How to Find the Best Midjourney Prompts (Guide + Examples)

Midjourney has quickly become one of the most powerful tools for creative expression, allowing users to generate stunning visuals from simple text prompts. But to really unlock its potential, you need more than just basic input. Crafting the right prompt is the key to getting the results you want.

That’s where knowing how to utilize Midjourney prompts comes in. 

With the right prompt, you can guide the AI to produce virtually any graphic, whether it’s a logo, a concept, or just a fun experiment with digital art. 

In this Midjourney prompt guide, we’ll break down how to write great image descriptions, explain the parameters, and share examples you can try. By the end, you’ll be writing prompts so good that Midjourney might start asking you for tips.

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What is Midjourney?

In the simplest of explanations, Midjourney is an AI platform that turns text into images. You type a description, and within seconds, it spins it into its own unique masterpiece.

Midjourney has really made a name for itself with its ability to create hyper realistic, one-off images. It has a talent for producing artwork with depth and personality, almost like it’s channeling a creative mind instead of just generating a random image. 

The more you experiment with your Midjourney prompts, the more you’ll see how much room there is for unexpected, jaw-dropping results.

How to prompt Midjourney

Crafting the perfect prompt for MidJourney requires a balance of clarity, detail, and creativity. The better you structure your prompt, the more control you’ll have over the generated image. Here’s a breakdown of how to prompt Midjourney:

1. Start with the core idea

At the heart of your prompt should be the core concept. What do you want to visualize? Start by defining the main subject or scene.

• Example: “A realistic oil painting of a lion”
• Tip: Keep it simple but descriptive. Think of the key elements that define the scene or object.

2. Add specific details

Once you have the core idea, layer in specific and intricate detailing that will shape the image. These can include:

• Colors: Describe the color scheme (e.g. muted, pastel or vibrant colors), dominant hues, and geometric shapes.
• Lighting/Time of Day: Specify lighting conditions like “golden hour,” “neon lights,” or “low light.”
• Mood/Emotion: Do you want the image to evoke calm, joy, mystery, or melancholy?
• Example: “A majestic lion, with warm golden hues and a soft glow, under a vibrant pink sky, sitting on a circular stone.”
• Tip: Use adjectives like "soft," "bold," or "dramatic" to capture the mood and atmosphere.

3. Describe the style or genre

MidJourney excels when you provide stylistic direction. Is the image hyper-realistic, abstract, or cartoonish? Do you want it in the style of an artist or artistic movement?

• Example: “A majestic oil painting of a lion with golden highlight strokes and a Starry Night-style background”
• Tip: If you want a specific artist’s style, name them, or describe the art movement (e.g., “in the style of Art Deco” or “surrealistic”).

4. Use composition and perspective

You can influence how the image is composed by specifying camera angles, focal points, or overall layout. This could include terms like “bird’s-eye view,” “close-up,” “wide shot,” or “portrait orientation.”

• Example: “A majestic lion, with warm golden hues and a soft glow, under a vibrant pink sky, viewed from a low angle looking out toward the horizon”
• Tip: Adding composition details helps set the stage for how the subject will be framed.

5. Refine with textural or material details

Think about the texture or materials that should be represented. This could involve describing how surfaces look (smooth, rough, reflective, etc.) or the elements of the scene (metal, wood, water, fabric).

• Example: “A majestic lion, with warm golden hues and a soft glow, under a vibrant pink sky, viewed from a low angle looking out toward the horizon, with the lion’s eyes reflecting the last light”
• Tip: Adding sensory details like “shiny,” “textured,” or “grainy” can help evoke a more tangible feel.

6. Experiment with variations

Feel free to experiment with multiple prompts to get a range of outputs. MidJourney’s magic happens when you try different phrasing, detail levels, and perspectives to see what resonates best.

• Example:
  
  • “A majestic lion at sunset with golden hues and a soft glow, surrounded by floating islands”
  • “A majestic lion at sunset, with a soft glow, under a vibrant pink sky, in the style of Japanese watercolor”

7. Use negative prompts for refinement

Sometimes, you may want to exclude certain elements from your image. MidJourney allows you to refine prompts by stating what you don’t want to appear.

• Example: “A majestic lion with warm golden hues, in a dim and grey forest, without any people in sight”
• Tip: Use negative prompts to refine focus and remove distractions.

Best Practices for Effective MidJourney Prompts

• Be Clear and Concise: While detail is important, avoid overwhelming the prompt with too many conflicting ideas. Stick to a theme.
• Think Visually: Focus on what you want to see in the final image, not just what you don’t want.
• Experiment with Styles: If you’re unsure about a style or want to try something new, experiment with terms like “futuristic,” “vintage,” or “minimalist.”
• Use Keywords Wisely: Keywords such as “hyper-realistic,” “vivid,” “whimsical,” or “concept art” can change the entire mood and aesthetic of the image.

Understanding the Parameters of Midjourney

If you’ve ever thrown a prompt into Midjourney and gotten something that feels off, you’re not alone. Maybe it’s too zoomed in, too messy, or just not the vibe you had in mind. That’s where parameters come in. These little tweaks give you control over things like image size, detail, and style, so you’re not stuck with whatever the AI feels like making.

Think of them as dials on a control panel. A little adjustment here and there can turn a decent image into exactly what you had in mind. Here are some of the most useful ones:

• Aspect Ratios (--ar): This parameter changes the width-to-height ratio of the generated image. For example, --ar 16:9 produces a widescreen image, while --ar 1:1 creates a square image.
• Quality (--quality or --q): Controls how much rendering quality time you want to spend. The default value is 1. Higher values use more GPU minutes; lower values use less.
• Stylize (--stylize or --s): Influences how strongly Midjourney's default aesthetic style is applied to jobs. Higher values result in more stylized images, while lower values produce more literal interpretations of your prompt.
• Chaos (--chaos): Alters the level of variation in the generated images. Higher values produce more unexpected and unusual results, while lower values yield more predictable outcomes.
• No (--no): Tells the Midjourney Bot what not to include in your image. For example, --no plants would try to remove plants from the image.

Learn these parameters, and Midjourney stops being a roll of the dice. Instead of getting whatever the AI feels like making, you’ll have the tools to shape the results into something you actually want.

Generating Images With Midjourney Prompts

Now that you’ve got the lay of the land, it’s time to dive into how to actually generate images using those Midjourney prompts. Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Let’s break it down from setting things up to getting your perfect design.

Step 1: Set Up Midjourney

Before you can start generating images, you’ll need to get yourself set up on Discord. If you don’t have a Discord account yet, head over to Discord.com and create one (you can use the app or just stick to your browser). 

Once that’s done, go to Midjourney’s site, click “Join the Beta,” and it will guide you right into their Discord server. From there, you’ll either jump into a general server or start directly interacting with the Midjourney bot.

Heads up: If you want private results (for commercial use or just to avoid people stealing your ideas), you can set the bot to private so no one else sees your images until you're ready to share them.

Step 2: Adjust Your Settings

Now that you're in the Midjourney server, it's time to tweak things to your liking. Start by typing /settings to open up the customization options.

Here’s where you can choose:

• Version: Midjourney V6 is a popular choice right now, as it offers more accurate results and sharper images.
• Quality: You can go for half, base, or high-quality output. Base works for most, but if you need more detail, high-quality will give you that extra punch.
• Style: This controls the vibe of the image. Start with the default (Medium) and experiment to see what changes based on how you adjust it.
• Remix Mode: If you’re the type to tweak things for perfection, turn Remix Mode on. This unlocks advanced settings and parameters to play with.

Once these are set up, you're ready to start generating!

Step 3: Use Midjourney Commands

Now for the main event: creating images with Midjourney prompts. Here are the main commands you’ll use:

/imagine (probably the most important command)

This is the bread and butter of Midjourney. To create an image, just type /imagine, then write your prompt. After that, wait for the bot to work its magic, and within moments, you’ll have four image options.

Each image will have options to tweak or upscale it:

• U1, U2, U3, U4: These are the upscale buttons. Click one, and the bot will boost the resolution of that image. Want a sharper look? Hit “U” on your favorite option.
• V1, V2, V3, V4: If the image is close, but you’re not totally sold, click one of these Remix options. It’ll allow you to adjust aspects of the image, whether that’s changing the aspect ratio or tweaking specific elements.

You can even get the seed number of an image, which will allow you to recreate that exact look in future prompts. Just click the smiley face, then the envelope icon, and you’ll get the seed number. Add it to any new prompt with the "seed" parameter to generate similar results.

/describe (the biggest cheat code for inspiration)

Sometimes, your mind has a clear picture, but the right prompt feels like a needle in a haystack. If you’re stuck, try the /describe command. Upload a picture that closely matches what you want, and Midjourney will spit out prompts that describe it. This is super useful if you want to see how Midjourney interprets certain styles or themes.

From there, you can adjust the prompt to your liking and generate something even closer to your vision.

10 Best Midjourney Prompts Examples

In case it’s not super clear yet, Midjourney can create pretty much anything. It’s incredible how far this sort of AI technology has come in such a short period of time, and the Midjourney prompt examples people are coming up with are even more incredible.

For your inspiration, here are 10 of the best Midjourney prompts examples we could dig up:

1. Terminator on Fire

It’s only fitting that one of the most powerful AI tools in the world is made to generate an image of the most deadly, AI powered sci-fi machine. 

Prompt: A gritty movie poster featuring the T-800 emerging from flames, with a metal skull partially visible beneath its face, dystopian, futuristic, action-packed, groundbreaking special effects.

2. Aces: Four of a Kind

An absolute dream in poker, made a reality by Midjourney. What’s particularly mind-blowing about this prompt is the subtle wear on the cards. They actually look like they’ve been played well.

The kicker here is that Midjourney didn’t exactly get this one right. It was told to generate a straight flush, and instead, we got four of a kind. Take a look at the prompt below.

Prompt: A depiction of four poker cards arranged in a straight flush with a green felt backdrop --ar 3:2

3. Japanese Zen Garden in Autumn

Midjourney is great at picking up scenic design, depending on the main prompt. Here, it was tld to add a few of the main features, and it not only filled in the gaps but decided to use this paint-stroke style.

Prompt: A calm Japanese garden in autumn, with a koi pond, tea house, maple trees, and falling leaves.

4. Futuristic Neon City

You thought you’d get through a list of the best Midjourney prompts without seeing anything cyberpunk? Definitely not! Midjourney turns this cityscape into surreal art that just pops with splashes of neon, tying it all together with sharp details on each building.

Prompt: A highly detailed digital painting of an innovative cyberpunk cityscape at night, featuring neon-lit skyscrapers and bold colors.

5. Colorful Lion Illustration

Not everything for Midjourney has to be super realistic. It’s easily one of the best AI illustration generators out there, too. 

Prompt: Lion face in a circular t-shirt design, in the style of detailed botanical illustrations, colorful cartoon, exotic atmosphere, 2d game art, white background, contour --ar 2:1 --s 400 --v 5.2

6. Desert of Solitude

One of the things AI is still learning is emotion, or at least how to portray it. This is a great example of Midjourney trying to do exactly that.

Prompt: A solitary figure amidst a vast and desolate landscape, conveying the introspective solitude of the human experience.

7. Mouth-watering Pasta

Just looking at this plate of shrimp alfredo makes me hungry, even if it is fake. This image was generated using one of the longer prompts for Midjourney to test its accuracy, pretty much covering every tiny detail that you can in AI prompts.

Prompt: A plate of shrimp alfredo, plump pink shrimp on top, creamy garlic sauce coating spiral pasta, garnished with parsley. Background of an elegant dining table setting. Soft, warm lighting highlights the sauce's creamy texture. Fine details: high-resolution, detailed texture, realistic food photography, warm color palette, shallow depth of field, garnished focus, elegant plating, Italian cuisine inspiration.

8. Mercedes AMG Racing at Sunset

Looking at this photo, very few people would be able to tell it’s completely AI-generated. The details, the branding, the display of motion, shadow, lighting, and reflection. It’s all immaculate. 

Prompt: Mercedes AMG racing cars, dynamic pose, freeze pose, cinema quality, Mercedes AMG super car, tv commercial, lightning creative liberty, blurry action photo style, blurred motion background,asymmetrical composition, professional color grading, super Realistic. Sport photography, hero shot, wide angle shot.

9. Vintage Coal Miners

Here’s an awesome example of a vintage style that was created by giving Midjourney a list of filter types. Again, it manages to pull off a hyper-realistic image that looks exactly like a photo you’d pull out of an old shoebox in your attic.

Prompt: Vintage photograph of men working, Daguerreotype, calotype, tintype, collodion, gelatin silver, ambrotype, carte-de-visite, wet plate, dry plate, albumen print, cyanotype, stereoscope, glass, lantern slide, camera --ar 3:2 --style raw.

10. Polaroid High-school Experience

For our last example, here’s another familiar style that Midjourney is able to nail. The Polaroid art style photo is classic and unmistakable. With some simple prompting, you can basically recreate any 1960’s yearbook.

Prompt: A polaroid capture of highschool sweethearts, happy on the hood of a car, late 1960s America, --ar 2:1

Tools to Help You With Midjourney Prompting

Coming up with the perfect Midjourney prompt isn't always a walk in the park, but lucky for you, there are some solid tools to make the process way easier. Whether you’re stuck on getting that perfect detail or just need some inspiration, these resources are here to help.

• Reddit & Facebook Groups: Want to see what other people are doing with Midjourney? Check out the Midjourney subreddit. It’s packed with shared prompts, tips, and plenty of trial-and-error moments that can help you figure out what works. Facebook groups aren’t bad either. They’re a bit more casual but still great for a more hands-in Midjourney prompt guide.
• ChatGPT and Google Gemini: If you want a little help brainstorming or structuring your prompts, ChatGPT and Google Gemini are pretty useful. Simply tell them the type of image you want, and they can generate a detailed prompt for you. Just type something like, “Write an image prompt for generative art to create…” and watch AI help you take the reins with other AI.
• FutureTools: This is like the ultimate library for all things AI. Head to FutureTools, type “Midjourney” into the search bar, and you’ll find a bunch of great resources (some free, some paid) that help with prompt generation. It’s your one-stop shop for discovering new ways to fine-tune your work.
• MidJourney Prompt Generator & MJ Toolkit: For those who want to get even more specific, try the MidJourney Prompt Generator. This tool turns simple inputs into complex prompts, offering a variety of styles and approaches. If you want to skip Discord altogether, MJ Toolkit is a Chrome extension that lets you generate prompts directly from your browser.

Conclusion

And there you have it! With the right tools, tips, a bit of creativity, and all the other details we’ve mentioned in this Midjourney prompt guide you’re all set to make AI your new personal art assistant. Whether you're a beginner looking to create an image for a social media post, or an advanced user trying to fine-tune every detail, the power to generate stunning, unique images is literally a click away.

Remember, crafting the perfect prompt is a blend of art and science. Experiment with different artistic styles, tweak those parameters, and use the tools at your disposal to take your experience even further. The more you play around with Midjourney, the more you’ll push yourself along your creative journey.

Now go ahead! Take these strategies, dive into the world of AI-generated art, and see where your imagination can take you.