair, not a painting. We’re going for realism here. A tangible, touchable, sit-on-able green chair. And we’re not leaving until we get it. Ready to give it another go? Let’s do this…

Prompt: green chair | photography --c 50

Well, well, well, what do we have here? A green chair in the middle of a crop field? Now that’s something you don’t see every day. And look at this one, a lone green chair sitting pretty on an empty street, like a scene out of a surreal dream. You’ve got to hand it to the AI, it’s got quite the imagination.

But as much as I’m enjoying this unexpected green chair tour, it’s not exactly what we set out for. It’s like ordering a pizza and getting a gourmet burger instead. Sure, it looks delicious, but it’s not what your taste buds were primed for.

So, we’re going back in. We’re going to take our green chair on a little journey, right into the heart of a home. Picture a cozy living room, a warm fire crackling in the hearth, a soft rug underfoot. And right there, in the middle of it all, our green chair, inviting and comfortable. That’s the scene we want to paint for our AI artist.

Prompt: green chair | photography | living room --c 50

Ah, success! We’ve got our green chair in a living room. It’s starting to feel like we’re getting somewhere, isn’t it? But wait, it’s a bit… dark, isn’t it? Like we’ve stumbled into our living room in the middle of the night. It’s got a bit of an eerie vibe, like the opening scene of a suspense thriller. Intriguing, for sure, but not quite the inviting image we had in mind.

You know what this scene needs? A splash of sunshine. A burst of light streaming in through the windows, casting long, warm shadows on the floor. A cozy corner where you’d love to curl up with a good book, the sunbeams dancing on the pages.

So let’s try this again, shall we? We’re going to crank up the brightness, infuse our scene with the glow of a ‘bright daylight’. It’s like we’re the directors of our own movie, adjusting the lighting to set the perfect mood.

Prompt: green chair | photography | living room | bright daylight --c 50

Now we’re talking! Our green chair, basking in the glow of a bright daylight, is really starting to pop. It’s got a positive vibe, an energy that just wasn’t there before. But… there’s still something missing. Something that takes it from “good” to “great”.

So, let me let you in on a little secret. Did you know that our Midjourney AI artist can do impressions? Not of celebrities, but of cameras. Yes, you heard right! It can mimic the unique characteristics of different camera models, adding that special touch to your images.

Think about it. Each camera has its own unique way of capturing the world, its own ‘personality’, if you will. Some might give you crystal-clear, high-definition images. Others might lend a nostalgic, slightly blurred quality to your pictures.

So, let’s put our Midjourney AI to the test. We’ll feed it two new prompts, each one emulating a different camera model. On one hand, we’ll have the Nikon D850, a modern marvel known for its sharp, vibrant images. On the other, we’ll have a classic Polaroid, instantly recognizable for its soft, dreamy quality.

Prompt: green chair | photography | living room | bright daylight | Camera: Nikon D850 --c 50

Prompt: green chair | photography | living room | bright daylight | Camera: Polaroid --c 50

Now this is more like it! Our green chair, captured through the lens of two different cameras, each one adding its own unique flavor to the image. It’s like we’ve added the finishing touches to a masterpiece. But you know what? I’m not quite ready to put down my paintbrush just yet.

Why stop at a green chair when we can add a little more life to our scene? Let’s add another character to our story. And what better co-star for our green chair than a teddy bear? It’s a classic combination, like peanut butter and jelly, or movies and popcorn.

Imagine it. Our green chair, bathed in bright daylight, with a teddy bear perched comfortably on it. It’s a scene that evokes warmth, comfort, a sense of home. It’s like we’re not just creating an image, but a memory.

So let’s dive back in, shall we? We’re not just going down the rabbit hole here, we’re going down the teddy bear hole. Ready to add a little more magic to our masterpiece? Let’s do this…

Prompt: teddy bear on a green chair | photography | living room | bright daylight | Camera: Nikon D850 --c 50

Well, well, this is… interesting. We asked for a green chair with a teddy bear and we got… a turquoise chair with a teddy bear. It’s like ordering a green apple and getting a blueberry instead. Close, but no cigar.

But you know what? That’s the beauty of this whole process. It’s unpredictable, it’s surprising, it keeps you on your toes. And while our chair might have taken a detour through Turquoise Town, it’s all part of the journey.

So, we’re going to tweak our prompt again. But this time, we’re not just adjusting the color. We’re going to play around with perspective. Think about it. The way you look at something can completely change how you see it.

Now that’s more like it! Our green chair and teddy bear, seen from a fresh perspective, really start to come alive. It’s like we’ve stepped into the scene ourselves, seeing it with our own eyes. But, you know, we’ve come this far, so why stop now?

Let’s add a touch of drama to our scene, a sprinkle of special effects. And what could be more dramatic than water drops? Imagine it, the bright daylight reflecting off each drop as it falls, the soft patter of rain on the window, the cozy comfort of our green chair and teddy bear inside. It’s like we’re creating our own mini movie scene.

Well, I’ll be. That really worked, didn’t it? Our green chair scene, now with added water drops, is looking pretty fantastic if I do say so myself. But, you know what? I’m in the mood to push the envelope a bit further.

Let’s throw another curveball at our Midjourney AI artist. We’ve got our green chair, our teddy bear, our daylight, our fresh perspective, and our water drops. But let’s stir the pot a bit more. How about we add some falling leaves to the mix?

Picture it. Brightly colored leaves tumbling down, catching the light as they fall. Our scene, once just a simple image of a chair, transformed into a slice of life, full of color, movement, and energy. It’s like we’re breathing life into our AI creation.

Well, now, isn’t this a sight for sore eyes? We’ve got leaves falling, light streaming, water drops splashing… it’s a regular smorgasbord of sights and sounds. But hold on a minute… our green chair isn’t so green anymore. And wait, wasn’t there supposed to be a living room in there somewhere?

You see, that’s the thing with midjourney prompting. It’s a bit like herding cats. You’ve got to keep an eye on all the details, or things can go off the rails pretty quickly.

But not to worry. I’ve got one more trick up my sleeve. And that’s the stylize parameter. Think of it as the director’s cut. It lets us fine-tune our scene, make sure everything is just how we want it.

And we’re not just going to nudge it a little bit. Oh no, we’re going all the way. We’re cranking that value up to a thousand. It’s like giving our AI artist a megaphone and saying, “Make our vision come to life!”

So, back to the keyboard we go. We’ve got our green chair, our teddy bear, our daylight, our fresh perspective, our water drops, our falling leaves, and now, our maxed out stylize parameter. Ready to see what happens next? I know I am. Let’s dive in…

And there we have it, folks! The picture perfect image we’ve been aiming for. It’s got the green chair, the teddy bear, the daylight, the water drops, the falling leaves… it’s like we’ve been on a visual journey, and we’ve finally arrived at our destination. Hats off to Midjourney for pulling it off.

So what’s the takeaway here? Well, when you’re starting out on your Midjourney, you might not have a clear picture in mind. And that’s okay! Just throw in a short prompt, maybe a word or two, and see where it takes you. It’s like stepping onto a roller coaster without knowing where it’s going to take you. Exhilarating, right?

But maybe you’re the planning type. You’ve got a clear vision of what you want, a picture already formed in your mind. In that case, you want to start off with a longer prompt, maybe four or five words. Then, as you move along, add more elements, like building blocks. You’ll be able to see your creation taking shape, evolving, becoming more refined with each step.

But hey, once you’ve got your perfect image, don’t stop there. Shake things up a bit. Take something out, add something in. You might just surprise yourself with the results. Just take a look at the image below. We removed the teddy bear and the green chair, and look what we got. A brand new masterpiece!

At the end of the day, successful Midjourney prompting is all about experimentation. Start small, and gradually build on your ideas. Modify parameters one by one, and see how your image evolves. It’s a journey of discovery, of creation, of fun.

So, ready to start your own Midjourney? I know I am. Let’s get creating…

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Last updated 1 year ago