What is Midjourney?

How to Use Midjourney – Ai Text To Image Generator – Beginner's Guide

Midjourney is an independent research lab dedicated to exploring new mediums of thought and expanding human imagination. This small, self-funded team led by David Holz focuses on design, human infrastructure, and artificial intelligence (AI), with 11 full-time staff and an impressive set of advisors.

Midjourney uses machine learning algorithms to generate high-quality images in various styles from text prompts. It only takes a few seconds to generate four images! You can then generate different variations and upscale your pictures for better quality. Midjourney has also been trained on millions of images, enabling it to develop varied and highly detailed images.

Another unique aspect of Midjourney is that it uses Discord. Discord is convenient for those already with an account and great for collaboration, as you'll see others generating images in real-time.

The downside to Discord is that it may be confusing and overwhelming for new users. Luckily, Midjourney recently released a new Web App that offers a more seamless user experience. The Web App still requires you to create a Discord account, but the interface is much cleaner, and you'll still be able to interact and create with the community in the different rooms available.

Since its launch in July 2022, Midjourney has grown significantly and continues to break new ground in blending AI with human creativity. This unique platform is an excellent resource for digital artists, content creators, and businesses wanting their visuals to pop.

Who is Midjourney Best For?

Midjourney is a powerful tool for anyone from professionals to hobbyists who want to be on the cutting edge of generating high-quality images:

• Digital artists can use Midjourney as a playground to explore and experiment with various art styles.
• Graphic designers can use Midjourney to create stunning visuals for web design, branding, and marketing materials.
• Businesses can use Midjourney to enhance branding and marketing with visually appealing images that stand out. For example, companies can create engaging images for social media, captivating website visuals, and high-quality marketing materials that match their imagination!
• Content creators can use Midjourney to produce unique, striking images that enhance their written articles and social media posts.
• Authors can use Midjourney to visualize their stories by generating book covers, illustrations, and scene depictions. The platform's ability to emulate various art styles ensures the visuals complement the story's tone and mood.
• Game developers can use Midjoruney to create captivating characters, environments, and special effects. The platform sparks new ideas and helps in shaping virtual worlds and levels.
• Hobbyists can use Midjourney to explore their artistic side and create personal projects. The platform allows experimentation with different art styles and provides tools for designing unique images for websites, blogs, social media, or just for fun!

Key Features

Midjourney stands out from other AI image generators for a few reasons.

• AI Image Generator: At the heart of Midjourney is its ability to turn simple text prompts into original, high-quality images. Tell Midjourney what you want to create using natural language descriptions, and after a few seconds, Midjourney will generate four images that fit your description! No artistic talent or outsourcing is required to create stunning photos instantly.
• Mimic Art Styles: Midjourney makes mimicking art styles easy. For example, if you want to generate images in Van Gogh's style, you can include them in your text prompt. For any style you want to mimic, you can use the Style Reference parameter (–sref) along with the URL of a publicly accessible image following the text section of your prompt.
• Refinement Options: Once your images have been generated, you can get Midjourney to create variations and upscale them with the click of a button. Once upscaled, Midjourney will present you with different options to create subtle or strong variations, change a specific region, zoom in or out, or extend the image in any direction.
• Discord-Based: Midjourney's functions on Discord, which is not only great for connecting with the community but allows you to create, improve, and share images from many people's favorite chat applications.
• Web Application: Midjourney recently released its web application for those new to image generation who want a more seamless user experience. This application makes image generation more straightforward for those who don't want to learn the different parameters.
• Continuous Improvements: Midjourney keeps getting smarter through machine learning, which means users know they are on the cutting edge of AI technology.

How to Use Midjourney to Generate Images

Here's how I joined the Midjourney Discord community, generated four unique images from a text prompt, and upscaled one of the generated images:

1. Join the Midjourney Discord
2. Claim Your Discord Account
3. Get Your Midjourney Membership
4. Go to a “Newbie” Bot Channel
5. Add Your Text Prompt
6. Generate Images
7. Upscale Images
8. Make Further Refinements

Step 1: Join the Midjourney Discord

I started by going to the Midjourney homepage and selecting “Sign Up” on the bottom right.

Next, I selected “Continue with Discord.” Images generated with Midjourney are only accessible through the Discord bot, so you must have a Discord account to use Midjourney.

Signing up for Discord is easy and free! Just sign up using your email and create a password.

From there, I created a display name for what people should call me on Discord and hit “Continue.”

Step 2: Claim Your Discord Account

After creating my Midjourney account, I had to claim and verify it by clicking on “Claim Account” and signing up with my email and password. Claiming my account only took a minute, and I could send messages to the server!

After creating and claiming my Discord account, Midjourney took me to the “#getting-started” channel. I appreciated the welcoming message to the Midjourney community and step-by-step guidance.

Step 3: Get Your Midjourney Membership

Midjourney won't generate images unless you have a membership. To get one, I selected the hyperlink “Get your Midjourney membership” in the “#getting-started” channel.

After clicking the link, Midjourney took me to the showcase, where I logged into my account by clicking the account icon on the bottom left.

After logging into my Discord account, I selected the account icon again and hit “Manage Subscriptions.”

Midjourney took me to the Pricing page, where I could choose between monthly and annual Midjourney subscriptions. Since I'm just trying things out, I subscribed to the most basic plan with monthly billing. You can always return to your account settings and cancel your plan, so there's no risk!

If you're not interested in using Discord to generate images with Midjourney, you can use the new Midjourney Web App for a more seamless user experience.

Step 4: Go to a “Newbie” Bot Channel

Back on Discord, I went to one of the “newbie” channels. I found a bunch by scrolling down on the left panel. These channels are all pretty much the same, so it doesn't matter which one you choose.

Step 5: Add Your Text Prompt

In the blank message field, I typed in “/imagine” and described what I wanted Midjourney to create: “Whimsical cloud carnival with candy rides, pastel sky, fantastical costumes, and playful animals.” The more descriptive your text prompt, the more accurate your results will be!

Note that if you add “/” to the message field, you'll get more options to explore in addition to image generation. I'd also highly recommend exploring Midjourney's Quick Start Guide for more!

Step 6: Generate Images

After hitting “Enter” on my keyboard, Midjourney got to work and generated these four images in a matter of seconds based on my prompt:

I honestly couldn't believe these images' high level of detail and realism, especially after only taking a few seconds to generate!

By default, Midjourney generates images that are 1024×1024. To tell Midjourney the aspect ratio you'd like your image to have, include the “–ar” (or “–aspect”) parameter along with the aspect ratio at the end of your text prompt.

Step 7: Upscale Images

After generating my images, I noticed some buttons underneath them. I could get Midjourney to regenerate all the images, upscale them, or create variations of individual photos.

“U” indicated “Upscale,” while “V” indicated “Variation.” These letters also had numbers next to them, with “1” for the top left image and “4” for the bottom right.

I liked the image generated at the top left and wondered how Midjourney's upscale tool would perform. I selected the “U1” button.

Midjourney successfully enlarged the first image it generated for me within seconds without affecting image quality! The quality and level of detail looked stunning.

Step 8: Make Further Refinements

After upscaling, I was presented with even more refinement options for making subtle or strong variations, creating variations on a specific image region, and zooming in or out. You can select one of the arrows to extend the image in any direction without changing the original content (outpainting).

I could save this image by right-clicking and selecting “Save Image.”

Top 5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Midjourney

Here's my advice on how to make the most of Midjourney:

1. When giving instructions, be as clear and detailed as possible. The more precise your prompts are to Midjourney, the closer the images will be to what you imagine. Try to include all the crucial details that can help guide it better.
2. Don't stick to just one style; experiment with different art styles! Midjourney can imitate various artistic expressions, so experimenting with diverse prompts lets you discover unique visual paths for your creations.
3. After creating an image, don’t stop there! Use Midjourney’s refinement options to tweak and personalize those images further. Try experimenting with variations and adjustments to perfect their appearance according to how you want them.
4. Explore the different Midjourney Discord channels. The Midjourney Discord has between one and two million active users you can connect with and confide in if you need help. By sharing your work and getting feedback, you'll gain new insights to spark more creativity within yourself from seeing other people's projects, too!
5. Midjourney is constantly coming out with new features and continuous updates every few months, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on these changes so that nothing slips past you. Check the Midjourney “announcements” channel on Discord for the latest!

You can also join this weekly AI newsletter to discover prompts and the latest Midjourney updates.

Midjourney Advanced Features

Midjourney has fantastic tools that make generating images much more fun and personalized. Let's dive into what these are and how you can use them:

• Use remix mode by typing in the “/prefer remix” command to tweak your prompt after seeing each batch of variations. You can use this to adjust the setting or lighting of an image, edit subjects, or create more challenging compositions.
• Using zoom-in or out and directional pan buttons, you can zero in or out on certain parts of a picture or create more context. It's great for making sure everything looks just right!
• The vary buttons allow you to experiment with different versions of that image. This opens up a whole world of creative possibilities based on your vision!
• Once you've got an image grid full of options, hitting the “U” button lets you pick an image to enlarge to higher quality. From there, right-click on the image and hit “Save Image” to save it to your device.

Top 3 Midjourney Alternatives

If you're wondering what else is out there, here are the best Midjourney alternatives I've tried. I recommend you consider them!

GetIMG

Generate Original Images at Scale with getimg.ai | Getimg.ai Demo

My first recommendation for Midjourney alternatives is GetIMG. Both GetIMG and Midjourney use advanced AI technology to generate high-quality images and offer tools for refining and customizing them. They also foster community engagement and provide guides and resources to help maximize your creative potential.

Here are the impressive image generations I made with GetIMG using the text prompt “Medium portrait shot of a golden retriever wearing a hat”:

I couldn't believe how realistic these images looked!

Both platforms generate high-quality images and come with robust image editing features. However, GetIMG is more user-friendly than Midjourney. For example, the 80+ AI models GetIMG offers I could sift through made choosing a style that aligned with my vision easier.

GetIMG also offers 100 credits per month for free just for signing up! No Discord account is required.

You used to be able to generate up to 25 images with Midjourney for free. However, due to its surge in popularity, the Midjourney free trial is no longer available. You must now pay at least $8 monthly (billed annually) to generate images with Midjourney.

However, when it comes to community, Midjourney has an edge. While GetIMG and Midjourney offer Discord communities to collaborate with others, ask questions, and share your work, Midjourney has a much larger active community of one to two million members. Meanwhile, GetIMG has a community of roughly 2,000 members, which is much smaller.

For a more user-friendly experience that doesn't require a Discord account, offers a free plan, and provides a wide range of features, choose GetIMG. If you're comfortable using Discord and seek strong community support with flexibility in image generation, choose Midjourney. Both platforms generate stunning photos with lots of detail, so you can't go wrong with either!

ArtSmart

PoseCopycat with Artsmart in the Playground

I recommend Art Smart as the best Midjourney alternative. It's another tool that produces high-quality digital art quickly and easily without technical knowledge.

Here's a cute photo of a bunny in the grass next to a dandelion I generated with ArtSmart:

Besides its impressive AI image generator, ArtSmart offers a variety of AI tools. These include an avatar generator, background remover, and the ability to manipulate digital skeletons and mimic character poses. Unfortunately, ArtSmart lacks a free trial.

Midjourney, on the other hand, also excels in generating unique, high-quality images across diverse artistic styles and is well-suited for those comfortable using Discord. Once your image is generated, you can create variations, upscale, outpaint, etc. Like ArtSmart, Midjourney is not free but slightly more affordable.

ArtSmart is the best choice for a more user-friendly platform with many AI tools. It's ideal for individuals and businesses who want to create high-quality digital art quickly without technical expertise, particularly fashion designers who wish to generate figures with exact poses.

Alternatively, Midjourney is an excellent tool if you prefer a platform with high-quality, artistically styled images, want to interact with a large and active community, and are comfortable using Discord.

Dzine

Introducing Dzine (formerly Stylar AI) | All-in-one AI Image & Design Tool

My final Midjourney alternative recommendation is called Dzine (formerly Stylar). Like Midjourney, Dzine offers a quick generation of professional, high-quality images. It also streamlines repetitive creative tasks with its user-friendly AI editing tools.

What stood out to me about Dzine compared to the other AI image generators was its impressive ability to generate high-quality photos, specifically product photos. I was able to create this photo of a perfume bottle in seconds and couldn't believe how realistic it looked:

Once generated, I wanted to try one of Dzine's image editing tools to replace the white flower with a red one. I did this by selecting the “Local Edit” tool, selecting the flower, and giving Dzine the text prompt, “Red flower”:

Not only does Dzine generate stunning photos, but its wide range of editing tools are also top-notch and incredibly easy to use.

Meanwhile, Midjourney also excels in producing high-quality, unique images. You can quickly create pictures mirroring the artistic styles of renowned artists or insert URLs of image styles you wish to generate.

You'll need a Discord account to use Midjourney, and generating images on Discord is a bit more complicated than Dzine. However, Midjourney offers a new web app for seamless use, along with image refinement options like upscaling and outpainting. Midjourney also isn't free; you'll have to pay at least $8 monthly (billed annually).

I'd recommend choosing Dzine if you're looking for an easy-to-use platform with comprehensive editing tools and support resources. It's also a perfect choice for photographers and businesses selling physical products.

Choose Midjourney if you seek high-quality, artistically styled images and are comfortable navigating a more complex platform. Midjourney is also great if you value community support and continuous feature enhancements.