15 Midjourney Parameters – A List with Examples And Tips
Writing prompts is only the first step, but mastering parameters is the key to becoming a Midjourney Pro.
In this guide, I’ll outline the most commonly used Midjourney parameters, explaining each with examples and comparisons.
This way, you’ll understand the effect and impact of specific parameters and the differences between their values. I’ve tested them all for you so you can confidently experiment with your creations.
If you are new to Midjourney, it’s recommended to read the Midjourney Commands List as well.
Quick Links in This Guide:
Overview and Parameters List | Aesthetic Parameters | Reference Parameters | Version & Quality | Composition Parameters | Efficiency Parameters
What are Parameters in Midjourney?
A Midjourney parameter, marked by starting with “–“, is appended to the end of your prompt as a special command. It guides the AI to create the image precisely as you want.
They function as precise controls for the creative process, enabling adjustments in style, aspect ratio, the level of creativity the AI applies to the output, and more.
If you’re creating Midjourney images on Discord, learning and using parameters is essential. While they’re powerful, they’re not immediately intuitive. However, if you’ve gained access to the new Midjourney Web app, you’ll find a dashboard with options that offer a much more user-friendly interface.
| Parameter | Explanation | Value Range | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| –raw | Minimizes default style alterations for more raw output. | N/A | N/A |
| –stylize | Adjusts Midjourney’s artistic style intensity. | 0 to 1000 | 100 |
| –weird | Engages experimental aesthetic modes. | 0 to 3000 | 0 |
| –chaos | Increases randomness in image grids. | 0 to 100 | 0 |
| –sref | Uses an image as style reference. | –sw (0 to 1000) | 100 |
| –cref | Maintains character consistency across images. | –cw (0 to 100) | 100 |
| –iw | Balances text and image prompt influence. | V6 (0-3), V5 (0-2) | 1 |
| –seed | Sets starting point for randomness, affecting consistency. | 0 to 4,294,967,295 | N/A |
| –v | Selects Midjourney model version for image generation. | Version specific | Latest |
| –quality | Adjusts image resolution and detail. | .25, .5, 1 | 1 |
| –ar | Sets the aspect ratio of the image. | e.g. 1:1, 3:4, 14:9.. | N/A |
| –no | Excludes specified elements from the image. | description | N/A |
| –tile | Creates images suitable for seamless tiling. | N/A | N/A |
| –repeat | Generates multiple images from the same prompt in a single request. | 2~40 Depends on plan | N/A |
Parameters Influencing Aesthetics and Design
1. –raw
What it does: This parameter reduces Midjourney’s default stylistic alterations, yielding images that are more aligned with the raw output from the underlying model. It’s like generating an image without applying any filters.
How to use it: Simply add –raw to your prompt. It acts as a toggle, so there’s no need for a numerical value.
When to use it: Opt for this parameter when you prefer a less stylized, more genuine interpretation of your prompt. It’s especially valuable for creating a more realistic or unadorned look, perfect for projects where a direct visual representation is advantageous.
2. –stylize (or –s)
What it does: Think of –stylize as a dial for the Midjourney’s default artistic style. Adjusting this can significantly alter the ‘feel’ of your images, from painterly to photorealistic.
How to use it: Add –stylize or –s, followed by a numerical value (for example, –s 100), to adjust the intensity of stylization.
Value Range: Ranges from 0 to 1000, with the default setting at 100.
3. –weird
What it does: Engages Midjourney’s experimental aesthetic modes, pushing the boundaries of conventional visual styles.
How to use it: Include –weird followed by a numerical value (e.g., –weird 50) to explore unique and unconventional aesthetics.
Value Range: Ranges from 0 to 3000, with the default setting at 0.
4. –chaos
What it does: Increases the randomness and unpredictability in the initial image grids, affecting elements like composition and theme. This will give you more inspiration.
A lower Chaos value results in four similar images in the initial grid, while a higher value means the generated images in the grid will vary more significantly.
How to use it: Add –chaos followed by a numerical value (e.g., –chaos 70) to introduce more variability into your generated images.
Value Range: Ranges from 0 to 100, with the default setting at 0.
Parameters for Image Prompt and Reference
5. –sref (Style Reference)
What it does: Uses an uploaded image as a direct reference for the style of the generated artwork.
Previously I wrote a guide about using Style Reference in Midjourney, check it out.
How to use it: Add –sref followed by the URL of an image to guide the AI with its style. To precisely control how much the style reference influences the generated image, pair it with the –sw (Style Weight) parameter. The value can range from 0 to 1000; the higher the value, the closer the resemblance to the reference image.
When to use it: This parameter is ideal when you want to mimic the style of a specific artist, artwork, or visual theme closely in your generated image, ensuring a consistent stylistic direction.
6. –cref (Character Reference)
What it does: Helps create consistent characters across various images by referencing a character’s appearance.
How to use it: Append –cref followed by the URL of a character image you’ve generated and wish to maintain consistency with in new creations.
Use –cw followed by a numerical value (0-100) to define how strongly the character reference should impact the generation.
When to use it: Ideal for projects requiring a recognizable character in different scenes or settings, ensuring the character remains visually consistent throughout your narrative or series.
7. –iw (Image Weight)
What it does: This parameter adjusts the balance between the influence of the image prompt and the text in your prompt, affecting the extent to which either the image or the text guides the AI’s creative process.
How to use it: Add –iw followed by a numerical value (usually ranging from 0 to 2) to tweak the emphasis placed on text versus image inputs.
· V6, Niji 6: 0-3
· V5, Niji 5: 0-2
When to use it: Use this parameter when you’re blending text and image prompts and want to fine-tune their relative influence on the resulting artwork. It offers precise control over how much inspiration the AI draws from each type of input.
8. –seed
What it does: The “seed” parameter in Midjourney sets the starting point for the AI’s random number generator, affecting the variability and consistency of generated images.
By assigning a seed value, you essentially instruct Midjourney to use that as a starting point for its random processes, leading to more controlled and predictable variations in the imagery it generates. This is particularly useful for creating a series of images with consistent styles or themes.
How to Use It:
To use the “seed” parameter in Midjourney, you simply add –seed followed by a specific numerical value to your prompt command. This numerical value is your chosen “seed” and can range from 0 to 4,294,967,295.
For more detailed guidance, including examples, please refer to my Midjourney seed tutorial.
Parameters for Versions and Quality
9. –v (Version) /–niji
What it does: Specifies the Midjourney model version to use for generating images. Use this parameter when you have a preference for the stylistic output or features of a particular version. Currently the latest Midjourney model is V6 Alpha.
If you’re aiming for an anime style, Niji 6 is your best choice. On the other hand, if you want to incorporate text into an image, V6 Alpha is the way to go.
How to use it: Add –v followed by the version number (e.g., –v 6) to your prompt. You can also select the model in /settings instead of adding parameter in your prompt. If you are using Niji model, type –niji 6 or 5 to switch to Niji.
10. –quality
What it does: Opt for this parameter when you require high-resolution images for printing purposes or prefer lower quality for faster drafts and iterations.
How to use it: Add –quality followed by a value (.25, .5, or 1) to your prompt.
Expert Tips: Since the default value is set to 1, I typically don’t adjust this parameter unless I’m aiming to reduce detail intentionally. For instance, when creating a children’s coloring book that requires simple line art, I opt to lower the quality value for a more minimalist output.
Composition Parameters
11. –ar (Aspect Ratio)
What it does: Sets the aspect ratio of the generated image, affecting its width and height. This is perfect if you are creating image for social media posts, wallpapers, or prints. If you don’t assign it, Midjourney will create images with a 1:1 ratio.
How to use it: Add –ar followed by the desired aspect ratio (e.g., 16:9, 1:1) to your prompt.
12. –no
What it does: Instructs Midjourney to exclude certain elements or subjects from the generated image.
How to use it: Add –no followed by the element you want to exclude (e.g., –no dogs, –no cars) to your prompt. It can also be used to avoid unwanted styles (e.g., –no cartoons, anime, drawings, paintings.)
Examples:
If you prompt “Manhattan street in the morning without cars” Midjourney might still include a few cars in the output. However, by adding “–no cars” after your text prompt, you ensure that the element of people is excluded from the result.
13. –tile
What it does: Generates images designed for seamless tiling, perfect for creating backgrounds and patterns.
How to use it: Simply append –tile to your prompt; no additional values are needed.
Parameters for Improved Efficiency
14. Toggles
The parameters for Relax/Fast/Turbo mode and Public/Stealth mode act as toggles, allowing you to switch between these modes for a single job as needed, without having to alter your overall settings.
- –relax
- –fast
- –turbo
- –public
- –stealth
15. –repeat
What it does: The –repeat parameter allows for the generation of multiple images from the same prompt in a single request.
How to Use It: Add –repeat followed by a number to your prompt to specify how many times you want (depending on your subscribed plan) Midjourney to process the prompt, resulting in that number of distinct outputs.
*You can’t use this parameter with Relax mode.
Last but Not Least: Keeping Pace with Midjourney’s Evolution
Keeping Up-to-Date with Midjourney Updates
- Midjourney Documentation: The official Midjourney documentation is your go-to resource for the most accurate and current information about parameters and features.
- Announcement Pages: Check Midjourney’s official website or Discord server for announcements on updates or changes.
Exploring Version-Specific Parameters
- Stay Updated: Midjourney frequently updates with new versions. Each can introduce unique parameters or alter existing ones. Regularly check the changelog to stay informed.
- Version Experimentation: If a parameter isn’t giving you the desired effect, try switching versions. Different versions of Midjourney can interpret the same parameters in subtly different ways.
Knowing all these commonly used Midjourney parameters can definitely level up your image generation. You have more control over the output. Don’t be afraid of testing different parameters and values, or combining multiple parameters to generate images. Hope this guide helps.
