Introduction: What is Midjourney?

Midjourney is a powerful AI image generation platform accessible via Discord. It's known for its artistic, stylized outputs and is popular among digital artists, designers, and content creators.

Chapter 1: Setting Up Midjourney

Step 1: Join Discord

  1. Create a Discord account at discord.com
  2. Download the Discord app (desktop or mobile)

Step 2: Join Midjourney

  1. Go to midjourney.com and click "Join the Beta"
  2. Accept the invitation to the Midjourney Discord server

Step 3: Subscribe

  1. In any #newbies channel, type /subscribe
  2. Click the link and choose a plan:
    • Basic: $10/month (200 generations)
    • Standard: $30/month (unlimited relaxed, 15 fast hours)
    • Pro: $60/month (stealth mode, 30 fast hours)

Chapter 2: Your First Generation

The /imagine Command

In any #newbies or #general channel, type:

/imagine prompt: a beautiful sunset over mountains --ar 16:9

Understanding the Grid

Midjourney generates 4 images (U1-U4 for upscaling, V1-V4 for variations):

  • U buttons: Upscale selected image
  • V buttons: Generate variations of selected image
  • 🔄 button: Rerun the prompt

Chapter 3: Basic Prompting

Prompt Structure

/imagine prompt: [SUBJECT] + [STYLE] + [SETTING] + [COMPOSITION] + [PARAMETERS]

Example:
/imagine prompt: a majestic lion --style raw --ar 16:9 --v 7

Essential Parameters

  • --ar [W:H] : Aspect ratio (--ar 16:9, --ar 9:16, --ar 1:1)
  • --v 7 : Midjourney version 7 (latest)
  • --style raw : More photographic, less stylized
  • --stylize [0-1000] : Controls artistic flair (default 100)
  • --chaos [0-100] : Variation between results (higher = more diverse)
  • --no [elements] : Exclude elements (--no text, watermark)

Chapter 4: Advanced Techniques

Image Prompts (Image + Text)

Upload an image to Discord, copy its URL, then use:

/imagine prompt: [IMAGE_URL] a professional headshot, studio lighting --ar 1:1

Remix Mode

Enable Remix Mode to modify prompts when generating variations:

  1. Type /settings
  2. Click "Remix Mode" to enable
  3. When you click V1-V4, you can edit the prompt

Multi-Prompts

Use :: to separate concepts with different weights:

/imagine prompt: cat::2 dog::1

(cat has twice the importance of dog)

Negative Prompting with --no

/imagine prompt: a beautiful landscape --no people, buildings, cars

Chapter 5: Upscaling & Post-Processing

Upscaling Options

  • U1-U4: Standard upscale
  • Upscale (Subtle): Light enhancement
  • Upscale (Creative): AI adds details
  • Upscale (Light): Similar to original

Pan, Zoom, and Vary

After upscaling, additional options appear:

  • Pan Left/Right/Up/Down: Extend the image
  • Zoom Out 1.5x / 2x: Zoom out with more context
  • Vary (Strong) / (Subtle): Generate variations

Chapter 6: Best Practices

  • Be descriptive: "photorealistic" vs "realistic"
  • Reference artists: "in the style of Studio Ghibli"
  • Specify lighting: "golden hour, soft lighting, dramatic shadows"
  • Mention cameras: "shot on Sony A7R III, 85mm lens"
  • Use image weights: --iw 1.5 (higher = more like referenced image)
  • Save your best prompts: Create a prompt library

Conclusion

Midjourney rewards experimentation. Don't be afraid to try wild prompts, combine techniques, and iterate. The more you practice, the better you'll understand how to communicate your vision.