10 Tips for perfect prompts to create beautiful Midjourney AI Art

Midjourney is a fascinating artificial intelligence tool that allows you to generate beautiful and realistic images from text. Crafting effective prompts is the key to unlocking the full potential of this AI image generator. In this guide, we will provide you with actionable tips and techniques to write perfect prompts for Midjourney AI art.

1. Be specific and concise

The first tip for crafting perfect prompts for Midjourney is to be specific and concise. Rather than using vague or general descriptions, focus on providing clear and detailed instructions. Start with a simple noun that represents the subject of your desired image. For example, if you want an image of a city skyline, your prompt could start with "city skyline." This provides Midjourney with a clear understanding of what you want to visualize.

To enhance the specificity of your prompt, consider adding relevant adjectives that describe the desired characteristics of the image. Adjectives like vibrant, surreal, or ethereal can add depth and visual appeal to the generated artwork. However, it's important not to overwhelm Midjourney with too many adjectives. Experiment with different combinations to find the right balance.

2. Incorporate styling keywords

To guide Midjourney in creating the desired artistic style, incorporate styling keywords in your prompts. These keywords can range from specific art forms, such as pixel art or watercolor painting, to broader styles like contemporary or minimalistic. By specifying the style, you can influence the overall look and feel of the generated image.

Additionally, consider mentioning famous artists or art platform names to emulate their unique artistic touches. By referencing artists like Van Gogh or platforms like ArtStation, you can inspire Midjourney to create artwork with similar characteristics or influences. This adds an extra layer of creativity and artistry to your prompts.

3. Specify quality and aspect Ratio

If you have specific requirements for the quality or aspect ratio of the generated image, make sure to include these details in your prompts. Use quality keywords like high-quality, 4k, or 8k to indicate the desired level of resolution and detail. This helps Midjourney understand your expectations and generate images that meet your requirements.

Furthermore, aspect ratios can play a crucial role in determining the composition and visual impact of the artwork. Specify the desired aspect ratio using the "--ar" tag in your prompt. For example, "--ar 16:9" indicates a widescreen view, while "2:3" represents a more vertical orientation. Experiment with different aspect ratios to find the one that best suits your creative vision.

4. Use multi prompts and weighting

To gain more control over the generated image, consider using multi prompts and weighting. Multi prompts allow you to indicate that multiple concepts are being used in your prompt. This is particularly useful when dealing with compound words or concepts that require separation, such as "hot dog" or "fire truck." Simply add a double colon "fire:: truck" to separate the terms and make sure Midjourney interprets them correctly. See the difference in the images.

Weighting, on the other hand, allows you to assign different levels of importance to specific elements in your prompt. By assigning higher weights to certain words, you can guide Midjourney's focus and prioritize the aspects that matter most to you. For example, if you want a snowy mountain image with less emphasis on snow, you can assign a higher weight to "mountain" and a lower weight to "snow." Write the prompt in this way: "a realistic snowy::1 mountain::3 in the morning sun".

5. Experiment with negative prompts

Negative prompts can be a powerful tool for refining the output of Midjourney. By using negative keywords, you can exclude certain attributes or characteristics from the generated image. For example, if you want to avoid images with trees, you can include a negative prompt like "trees::-1" or "text::-1". This helps you create images with a specific theme or aesthetic by filtering out undesired elements.

6. Combine text and image prompts

Midjourney allows you to combine text and image prompts to create even more unique and personalized artwork. You can upload your own images or use existing URLs from platforms like Unsplash or Pixabay. By providing both visual and textual cues, you can guide Midjourney to create images that align with your creative vision. Experiment with different combinations to explore the possibilities. In the image below you see the original picture on the left, and by using that as a starting point, Midjourney could change it into an old mini.

7. Customize Midjourney settings

Midjourney offers customizable settings that allow you to streamline your prompt creation process. By adjusting settings like image quality or speed, you can optimize the generation process to suit your preferences. Access the settings menu in Midjourney by writing /settings to fine-tune these parameters and save time when crafting prompts.

8. Use prompt generators for inspiration

If you're struggling to come up with ideas for your prompts, consider using prompt generators for inspiration. These tools can help you generate creative and unique prompts based on different themes or styles. Explore the best Midjourney prompt generators available and leverage their AI-driven capabilities to kickstart your creativity. My favorite way to get random prompt inspiration would probably be this one: Midjourney Prompt Generator.

9. Keep a prompt journal for progress tracking

To track your progress and learn from your prompt experimentation, consider keeping a prompt journal. Document the prompts you've used, the generated images, and any observations or insights you've gathered along the way. This journal can serve as a valuable resource for refining your prompt-writing skills and understanding how Midjourney responds to different cues.

10. Get prompt inspiration from existing art

One of the strongest moves you can make is to explore the work of your favorite artists and use the /describe tool within Midjourney to get a sense of the images and use that to create stimulating prompts.

This image generated 4 descriptions as a result by using the /describe function.

1. highland cattle near sunset, in the style of selective focus, dutch tradition, dark beige and orange, rollei prego 90, consumer culture critique, southern gothic-inspired, uhd image --ar 128:85
2. highland cattle standing on top of field, in the style of dark orange and light amber, consumer culture critique, the düsseldorf school of photography, baroque animals, primitivist frenzy, golden light, fujifilm pro 400h --ar 128:85
3. a cow is standing in a field with trees, in the style of dark amber, techno shamanism, soft focus lens, dutch tradition, glasgow style, strong facial expression, golden light --ar 128:85
4. some cows have horns, in the style of golden light, 8k, cross processing, dark orange, 32k uhd, southern countryside, baroque animals --ar 128:85

After using number 2, this was the result:

The /describe function is very powerful, particularly when you start customizing the prompt to fit what you want.

Conclusion

Crafting perfect prompts for Midjourney AI Art is a combination of specificity, creativity, and experimentation. By following the tips and techniques outlined in this guide, you can create compelling and visually engaging images that enhance your content. Embrace the versatility of Midjourney and let your creativity flourish!