This guide offers a list of inspiring portrait styles, each with a sample prompt and output image, so you can easily pick and test your favorite.

To make the sample images in this guide, I used the character reference (cref) using my character and set the cw value to zero to maintain her facial features only. This way, you can see how different portrait styles influence the final result while keeping the same character.

faded_photograph_style

cyberpunk_style_with_neon

steampunk_style

nature_punk_style

dieselpunk_style

watercolor_style

oil_painting_style

pencil_sketch_style

ink_dripping_drawing

gritty_comic_book

charcoal_drawing_style

pointillism_portrait_style

Renaissance_art_style

naive_art_style

Yuga_style

Edo_period_woodblock_print

embroidery_portrait_style

mosaic_portrait_style

Roman_statue_style

superhero_style

vintage_rubber_hose_animation

modern_cartoon

3D_movie_character

vintage_film_still_style

cartoon_character_style

video_game_sprite

DMT_art_style

psychedelic_artwork_style

surrealism_style

low_poly_style

origami_style

Lego_figurine_style

vinyl_sticker_style

stock_photo_style

double_exposure_style

Polaroid_photo_portrait_style

golden_hour_style

Futuristic and Punk-Inspired Portraits

Cyberpunk:

Description: This style envisions a futuristic world where advanced technology and neon lights dominate the urban landscape. It reflects a high-tech night life filled with holograms and neon advertisements that illuminate the bustling streets.

Key Elements: Neon colors, cybernetic implants, holograms, and electronic billboards in shadowy alleyways.

a portrait of a woman in cyberpunk style, with neon-blue glowing eyes, cybernetic implants, and a futuristic cityscape in the background, featuring neon signs and holograms

Steampunk:

Description: An alternate reality where steam power merges with Victorian elegance, creating a retro-futuristic atmosphere.

Key Elements: Brass gears, steam engines, Victorian attire, and vintage goggles with ornate, mechanical inventions.

a woman in Victorian attire with brass goggles and a mechanical arm, in steampunk style, surrounded by gears, steam engines, and vintage clocks

Nature Punk:

Description: Nature Punk imagines a world where nature has intertwined with human advancements, creating a harmonious yet futuristic setting. It highlights the resurgence of natural elements in a tech-dominated world.

Key Elements: Flora and fauna, natural textures like wood and leaves, tribal-inspired styles, and eco-friendly technology.

a portrait of a woman in nature punk style, with tribal makeup, plant-like hair, and surrounded by lush greenery and flowers

Dieselpunk:

Description: Dieselpunk draws from the interwar and early to mid-20th century, envisioning a world where diesel engines dominate technology. It marries industrial aesthetics with art deco design, creating a retro-futuristic landscape rooted in an alternate history.

Key Elements: Streamlined machinery, art deco architecture, leather pilot jackets, gas masks, and smoky skies, enhanced by bold geometric shapes and vintage propaganda posters.

a woman in dieselpunk style, wearing a leather jacket and a gas mask, in a smoky industrial environment with streamlined machines

Traditional and Artistic Portrait Styles

Watercolor:

Description: Watercolor art is recognized for its fluidity and transparency, featuring soft washes of color that blend uniquely with water and paper.

Key Elements: Soft edges, gentle gradients, and an ethereal appearance often depict light, airy scenes or delicate subjects.

a portrait of a woman in watercolor style, with soft pastel colors, delicate brushstrokes, and flowing watercolor washes

Oil Painting:

Description: Oil painting, a classic medium, provides rich textures and vibrant colors through layered application. It’s known for its depth and fine detail.

Key Elements: Bold brushstrokes, visible textures like impasto, and layered colors that allow for realistic or expressive works.

a woman in oil painting style, featuring rich, layered colors, bold strokes, and realistic facial features

Pencil Sketch:

Description: Pencil sketches serve as foundational art, offering simplicity and precision for quick outlines or detailed studies.

Key Elements: Fine lines, intricate shading, and cross-hatching to build tones, with a monochrome palette emphasizing form and light.

a pencil sketch of a woman, with fine lines, detailed shading, and cross-hatching

Ink Dripping Drawing:

Description: This style utilizes ink’s fluidity to create dynamic, abstract forms that convey motion through dripping lines and varied weights.

Key Elements: Ink splatters, dripping lines (both controlled and random), and stark black-and-white contrast for movement and depth.

a portrait of a woman in ink dripping drawing style, with ink splatters, dripping lines, and a monochrome palette

Gritty Comic Book Art:

Description: Gritty comic book art adds raw texture to storytelling, often depicting darker or intense narratives.

Key Elements: Heavy inking, strong shadows, a moody color palette, and dynamic compositions that convey action and drama.

a portrait of a woman in gritty comic book art style, with heavy inking, a moody color palette, and dynamic poses

Charcoal Drawing:

Description: Charcoal drawing is loved for its rich blacks and wide range of shades, providing dramatic, high-contrast works.

Key Elements: Bold contrasts, soft gradations or sharp lines, and a smudgy texture that creates various effects.

a charcoal drawing of a man, with strong shadows, smudged lines, and deep shading

Pointillism:

Description: Pointillism is a technique using small, distinct dots of color to create images, exploring how the eye blends colors and tones.

Key Elements: Systematic or random dots of pure color, blending visually from a distance to form detailed scenes or portraits.

a pointillism portrait of a woman, using small dots of color to form the image, with intricate textures and high contrast

Historical and Cultural Portrait Styles

Renaissance Art:

Description: Renaissance art is recognized for its pursuit of realism and naturalism, emphasizing advancements in anatomy, perspective, and composition. It revives classical ideals and humanism.
Key Elements: Realistic proportions, chiaroscuro lighting (contrasting light and dark), rich attire, and religious or mythological themes.

a portrait of a woman in Renaissance art style, with realistic proportions, chiaroscuro lighting, and rich attire

Naive Art:

Description: Naive art employs a childlike and simplistic approach, focusing on imaginative interpretations rather than strict realism.
Key Elements: Simplified forms, bright contrasting colors, and imaginative backgrounds depicting everyday life with an untrained yet vivid style.

a portrait of a man in naive art style, featuring simplified forms, bright colors, and an imaginative background

Yūga Style:

Description: The Yūga style represents Japanese refinement and elegance, emphasizing simplicity and natural surroundings.
Key Elements: Delicate lines, traditional Japanese attire, and serene natural scenery, embodying harmony and timeless grace.

a portrait of a woman in Yūga style, with delicate lines, traditional Japanese attire, and natural scenery

Edo Period Woodblock Print:

Description: Edo period woodblock prints, or ukiyo-e, capture urban life’s pleasures and realities during Japan’s Edo period, focusing on entertainment, nature, and cultural figures.
Key Elements: Bold outlines, flat vibrant colors, and detailed landscapes or everyday scenes with a narrative focus.

a portrait of a woman in Edo period woodblock print style, with bold outlines, flat colors, and ukiyo-e landscapes

Roman Statue:

Description: Roman statues showcase classical features and lifelike textures, commemorating significant figures or deities.
Key Elements: White marble, classical facial features, and lifelike textures convey the grandeur and authority of ancient Rome.

a Roman statue of a woman, with classical features, white marble, and lifelike textures

Embroidery:

Description: Embroidery portraits mimic the intricate cross-stitch and needlework techniques used in textiles, producing delicate designs that appear hand-stitched.
Key Elements: Thread-like lines, fabric texture, and traditional patterns portraying culturally or historically significant subjects.

an embroidery portrait of a woman, resembling a cross-stitch fabric with thread-like lines and traditional patterns

Mosaic Art:

Description: Mosaic art arranges small, colored tiles to create detailed scenes, evoking ancient Roman and Byzantine art.
Key Elements: Tiled patterns, bright hues, and detailed imagery that convey significant cultural and historical themes with rich narratives.

a mosaic portrait of a woman, using small colored tiles to create a vibrant pattern and detailed imagery

Pop Culture and Media-Inspired Portraits

Superhero Style:

Description: Drawing from comic book culture, this style captures the larger-than-life energy of heroes in dynamic poses.
Key Elements: Bold poses, comic book line work, dynamic backgrounds, and vibrant costumes reflecting heroism.

a portrait of a superhero in superhero style, with bold poses, comic book line work, and a dynamic background

Vintage Rubber Hose Animation:

Description: Reflecting early animation of the 1920s and 1930s, this style features characters with rubber hose-like limbs and exaggerated expressions.
Key Elements: Simple shapes, fluid lines, exaggerated expressions, and a monochrome or limited color palette.

a portrait of a woman in vintage rubber hose animation style, with simple shapes, exaggerated expressions, and fluid lines

Modern Cartoon:

Description: This style captures the colorful, detailed animation of modern TV and film, offering a bright, engaging aesthetic.
Key Elements: Bright colors, high contrast, and smooth shading bring characters to life with bold flair.

a modern cartoon portrait of a woman, with bright colors, high contrast, and smooth shading

3D Movie Character:

Description: Inspired by computer-animated movies, this style focuses on realism with fully rendered textures for a cinematic effect.
Key Elements: 3D modeling, detailed textures, and realistic lighting add depth and physicality.

a 3D movie character portrait of a woman, with detailed textures, realistic lighting, and cinematic shading

Vintage Film Still:

Description: Vintage film stills transport viewers to the early-to-mid 20th century with a nostalgic glimpse into classic cinema.
Key Elements: Grainy textures, monochrome tones, and cinematic lighting capture a vintage movie atmosphere.

a portrait of a woman in vintage film still style, with grainy textures, monochrome colors, and cinematic lighting

Children’s Cartoon Character:

Description: This style is reminiscent of whimsical characters in children’s shows or picture books.
Key Elements: Playful expressions, bright hues, and whimsical backgrounds capture the spirit of childhood storytelling.

a children's cartoon character portrait of a man, with playful expressions, bright hues, and whimsical backgrounds

Retro Video Game Sprite:

Description: Inspired by 8-bit and 16-bit early video games, this style has a nostalgic digital aesthetic.
Key Elements: Pixel textures, limited color palettes, and geometric forms that echo iconic video game characters.

a retro video game sprite portrait of a woman, with pixel textures, limited color palette, and geometric forms

Experimental and Abstract Portrait Styles

DMT Art Style:

Description: DMT art is inspired by surreal, hallucinogenic imagery, creating intricate and vibrant otherworldly patterns.
Key Elements: Psychedelic backgrounds, vivid patterns, and dream-like figures blur reality and fantasy.

a portrait of a woman in DMT art style, with psychedelic backgrounds, vivid patterns, and dream-like figures

Psychedelic Artwork:

Description: Reflecting the 1960s counterculture, psychedelic art features imaginative scenes with mind-altering aesthetics.
Key Elements: Kaleidoscopic colors, flowing lines, and geometric patterns evoke altered states of perception.

a portrait of a woman in psychedelic artwork style, with kaleidoscopic colors, flowing lines, and geometric patterns

Surrealism:

Description: Surrealism blends realistic and dream-like elements, creating thought-provoking compositions.
Key Elements: Juxtaposed objects, unexpected combinations, and otherworldly landscapes blur reality and imagination.

a portrait of a woman in surrealism style, with juxtaposition of realistic and dream-like elements, in an otherworldly setting

Low Poly Style:

Description: Low poly art simplifies subjects into geometric shapes, reducing detail while maintaining recognizable forms.
Key Elements: Faceted shapes, minimal colors, and polygonal forms capture an abstract digital aesthetic.

a low poly style portrait of a woman, with faceted shapes, minimal colors, and polygonal forms

Origami Style:

Description: Origami style draws from Japanese paper folding, turning characters into geometric, folded forms.
Key Elements: Folded textures, geometric shapes, and paper-like materials convey the simplicity of origami.

a portrait of a woman in origami style, with folded textures, geometric shapes, and paper-like materials

Lego Figurine:

Description: This style reimagines subjects as blocky, plastic characters like the iconic construction toys.
Key Elements: Plastic textures, blocky forms, and simple facial features capture the playful spirit of the toys.

a portrait of a woman in Lego figurine style, with plastic textures, blocky forms, and simple facial features

Vinyl Sticker:

Description: Vinyl sticker art mimics the look of collectible decals with bright colors and thick outlines.

Key Elements: Vibrant hues, thick outlines, and playful poses make characters look like collectible stickers.

a vinyl sticker portrait of a woman, with vibrant colors, thick outlines, and playful poses

Realistic Photography Styles

Stock Photo:

Description: Stock photo style captures everyday scenes in polished, highly realistic ways suitable for commercial use.

Key Elements: Neutral lighting, plain backgrounds, and realistic yet simple poses.

a stock photo portrait of a woman, with neutral lighting and a plain background, in a realistic pose

Double Exposure Photograph:

Description: Double exposure style blends multiple images to create artistic compositions, often merging subjects with nature or cityscapes.

Key Elements: Multiple exposures, blending effects, and layered backgrounds to produce intricate visuals.

a double exposure photograph of a woman, with layered blending effects and natural elements in the background

Polaroid Photo:

Description: Polaroid photo style mimics instant film photography from classic Polaroid cameras, complete with vintage filters.

Key Elements: Vintage filters, high contrast, and a distinctive white border that resembles Polaroid prints.

a Polaroid photo portrait of a woman, with vintage filters, high contrast, and a white border

Golden Hour:

Description: Golden hour style captures the warm, glowing light that appears just after sunrise or before sunset, making portraits radiant and flattering.

Key Elements: Warm tones, long shadows, and radiant light to enhance natural beauty.

a portrait of a woman in golden hour style, with warm tones, long shadows, and radiant light

Faded Photograph:

Description: Faded photograph style recreates vintage photography with a nostalgic, aged appearance.

Key Elements: Desaturated colors, sepia tones, and grainy textures that mimic an old photograph.

a faded photograph of a woman, with desaturated colors, sepia tones, and grainy textures

Wrapping Up

Exploring different portrait styles opens a vast world of creative possibilities, allowing you to capture the essence of your subjects in exciting and unique ways. Whether it’s the neon-lit streets of a cyberpunk city or the flowing washes of watercolor art, each style brings its own distinct flavor and flair.

Don’t hesitate to experiment and blend these styles together to develop your own signature aesthetic. By combining traditional and futuristic elements or blending abstract and realistic approaches, you can create stunning and imaginative portraits that stand out.

It’s about finding that sweet spot where clarity meets creativity, making your ideas come alive on the canvas. From clear beginnings to adding that sprinkle of creativity, we’re here to make your Midjourney prompts not just good, but spellbindingly great.

Basic Principles for Beginners | Prompts Examples | Advanced Commands and Parameters

Basic Principles for Beginners

Understanding Prompt Structure

Start Simple. Begin with a clear, concise description of what you want. Focus on the main subject, setting, and any specific details you envision. This basic structure guides the AI effectively. Here is an example if you are new to Midjourney.

Step 1: Start Simple

Basic Prompt:

A dog

This is your starting point. It’s straightforward and tells Midjourney you want an image of a dog. The AI has complete freedom within the concept of “dog,” so the result could be any dog, in any setting, doing anything.

Step 2: Add a Detail

Enhanced Prompt:

A golden retriever in a park

Now, we’re getting more specific. You’ve identified not just any dog, but a golden retriever, and you’ve placed it in a setting – a park. This gives Midjourney a bit more direction, narrowing down the potential outcomes to match your vision more closely.

Step 3: Add More Details

Detailed Prompt:

A smiling golden retriever with a frisbee in its mouth, running in a sunny park.

At this stage, you’ve painted a much clearer picture. You’ve specified the dog’s breed, activity (carrying a frisbee), emotional state (smiling), and the setting’s atmosphere (a sunny park). Each detail added guides the AI more precisely towards the image you’re envisioning.

Further Detailing

Highly Detailed Prompt:

A joyful, sunlit scene of a fluffy golden retriever, with a bright blue frisbee in its mouth, sprinting across a lush green park, with children playing in the background

Here, you’ve dialed in the emotion (joyful), light (sunlit), dog’s appearance (fluffy), object detail (bright blue frisbee), action (sprinting), environment (lush green park), and even included background activity (children playing). This level of detail significantly influences the AI’s output, aiming for a very specific scene and mood.

What to Remember:

As you add more details, you’re essentially narrowing down the AI’s creative freedom to match your vision more closely. However, it’s a balance – too much specificity might restrict the AI’s creative interpretations, while too little may result in a broad range of outcomes. Experiment with different levels of detail to find what best suits your needs and enjoy the process of discovery!

/describe is your friend

For those just starting their journey with Midjourney, using the /describe command offers a fascinating peek into the AI’s “mind.”

This command essentially allows you to upload an image and receive a description of what the AI sees.

So, don’t hesitate to use /describe to delve deeper into the workings of Midjourney—it’s a simple yet powerful way to sharpen your prompt crafting skills.

Newbies Pitfalls:

Don’t Overemphasis on Details. Overloading prompts with too many details can confuse the model or lead to a loss of focus on the main subject. Prioritize the most critical elements of your vision and use additional details sparingly and purposefully.

Examples and Detailed Guides for Optimizing Your Prompts

1. Experiment with Medium-Specific Prompts

Artistic Influence: Medium Influence: Use prompts that specify artistic mediums or techniques to shape the visual texture and technique of the image. This approach focuses on emulating the physical properties and visual effects of different mediums, from the soft gradients of watercolors to the bold lines of ink sketches.

Examples of Medium-Specific Keywords:

• Oil Painting
• Photo
• Pencil Drawing
• Sketch
• Watercolor illustration
• Cartoon
• Lineart
• Anime
• Poster
• Sticker
• Logo

2. Style/Movement

Artistic Influence: Reference specific art styles, periods, or movements to direct the aesthetic and thematic elements of the image. This strategy taps into the historical and cultural contexts of various art forms, from the emotional expressiveness of Impressionism to the geometric abstraction of Cubism.

Examples of Style/Movement-Specific Keywords:

• Impressionist
• Photorealistic
• Surrealist
• Art Nouveau
• Gothic
• Baroque
• Cubism
• Abstract
• Minimalist
• Futurism
• Rococo

3. Utilize Color and Light

Color Theory: Mention specific colors or light qualities to enhance the visual impact. Describing the light source or dominant colors can change the mood.

Examples of Color and Light Keywords:

• Cinematic lighting
• Professional lighting
• Warm sunlight
• Cool moonlight
• Neon glow
• Pastel hues
• Saturated colors
• Soft shadows
• Harsh contrasts
• Golden hour
• Twilight blues
• Amber streetlights
• Monochromatic

4. Camera Angles, Perspective and Composition

Use Cinematic Angles: Camera angles can dramatically alter the narrative or emotional weight of an image. They can imply power, vulnerability, or dynamism.

Examples of Camera Angle Keywords:

• Selfie
• Bird’s-eye view
• Worm’s-eye view
• Point-of-View (POV)
• Close-up
• Wide-angle
• Side view
• Over-the-shoulder shot
• First-person perspective
• Panoramic view
• Depth of field

5. Camera Brands and Styles

Mention Specific Brands or Camera Types:

Each brand or type of camera brings its own color science, contrast, and texture to photos, which can be hinted at in your prompts for a desired effect.

Examples of Camera Keywords:

• Canon colors – Known for their vibrant and warm color palette.
• Nikon sharpness – Emphasizes clarity and detail.
• Leica contrast – High contrast and a distinct, classic look.
• Sony dynamic range – Captures a wide range of light to dark.
• Fujifilm simulations – Mimics analog film colors and textures.
• Polaroid instant – For that nostalgic, slightly faded effect with border.
• Kodak film – Evokes the classic film look with rich colors.
• GoPro action – Wide-angle and dynamic, perfect for capturing movement.
• DJI drone – Aerial perspectives with crisp, clear imagery.
• Lomography lo-fi – Creates dreamy, soft-focus, and vignette effects.

6. Emphasize Image Quality and Detail

Boost Resolution and Detail: Utilizing keywords related to image quality and detail can instruct Midjourney to produce outputs that are not only visually stunning but also boast an impressive clarity and intricacy. These descriptors signal the AI to prioritize high-definition rendering and lifelike details in the generated images.

Examples of Quality and Detail Keywords:

• 4K – For high-definition clarity that brings out the finest details.
• 8K – Pushes the boundary further, offering ultra-high-definition results.
• HD render – Ensures the image is rendered with high definition, perfect for crisp visuals.
• Ultra-detailed – Commands the AI to focus on the minutiae, making every element of the image pop.
• Ultra-photoreal – Aims for the zenith of photorealism, making the artificial indistinguishable from reality.
• Intricate details – Encourages the rendering of complex patterns and textures with precision.
• Photorealistic – For images that mimic the look and feel of a high-quality photograph.
• Ultra-sharp – Enhances edge definition and detail for an impressively clear image.

7. Experiment with Material and Texture

Specify Textures: Mentioning specific materials or textures can bring a sense of realism or fantastical element to the image.

Examples of Material and Texture Keywords:

• Velvet night sky
• Glass-like lake
• Rusty metal
• Shiny silk
• Rough stone
• Fluffy clouds
• Gleaming ice
• Transparent crystal
• Weathered wood
• Polished marble

8. Play with Scale and Proportion

Alter Scale: Playing with the scale of objects can create surreal or impactful visuals. Mentioning giants, miniatures, or unusual sizes can produce interesting effects.

Examples of Scale Keywords:

• Gigantic moon
• Tiny people
• Oversized flowers
• Miniature city
• Colossal statues
• Microscopic world
• Infinite staircase
• Endless horizon
• Shrinking potion effect
• Magnified raindrops

9. Incorporate Elements of Storytelling

Add Narrative Elements: Suggesting a backstory or a narrative element can add depth and intrigue to the image.

Examples of Storytelling Keywords:

• Abandoned ruins
• Lost treasure
• Ancient ceremony
• Future dystopia
• Mythical creature encounter
• Secret garden
• Time travel portal
• Space exploration
• Medieval festival
• Underwater civilization discovery

10. Emphasize Mood and Atmosphere

Convey Emotion: Use adjectives that evoke the desired mood or atmosphere. This helps the AI understand the emotional tone or setting you aim for.

Examples of Mood Keywords:

• Serene
• Bustling
• Melancholic
• Vibrant
• Dreamy
• Eerie
• Cozy
• Majestic
• Tranquil
• Mysterious

11. Vintage and Analog Qualities

Evoke a Time Period:

Use vintage or analog to suggest a time period or aesthetic, from grainy black-and-white to the saturated colors of the ’70s.

To evoke specific time periods or aesthetics in your Midjourney prompts, you can use keywords that reference distinctive styles, technologies, and cultural markers of those eras.

Examples of Time Keywords:

• Victorian elegance – Captures the sophistication and detailed designs of the late 19th century.
• Roaring ’20s glamour – Evokes the glitzy, vibrant energy and fashion of the 1920s.
• ’50s Americana – Brings to mind the optimistic, bold colors and styles of post-war America.
• Swinging ’60s – References the revolutionary fashion, music, and cultural shifts of the 1960s.
• Psychedelic ’70s – For the bold, saturated colors and groovy patterns of the 1970s.
• ’80s neon glow – Captures the bright neon colors and dynamic energy of the 1980s.
• Grunge-era ’90s – Evokes the gritty, rebellious spirit and fashion of the early to mid-1990s.
• Y2K aesthetic – Reflects the futuristic optimism and digital age aesthetics of the late ’90s to early 2000s.
• Renaissance artistry – Brings the detailed, humanistic art and innovation of the Renaissance period to life.
• Art Deco sophistication – For the geometric elegance and luxury of the 1920s and 1930s Art Deco movement.

12. Cultural and Historical References

Incorporate Cultural Themes: Drawing from diverse cultural backgrounds or historical periods can introduce a rich layer of context and authenticity.

Examples of cultural and historical Keywords:

• Renaissance fair
• Japanese Edo period
• Ancient Egyptian mythology
• Victorian England
• 1920s Art Deco
• Nordic Viking lore
• Afrofuturism
• Ancient Greek architecture
• Medieval Gothic cathedrals
• Traditional Chinese gardens

13. Integration of Technology and Futurism

Futuristic Concepts: Experiment with visions of the future, technology, and sci-fi elements to push the boundaries of imagination.

Examples of Futurism Keywords:

• Cyberpunk
• Futuristic cityscapes
• Robotic
• Advanced AI interactions
• Interstellar travel portals
• Bioluminescent technology
• Post-apocalyptic survival
• Virtual reality landscapes
• Alien ecosystems

Tips for Effective Prompt Writing

Experimentation: Don’t hesitate to experiment with different prompt structures, styles, and parameters. This trial-and-error process is crucial for learning how Midjourney responds to various inputs.

Inspiration from Examples: Look at examples of prompts and their outputs shared by the community. This can give you ideas for structuring your prompts and understanding how slight changes can impact results.

Iterative Refinement: Start with a basic prompt and iteratively refine it based on the outputs. This approach helps in honing in on the exact style, mood, or detail you’re aiming for.

Synonyms and Variations: If the initial prompt doesn’t yield the desired outcome, try using synonyms or slightly different descriptions to guide the AI towards your intended vision.

Using synonyms can subtly change the prompt’s focus or mood, while variations that add detail can guide the AI towards more specific interpretations. Experimenting with synonyms and adding or altering details can help you refine your vision and explore a broader range of artistic possibilities with Midjourney.

Advanced Techniques for Experienced Users

Utilizing Advanced Parameters and Commands

1. –sref (Style Reference)

This parameter allows you to specify a style reference through a URL, influencing the AI to generate images that mimic the style of the referenced image.

Without Parameter:

futuristic car poster

They look nice but not the style I want. I’d like to create a watercolor illustration like the following image.

So I included it as a style reference using –sref.

With Parameter:

A cozy mountain cabin at sunset --sref https://example.com/style_reference.jpg

Using a style reference guides the AI to incorporate the mood, color scheme, and textural elements of the reference image, potentially altering the aesthetic to match the referenced style more closely. Check out my detailed Midjourney style reference guide here.

2. Image Prompt

Directly influences the style and content of the generated images by incorporating the visual information from an uploaded image. This technique is powerful for guiding the AI towards a specific composition or detail not easily conveyed through text.

I shared a comprehensive guide for using image prompts in Midjourney, check it out.

Adding an image URL at the beginning of the prompt signals the AI to draw inspiration from the image, blending its style, colors, and composition with the conceptual direction provided by the text prompt.

3. –chaos

Adjusts the level of randomness and unpredictability in the generated images. Values range from 0 (least chaotic) to 100 (most chaotic).

Without Parameter:

A serene mountain landscape at sunrise

With Parameter:

A serene mountain landscape at sunrise --chaos 70

The added chaos introduces unexpected elements or variations, potentially adding more dynamic clouds, wildlife, or even fantastical elements.

4. –ar (Aspect Ratio)

Specifies the aspect ratio of the generated image, affecting its width and height. Common values include 16:9, 4:3, or 1:1.

Without Parameter:

Midjourney will use the default 1:1 aspect ratio:

A bustling city street at night

With Parameter:

A bustling city street at night --ar 16:9

The aspect ratio parameter tailors the output to a widescreen view, offering a broader perspective of the city scene.

5. –quality or -q

Controls the rendering quality and detail level of the image. Higher values increase detail at the cost of more processing time. You can play around with values 0.25, 0.5 and 1 to compare the output quality.

Without Parameter –q .25

A detailed close-up of a dragonfly on a leaf --q .25

With Parameter –q 1

A detailed close-up of a dragonfly on a leaf --q 1

Using a higher quality setting enhances the details, making textures and colors more vivid and precise.

6. -no

Excludes specific elements or subjects from the generated image.

Without Parameter:

A lively urban road after dark, aglow with neon signage.

With Parameter:

A lively urban road after dark, aglow with neon signage. --no car

This parameter ensures the scene is devoid of any human figures, focusing solely on the natural landscape. It’s more efficient than using negative words such as ‘without car, no car’ in text prompts. As you can still see cars in the following output.

7. –style

Influences the aesthetic style applied to the image. Can specify styles like “raw” for less processing or artistic influences.

Without Parameter:

children coloring book, cute dog in a gardon, thick lines, simple illustration

With Parameter:

children coloring book, cute dog in a gardon, thick lines, simple illustration --style raw

The ‘raw’ style aims for a more natural look with minimal stylistic interpretation, focusing on realism.

8. –seed

Sets a seed number to control the randomness factor, allowing for reproducible results. If you don’t specify a seed number, Midjourney will automatically generate a random one for each creation.

You can find out the seed number used by reacting with the envelope emoji in the chat.

For a deeper understanding of how this parameter works, take a look at my detailed Midjourney Seed Guide.

The seed ensures that any variations of the prompt with the same seed number will generate similar thematic elements.

9. –tile

Description: Creates images that can be tiled seamlessly, ideal for patterns or backgrounds.

Without Parameter:

happy and funny emoji

With Parameter:

happy and funny emoji --tile

This command is tailored for creating patterns that seamlessly connect at the edges, perfect for wallpapers or fabric designs.

10. –niji

The –niji parameter engages Midjourney’s specialized Niji model, designed for creating anime-style images. When you apply this parameter, you signal Midjourney to produce artwork with the vibrant, expressive qualities characteristic of anime, from the art style to thematic elements.

Without Parameter:

A knight standing in a mystical forest.

This straightforward prompt is interpreted through Midjourney’s default lens, yielding a broad range of artistic styles.

With Parameter:

A knight standing in a mystical forest --niji 6

Adding –niji 6 transforms the prompt to specifically utilize the latest Niji model, ensuring the output is infused with anime-style aesthetics, including character designs and environmental art typical of this genre.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that you’re not limited to using parameters in prompts to switch between models. You can also adjust your settings in Midjourney to default to the Niji model for all your creations, making it easier to consistently produce anime-inspired art. This flexibility allows users to explore a wide range of visual styles seamlessly.

Examples of Combining Elements for Nuanced Outcomes

Here are more examples of complex prompts for experienced users. These examples demonstrate how to use specific parameters, styles, and creative concepts to push the boundaries of what Midjourney can generate:

A close-up of a dragon's scales, shimmering in the sunlight with iridescent colors, captured with macro photography to highlight the intricate textures and patterns --stylize 250 --ar 4:3

The Colosseum under the Milky Way, blending ancient Roman architecture with a starry night sky, wide-angle, dynamic perspective –ar 16:9

An abandoned Victorian mansion at twilight, the fading light casting long shadows, highlighting the eerie, haunted atmosphere, shot on a Canon EOS to capture the intricate details and textures --ar 16:9

These examples showcase how to leverage Midjourney’s capabilities to create visually compelling, detailed images that draw on a wide range of inspirations, styles, and technical specifications.

Keep Learning and Practicing

Midjourney Documentation: Start with the official Midjourney documentation. It’s a comprehensive guide that covers everything from getting started to advanced techniques.

Midjourney Web app, Community Forums and Discord Channels: Midjourney’s official Discord server and web app are invaluable for real-time advice, inspiration, and feedback from a vibrant community of users.

Explore Other Users’ Artwork: Exploring artwork on the Midjourney web app and noting down prompts used by others is an excellent way to learn and stay inspired. Observing how different prompts are constructed and the resulting images can broaden your understanding of how Midjourney interprets input, encouraging experimentation with your prompts.

Practice Regularly: Regular use of Midjourney not only builds your skills but also helps you stay familiar with its interface and functionalities, making it easier to adapt to new updates.

Encouragement of Trial and Error: Not every prompt will yield perfect results, but each attempt provides insights into how Midjourney interprets input.

And there you have it—a compass through the vibrant landscape of Midjourney, where your words are the brush and the vast digital canvas awaits your imagination. This guide was just the beginning, hope it is helpful for you. Keep experimenting, keep creating, and most importantly, enjoy every step of this artistic adventure. Happy creating!