Generative artificial intelligence image generators like Midjourney translate mere text prompts into images that are sometimes jaw-dropping art and are now pretty common. Ever wondered how a machine can create art?
Midjourney is one of the best generative AIs that creates images based on text prompts along with its competitors Dall-E and Stable Diffusion. Midjourney is self-funded and closed-source.
So, the things we know are pretty general. We know it relies heavily on machine learning technologies like large language and diffusion models. So I’m gonna tell you more about Midjourney and how the legs stuff as well.
What is Midjourney?
Midjourney is an innovative artificial intelligence program that can generate lifelike images from text inputs. Developed by a research lab in San Francisco, Midjourney, Inc., this tool uses cutting-edge language and diffusion models to create stunning visuals.
While the lab is self-funded and closed-source, as we previously mentioned, Midjourney has been available for open beta testing since July 12, 2022.
The company has been consistently enhancing its algorithms, introducing new model versions approximately every few months. In April 2022, they rolled out Version 2 of their algorithm, followed by the launch of Version 3 on July 25.
Subsequently, on November 5, 2022, users gained access to the alpha iteration of Version 4. March 15, 2023, marked the release of the alpha iteration of Version 5. Notably, the 5.1 model exhibits more pronounced stylization, offering a distinct perspective on images compared to Version 5.
Additionally, the 5.1 RAW model, designed for more literal prompts, incorporates enhancements for improved performance. Looking ahead, the company plans to introduce Version 5.2, which is expected to deliver an even higher image quality.
The team behind Midjourney is led by David Holz, a co-founder of Leap Motion, and he recently revealed to The Register in August 2022 that the company is already profitable. Users can create impressive artwork with Midjourney by using Discord bot commands. But it’s not free anymore. You have to pay.
Is Midjourney free? or How much does Midjourney cost?
First things first: there are no free trials, at least not anymore. You’ll need to opt for a subscription to get your hands on what this generative AI offers. The monthly subscription starts at $10 (Basic Plan), and it will go to a $120(Mega Plan) per month package.
The annual package starts at $96 and goes to $1152. Buying the annual package is a little bit cost-effective if you are going to use it for the long term and you can afford it.
You can easily subscribe to this by Using the /subscribe command to generate a personal link to the subscription page. Or, simply go to Midjourney.com/account. There’s another way for you to purchase Midjourney. Go to the official website and select Manage Sub from the sidebar while logged into the Midjourney website.
Midjourney basically uses graphics processing units (GPUs) to interpret and process these prompts. So, when you purchase a subscription to Midjourney, technically, you are purchasing time on these GPUs.
Plus, they offer different subscription plans that have different amounts of monthly GPU time. They even have a mode called Fast Mode time. This mode gives you access to a GPU instantly.
The easiest way to get started with MidJourney
Setting the Stage: Step 1 – Discord Setup
First things first, you have to install Discord. Then, visit the Midjourney landing page. After that, hit the “Join the Beta” button. Finally, click that “+” button on the Discord toolbar and select “Join a server.” That’s how you join the Midjourney Discord server.
Signing up for Artistic Exploration: Step 2 – Midjourney Subscription
The next step is to subscribe to a plan. I’ll explain how the plans work. First up, we’ve got the Basic plan. At just $10 per month, it’s like the starter pack for budding creators. With this plan, you get 200 generations a month and private Stealth Mode access.
Next is the Standard plan. It comes at $30 per month. This plan gives you a generous 15 hours of image generation, unlimited relaxed (slow) generations, and another private chat room.
Then there’s the Pro plan. Priced at $60 per month, it’s for the serious creators out there with 30 hours of fast image generation, a free chatroom, and unlimited relaxed image generation.
But here’s a friendly nudge for the newbies – start with the Basic plan; not just because of the budget, it is way easier to understand and explore Midjourney and get to know your required plan. And if you don’t like it, it’s just $10, so you can forget about it and move on.
Before you go, let’s Understand MidJourney’s Tools and Features.
First of all, do yourself a favor – download and install the Discord app. Yes, you could do that with a web application, but the app makes the Midjourney experience way smoother. You can generate images on your phone, too, but it’s even better if you have a personal computer.
Once installed, you can click the Discord icon at the top left of the app to access your private chat room. That way, you can generate images and easily see them in a private chat without the distraction of viewing other users’ photos or vice versa.
But joining in group rooms like newbies-4 is good too. Especially if you are new to the platform or you have a creative block or something. You could get inspiration from other creators and optimize your prompts as well.
Creating AI (Artificial intelligence) Art with Midjourney
Now, let’s discuss the easiest way to create your masterpiece with Midjourney and your imagination.
To kick things off, every command in Midjourney starts with a “/.” For example, typing “/imagine a hyperrealistic image of a dog in the bed of a truck.” Try it, and you’ll get different AI-generated images than the one down below.
Once the processing has been done, the first set of images pops up, and you’ll see a row of buttons. The top row, numbered U1 – U4, is for upscale. You’ll be able to upscale and enlarge ai generated images with that. On the right side of the first row is the regenerate button.
If the first set doesn’t quite hit the mark, hit regenerate, and Midjourney will regenerate images based on your original prompt. The second row, V1 – V4, is for making variations.
But wait, there’s more. Let’s talk about imagine commands with additional parameters. If you want more control over the output, you can input things like /imagine cats and dogs –q3 –iw 0.25. This just tells Midjourney the level of quality and image weight you’re after.
Now you know basic things about Midjourney and image generation with it. So, let’s talk about advanced prompts. You can use your own images by typing /prefer remix. Remix allows you to tweak your prompts, parameters, model versions, or aspect ratios.
There’s the multi-prompt approach as well. Instead of a single concept, try /imagine cat tails versus /imagine cat::tails.
Last but not least, enter the world of permutation prompts. For instance, /imagine a {red, orange, yellow, blue} bouquet of flowers creates a spectrum of floral wonders.
Tips for Using Midjourney
You’ve mastered the basics. Let me tell you some tips and tricks that can transform your Midjourney experience from good to mind-blowing.
1. Be Concise, Be Brilliant:
In Midjourney, when you’re input prompts, make it short, sweet, and to the point. For instance, instead of a paragraph, try /imagine a photorealistic cat. Yes, it’s going to be generic, but you can always style it up.
2. Style it Up:
To up your game, play around with styles and mediums. Try /imagine this woman as a 1700s era Victorian queen. Or do the same to the previous cat prompt. With generative AIs, your imagination is the limit.
3. Mix and Match Concepts:
Instead of a solo prompt, try combining concepts. Throw in an extra theme to spice things up. For example, /imagine a Canadian superhero. Now, you’re not just creating a superhero; you’re crafting one with a Canadian twist.
4. Let There Be Light:
One of the unsung heroes of artistic expression is lighting. Use lighting commands like /imagine an image of the Eiffel Tower at midday, complete with cinematic lighting.
5. Play Around & Have Fun
Experiment with different styles and prompts. Go ahead, type something wild, like /imagine a photo of a Goldendoodle created in the style of Leonardo da Vinci. That’s the best way to get to know the platform and Midjourney’s capabilities.
Using Your Images:
Now, let’s talk about making it personal. Want to be the hero in your art story? Upload your images and let Midjourney weave its magic. It’s like turning your memories into digital dreams. Here’s the lowdown on the steps:
- Click the plus next to the text prompt box at the bottom of your screen.
- Once uploaded, click the image and select Open in a browser.
- Copy the image URL.
- Type /imagine into the text field, paste the URL and follow up with the image you’d like to create.
Uploading an image of a woman won’t automatically get you a great output. Try a prompt like: /imagine a hyperrealistic image of a female superhero.
Using Blending Effects:
We have to talk about blending effects. The /blend command your ticket to combine 2-5 images with a text prompt. But, make sure your images are in the same sandbox. Ensure they have the same dimensions as well.
Midjourney & controversy
Founder David Holz promotes Midjourney as a tool for artists, emphasizing collaboration rather than competition. However, concerns arise about the potential depreciation of original work by incorporating artists’ creations in the training set.
Chanuka Nadun Perera
We talked about these kinds of situations and how companies like Google and X(previously known as Twitter) and Zoom have to change their privacy policies.
So basically, to address this issue, Midjourney’s terms of service now feature a DMCA takedown policy offering. They’re saying they will take the art down if an original artist proves copyright issues.
Then, there’s the digital art competition at the 2022 Colorado State Fair. The artist Jason Allen used AI to create the winning piece Théâtre D’opéra Spatial. This made waves in the news, and people started talking about the ethical issues of using AI. It was a huge scenario.
However, now there are concerns about bias in AI-generated images. Research reveals differences in outcomes related to gender, skin color, and location. I have always believed an AI couldn’t be 100% unbiased because it uses human knowledge and data.
But none of these cases went to court, right? Unfortunately, there are scenarios that have gone to court about AI, like when the artists Sarah Andersen, Kelly McKernan, and Karla Ortiz filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Stability AI, Midjourney, and DeviantArt.
How do content moderation and censorship work in Midjourney?
So before May 2023, the Midjourney basically depended on a content moderation system based on a banned words system. The purpose of this system was to strictly prohibit explicit content, including language associated with sexual or pornographic themes and extreme violence.
The tagged specific words linked to religious and political figures like Allah or Xi Jinping were prohibited, too.
However, in May 2023, after releasing version 5, Midjourney, they basically got a new AI-powered content moderation system. And they basically removed the earlier banned words mechanism.
This new AI-powered content moderation system prevents the generation of contentious images much better than the previous system.
With Image Generative AI like Visme, Craiyon, Jasper Art, NightCafe Deep AI, Bing Image Creator, Canva Hotpot, AI Picsart, Veed, DALL-E, DALL-E 2, DreamStudio (Stable Diffusion), Midjourney, Fotor, Deep Dream Generator you don’t need to be Picasso anybody can understand English can create your own art.
Even if you are not good at prompts, you can ask chatbots like Bard and ChatGpt to create a prompt for you. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or just someone curious about digital art, MidJourney welcomes you with open arms. So have fun.