Getting Started with Midjourney
Midjourney is one of the most popular AI image generators, known for its stunning artistic quality and aesthetic output. In this lesson, you'll learn how Midjourney works, its core parameters, and how to write prompts that take full advantage of the platform.
New to AI image prompts? Start with our AI Image Prompts in 30 Minutes course to learn the fundamentals of prompt structure, style keywords, and composition before diving into platform-specific techniques.
How Midjourney Works
Midjourney operates through Discord. You interact with the Midjourney Bot by typing commands in a Discord server or direct message.
The basic workflow:
- Type
/imaginefollowed by your prompt - Midjourney generates a grid of 4 image variations
- Upscale (U1-U4) a favorite to get the full-resolution version
- Vary (V1-V4) a favorite to generate new variations of that image
- Re-roll to start fresh with the same prompt
Essential Midjourney Parameters
Parameters go at the end of your prompt after -- and control how Midjourney processes your request.
Aspect Ratio (--ar)
Controls the width-to-height ratio of your image.
| Parameter | Ratio | Best For |
|---|---|---|
--ar 1:1 | Square | Instagram posts, profile pictures |
--ar 16:9 | Widescreen | YouTube thumbnails, desktop wallpapers |
--ar 9:16 | Tall portrait | Phone wallpapers, Instagram Stories |
--ar 4:3 | Classic photo | Blog images, presentations |
--ar 3:2 | Standard photo | Print photography |
--ar 21:9 | Ultra-wide | Cinematic banners |
Stylize (--s)
Controls how strongly Midjourney applies its default aesthetic. Range: 0-1000.
| Value | Effect |
|---|---|
--s 0 | Minimal artistic interpretation, follows prompt closely |
--s 100 | Default balance |
--s 250 | More artistic, may deviate from prompt |
--s 750 | Heavily stylized, very artistic |
Compare the same prompt with different stylize values to see how much control you trade for aesthetics.
Chaos (--c)
Controls how varied the four images in your grid will be. Range: 0-100.
| Value | Effect |
|---|---|
--c 0 | All four images are similar |
--c 50 | Moderate variation |
--c 100 | Wildly different interpretations |
Use low chaos when you know exactly what you want. Use high chaos for creative exploration.
Quality (--q)
Controls generation time and detail level.
| Value | Effect |
|---|---|
--q .25 | Fastest, rough drafts |
--q .5 | Quick, good for iteration |
--q 1 | Default, standard quality |
Use --q .5 for rapid prompt iteration, then switch to --q 1 for final images.
Midjourney Style Keywords
Midjourney responds exceptionally well to artistic style references:
Multi-Prompts with :: Separator
You can weight different parts of your prompt using the :: separator:
hot::2 dog — emphasizes "hot" twice as much as "dog"
hot dog — treats "hot dog" as a single concept
This is incredibly powerful for controlling which elements dominate the image.
Practical Tips for Better Midjourney Results
- Start broad, then refine — Begin with a simple prompt, then add parameters and details in subsequent iterations
- Use Vary (Strong/Subtle) — After upscaling, use Vary to explore alternatives without starting over
- Save successful prompts — Build a personal library of prompts that produce consistent results
- Iterate on seeds — Use
--seed [number]to reproduce a specific result and then modify your prompt
Key Takeaway
Midjourney's power lies in its parameters. Master --ar, --s, --c, and multi-prompts with :: weights, and you'll have precise control over your output. Start with default settings, experiment with one parameter at a time, and always iterate rather than trying to get a perfect result on the first try.