How To Use Midjourney: A New User’s Guide

The intersection of art and artificial intelligence (AI) has unlocked unprecedented possibilities. In the realm of AI-driven image generation, Midjourney stands as a testament to technological marvels. This article serves as a simple guide, loaded with insider advice, to help you harness the potential of Midjourney and transform text prompts into captivating visuals.

What Is Midjourney?

Midjourney has been the talk of town ever since generative AI tools took the world by storm. This platform leverages advanced generative AI to transform text into compelling artwork. Competing favorably with tools like Dall-E and Stable Diffusion, Midjourney has garnered popularity for its striking realism and aesthetic appeal.

Built on powerful machine learning technologies, this self-funded, closed-source platform is somewhat of a mystery, but its proficiency is clear. The striking, lifelike series of images that Midjourney can create from a simple text prompt makes it an exceptional tool for both professionals and hobbyists.

Your (Mid) Journey: The Steps

The journey with Midjourney begins by setting up a Discord account, as the tool operates through this platform. This process is simple and straightforward:

Navigating Midjourney’s page

Start by opening your preferred web browser and searching for Midjourney’s platform. You should see a clean, user-friendly website that provides an overview of what this AI tool is all about.

Joining the Beta

Once on the page, you will find a button labeled "Join the Beta." Click on this button to be redirected to a new page where you can sign up for the Beta version. You may be asked for your email and some basic information before proceeding.

Creating a Discord account

Following the instructions provided by Midjourney, you'll be redirected to Discord's website. Hold up! “What’s this Discrod business?” you may ask. Discord is a chat platform originally designed for the gaming community. If you’ve ever played League of Legends, chances are, you know what I’m talking about.

The Midjourney team utilizing Discord isn’t random. It might appear complicated at first glance, but there's a valid justification behind it. Over the years, Discord has amassed a large following from people in other communities as well – from arts to tech enthusiasts. So there's probably no better place to launch and grow an AI artsy tool like this one.

Ok, back to our tutorial! Make sure you install Discord on your computer and set up an account. It’s easy and completely free. Then, verify your account through an email confirmation link sent to your provided email address.

Adding Midjourney To Discord

After your Discord account is set up, navigate to the Midjourney website. They will provide a link to join their Discord server. Click on this link and "Accept Invite" on the following page. You should see the Midjourney server added to your Discord server list.

Subscribing to Midjourney

To start creating art, you need to subscribe. Go to one of the newcomer rooms (such as #newbies-37 or #newbies-41). Type '/subscribe' in the text prompt at the bottom of the screen and follow the instructions to choose a plan that suits you.

The plans range from Basic ($10 per month) to Standard ($30 per month) to Pro ($60 per month), each offering different benefits and functionalities. We recommend starting with the Basic plan to get a feel for the tool and later upgrade if you find it fits your needs.

Let's Create Some Art!

Midjourney, by design, is a lively platform serving a dynamic community of creators. For the uninitiated, the #newbies channels could feel like an artist's version of a bustling city square - always abuzz with fresh prompts, requests, and artistic dialogue. To get the lay of the land, scroll through these channels. They are a veritable guidebook on what hits the mark and what doesn't.

As a premium user, you're granted the privilege to engage with the Midjourney Discord bot via direct messages. While your creations will still grace the public members' gallery by default, the Pro plan offers the sought-after option to generate private images.

Kick off your conversation with the Midjourney bot by typing /imagine, followed by your creative text prompt, and then press Enter. Your prompt could be as whimsical as "A Canadian mountie enjoying a maple syrup pancake breakfast atop a moose, depicted in an impressionist style."

Once your prompt is in, take a moment to breathe. In a short span, the bot will conjure four unique interpretations of your vision. If your journey on Midjourney mirrors mine, there's a high chance you'll find at least one iteration that captivates you.

Post-creation, the image editing tools enable you to upscale or iterate on your AI-generated art. Each set of generated images is accompanied by eight buttons: U1 to U4 and V1 to V4.

The U buttons are your keys to upscale the chosen image, thus adding more depth and detail.

The V buttons, on the other hand, generate four fresh renditions of the selected image, echoing its style and composition.

Should you desire a different set of interpretations, simply hit the Re-roll button to prompt a fresh batch of images. The diversity of these buttons hands you the reins to steer the output of Midjourney toward your envisioned masterpiece.

Advanced Prompting Techniques

Exploring the platform will help you understand the nuances of Midjourney. You can develop your unique style by using different styles, experimenting with prompts, and learning from other users' creations.

Concise Commands: Less is more when it comes to giving Midjourney prompts. Provide enough detail for specificity but avoid overwhelming the tool with too many instructions.

Styles and Mediums: Enhance your results by adding specific styles or mediums in your prompt. For example, /imagine a black-and-white line drawing of a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro will yield an image in the specified style.

Use of Lighting: Including lighting instructions in your prompts can lead to more dynamic output.

Leverage Other AI Tools: Using Midjourney is all about being creative with your input. When prompting, you can make your job easier by leveraging other AI tools to your advantage (yes, I’m talking about Chat-GPT). Use a plugin like AIPRM to upgrade your prompting game. You can start with the most basic command and watch as it gives you four super detailed outputs for better art generation.

Pretty cool, huh? Pop that in Midjourney, let the tool do its magic, et voila!

Combine Concepts: You can combine different concepts to create unique results. For instance, /imagine a humanoid robot cutaway diagram, would give you a peek inside a 3D version of your subject.

Introduce Your Own Photos: Midjourney allows you to upload your own photos and use them with the /imagine command to create personalized images. Plus, the /blend command enables you to blend multiple images into a single, compelling visual. This is another way to create truly unique artwork.

Bottom Line

As we draw this exploration of Midjourney to a close, I hope you now possess the knowledge to navigate this exciting tool that I’ve grown to love. The marriage of technology and creativity through such a platform has the potential to elevate and expand the horizons of art in new ways.

Keep in mind that creating with Midjourney is just as much about the process as it is about the result. Your interaction with the tool, your choice of prompts, and how you respond to the generated art are all part of the experience.

Whether you're an established artist looking for a new frontier to explore, a hobbyist yearning to unleash your creativity, or simply a curious soul fascinated by the possibilities of AI, Midjourney offers a unique, creative sandbox that is bound to inspire and stimulate your imagination.