How to Use Midjourney: Complete Beginner Prompt Guide (2024)
Key Takeaways
- Start with simple prompts: "/imagine a cat" — then add details like lighting, color, and composition.
- Style references (--sref) let you copy the look of any image you upload. Use them to get consistent results.
- Parameters like --ar (aspect ratio) and --v (version) dramatically change output. Always set version to 6 for best quality.
- If your images look weird, check your prompt for conflicting words, or try adding "photorealistic" for realism.
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What Is Midjourney and Why Should You Care?
Midjourney is an AI image generator that runs inside Discord. You type a text prompt, and it produces four images in about 60 seconds. Since version 6 launched in December 2023, the quality has jumped dramatically — skin textures look real, hands rarely have six fingers, and even text in images is sometimes readable.
I've been using Midjourney since version 3. Back then, you'd get a lot of "melted" faces and random limbs. Today, with the right parameters, you can create images that fool most people.
Step 1: Set Up Midjourney (Takes 5 Minutes)
1. Go to [midjourney.com](https://midjourney.com) and click "Join the Beta."
2. Create a Discord account if you don't have one.
3. Accept the invite to the Midjourney Discord server.
4. Look for a "newbies" channel (numbered 1–180 or so).
5. Type `/subscribe` and follow the payment link — $10/month for 200 generations, $30/month for unlimited.
6. Once subscribed, type `/imagine` in any newbies channel, then your prompt.
Pro tip: Create your own Discord server and add the Midjourney bot. That way, you won't lose your images in the chaos of the main server.
Step 2: Write Your First Real Prompt
Don't overthink it. Start with:
`/imagine prompt: a cozy library with a fireplace, warm lighting, wooden shelves, photorealistic --ar 16:9`
Here's what each part does:
- Subject: "cozy library with a fireplace"
- Descriptors: "warm lighting, wooden shelves"
- Style modifier: "photorealistic" (tells the AI to aim for realism)
- Parameter: `--ar 16:9` (widescreen aspect ratio)
Why this works: Midjourney needs concrete nouns. "Cozy" is abstract, but "fireplace" and "wooden shelves" give it something to latch onto.
Step 3: Use Style References to Copy a Look
Style references let you feed Midjourney an image and say "make my new image look like this." This is huge for brand consistency.
1. Upload an image to Discord (or any public URL).
2. Right-click the image and copy its link.
3. Add `--sref [URL]` to your prompt.
Example:
`/imagine prompt: a futuristic city skyline at dusk --sref https://i.imgur.com/your-image.jpg`
The AI will mimic the colors, lighting, and texture of your reference image, not the subject.
When to use it: When you need a consistent series of images — like for a presentation or a comic strip.
Step 4: Master the Most Useful Parameters
| Parameter | What It Does | Example |
| ----------- | -------------- | --------- |
| `--ar 16:9` | Aspect ratio (width:height) | Landscape shots |
| `--v 6` | Version 6 (best quality) | Always use this |
| `--s 250` | Stylization (0–1000). Higher = more artistic. Default is 100. | `--s 600` for surreal art |
| `--c 10` | Chaos (0–100). Higher = more variety in the 4 outputs. | `--c 50` for wild ideas |
| `--iw 2` | Image weight (0.5–2). How closely to follow your image prompt. | `--iw 1.5` for strong reference |
My go-to setup for realistic portraits:
`/imagine prompt: portrait of a woman with freckles, soft window light, canon eos r5, 85mm lens --ar 3:2 --v 6 --s 150`
Step 5: Fix Common Problems
Problem 1: Weird hands or faces
- Add "detailed hands" or "symmetrical face" to your prompt.
- Use `--v 6` (it's much better at anatomy).
- If still broken, use the "vary (region)" button to fix specific areas.
Problem 2: Too much or too little detail
- Too much: Remove adjectives like "intricate" or "highly detailed."
- Too little: Add specific terms like "4k, sharp focus, subsurface scattering."
Problem 3: Colors are muddy
- Add color words: "vibrant reds and golds, high contrast."
- Try `--s 50` (less stylization = more literal colors).
Step 6: Advanced Techniques
Multi-prompting
Use `::` to separate parts of your prompt. The AI treats each part independently.
`/imagine prompt: a castle::2 on a mountain::1 --ar 16:9`
This weights the castle twice as much as the mountain.
Remix mode
Type `/settings` and toggle "Remix mode." Then when you hit "vary (strong)" on an image, you can change the prompt. It's like Photoshop for AI — you can turn a cat into a dog while keeping the background.
Upscaling
After you get your four images, click U1–U4 to upscale one. Then click "Upscale (2x)" or "Upscale (4x)" for massive detail.
FAQ
1. How long does it take to learn Midjourney?
Most people can make decent images within an hour. Mastery — like consistent characters or complex compositions — takes about 20–50 hours of practice. The key is experimenting with parameters.
2. Can I use Midjourney for commercial projects?
Yes, if you have a paid subscription. You own the rights to all images you create. But check your specific license — the $10/month plan gives you a "general license" that allows commercial use.
3. Why do my images look nothing like the prompt?
Three reasons: (1) You're using abstract words like "beautiful" — replace them with concrete details. (2) You forgot `--v 6` (version 5 is much worse at following prompts). (3) Your prompt has conflicting instructions — "realistic" and "cartoon" together confuse the AI.
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*Start with simple prompts, add parameters slowly, and always use version 6. Within a week, you'll be generating images that amaze your friends — and maybe even yourself.*