October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PCOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
ThatPainter
AI image editing

Midjourney’s AI Image Editor: How to Use It in 2026

Learn how to open Midjourney’s web Editor, make targeted edits with erase or Smart Select, use layers, and change an image’s overall style. The guide also covers 2026 model compatibility, upload limits, and common workflow caveats.

By ThatPainter Team 7 min read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More

Midjourney’s web Editor lets you edit Midjourney creations and personal images. Open an existing creation from Create or Organize and choose Edit, or use the Edit tab to upload an image or paste an image URL. For a local change, erase or mask an area and describe the replacement; for an overall style change, use the current retexturing workflow.

In 2026, the Edit Model works with V8.1 and V8.2. Midjourney’s Version documentation says V8.2 became the default on July 24, 2026; model defaults can change, so check the current Version page if that status matters to your workflow.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Wacom Intuos Small, Wired Graphic Drawing Tablet with Pen + Software
  • Wacom Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet: Enjoy industry leading tablet performance in superior control and precision with Wacom's EMR, battery free technology that feels like pen on paper
  • Works With All Software: Wacom Intuos tablet can be used in any software program to explore new facets of digital creativity; draw, paint, edit photos/videos, create designs, and mark up documents
  • What the Professionals Use: Wacom's industry leading pen technology and pen to paper feeling makes it the preferred drawing tablet of professional graphic designers
  • Software and Training Included: Only Wacom gives you software with every purchase. Register your Intuos tablet and gain access to some of the best creative software and Wacom's online training
  • Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life

What Midjourney’s Editor does

The Editor is a browser-based generative editing workspace. It modifies an existing image by regenerating erased or transparent areas, rather than retouching the original pixels with deterministic tools.

It supports Midjourney creations and external images, and includes:

  • Move / Resize: reposition or scale an image, rotate it, and change canvas proportions.
  • Erase and Restore: mark an area for regeneration or bring back parts erased by mistake.
  • Smart Select: create a mask for an object or background.
  • Layers: add and arrange images in a composition.
  • Retexture: change the overall visual treatment while aiming to preserve structure and composition.
  • Download and upscale: save a result or add it to the Gallery.

It is useful for scene extensions, background changes, adding objects, and stylistic transformations. It is not a full replacement for Photoshop, Affinity Photo, or another conventional editor when exact text, logos, faces, product geometry, or pixel-level corrections must remain unchanged.

Read Midjourney’s current Editor documentation.

What changed in the 2026 workflow?

The Editor’s model guidance has moved on from the V6.1-era workflow. Midjourney’s Edit Model documentation says the model works with V8.1 and V8.2. It supports instruction-based changes, targeted inpainting, and outpainting. Its results are not compatible with Remix, and the model does not support –tile.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Midjourney’s Version documentation says V8.2 became the default on July 24, 2026. V8.1 became the default on June 10, 2026, after its April 14 release. Defaults may change after publication, so use the official version page for the latest status.

How to open the Editor

For an existing Midjourney image

  1. Sign in at midjourney.com.
  2. Open Create or Organize.
  3. Select a Midjourney image and open its creation actions.
  4. Choose Edit for the lighter Editor, or Open in Edit tab for the full Editor.

For a personal or external image

  1. Open the website’s Edit tab.
  2. Upload an image from your device or paste an image URL.
  3. Choose the editing operation you need.

Midjourney’s web-creation documentation lists a maximum image file size of 10 MB. The exact controls can change as Midjourney updates its website.

Rank #2
Wacom Intuos Medium, Bluetooth Graphic Drawing Tablet with Pen + Software
  • Wacom Intuos Medium Bluetooth Graphics Drawing Tablet: Enjoy industry leading tablet performance in superior control and precision with Wacom's EMR battery free technology that feels like pen on paper
  • Works With All Software: Wacom Intuos tablet can be used in any software program to explore new facets of digital creativity; draw, paint, edit photos/videos, create designs, and mark up documents
  • Wireless Superior Connectivity: Connect wirelessly via Bluetooth or directly using USB-A cable which enables you to work, draw or create whether it's at a desk, on the sofa, in classrom or even outside
  • Software and Training Included: Only Wacom gives you software with every purchase. Register your Intuos tablet and gain access to some of the best creative software and Wacom's online training
  • Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life

The basic editing workflow

  1. Choose an image. Start with a Midjourney creation or upload an image for which you have the necessary rights.
  2. Set the composition. Use Move / Resize to reposition or scale the image, rotate it, or change the canvas aspect ratio.
  3. Create space if needed. Extend the canvas where the new content should go.
  4. Mark the area to change. Use Erase or make and apply a mask with Smart Select.
  5. Describe the result. Enter what should appear in the Imagine prompt. Include relevant details such as location, scale, lighting, perspective, and material.
  6. Submit the edit. The Editor walkthrough describes four results in the results panel after submission; compare them and select one to continue.
  7. Save or keep editing. Iterate, upscale to the Gallery, or download the result.

Erase and Restore

Erase marks the area Midjourney should regenerate. Restore brings portions of the original image back after they have been erased. For a replacement that needs to blend into its surroundings, include enough surrounding context for Midjourney to infer edges, lighting, and perspective.

Using Smart Select

Smart Select creates a mask with positive and negative points:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  1. Activate Smart Select.
  2. Click the subject to add a positive point for areas to include.
  3. Add more positive points to expand the selection.
  4. Add negative points to exclude unwanted areas.
  5. Choose Erase Selection to clear inside the mask, or Erase Background to clear outside it.

A highlighted selection is only a mask preview. Apply it with Erase Selection or Erase Background before submitting.

Changing the aspect ratio and extending a scene

Use Move / Resize when an image needs a different canvas shape. Reposition or scale the image and extend the canvas where you want new content. For example, to turn a portrait into a wide banner, add canvas space on both sides and prompt for a continuation that matches the original scene’s lighting and perspective.

Using Layers

  1. Open Layers and choose Add to bring in another image.
  2. Drag layers to reorder them.
  3. Select the layer you want to work on.
  4. Move, scale, or erase parts of the active layer as needed.
  5. Submit the edit to flatten the composition.

Editor tools apply to the active layer. Midjourney says visible pixels remain unchanged when a layered edit is submitted, while transparent regions are regenerated. Use retexturing instead when you want to regenerate the whole composite in a cohesive style.

Changing the whole image’s style

For an overall style change, use the current retexturing workflow and describe the intended look. Midjourney’s Edit Model documentation treats retexturing as part of that model. Do not rely on the legacy standalone Retexture tab as the current V8.2 workflow; the legacy feature documentation describes that older tool as for V7 and earlier.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Practical editing examples

Add an object

Extend the canvas if necessary, erase the target area, and describe the object’s position, size, lighting, and relationship to nearby elements. For example: “a small ceramic vase on the table, matching the warm window light and camera perspective.”

Rank #3
Sale
Wacom Intuos Pro Medium, Bluetooth Graphic Drawing Tablet with ProPen 3
  • WACOM’S BEST PEN TECHNOLOGY: Pro Pen 3 offers amazing precision, 8192 pressure levels, tilt support & lag-free tracking for smooth, precise strokes; choose slim, straight or flared grip, adjust balance & button layout for precision and comfort
  • DIAL INTO PRODUCTIVITY: Speed up and stay in the creative flow with 10 customizable tablet ExpressKeys & 2 mechanical dials conveniently located at the top of the tablet and close to your keyboard for efficiency
  • DESIGNED FOR MODERN MONITORS: With a versatile 16:9 format perfect for multiple monitors and wide displays; medium size has a large active area with a small footprint 11.4 x 8.1” / 291 x 206 mm
  • SLEEK AND STURDY: Measuring 4mm at its thinnest this professional-grade drawing tablet feels like pen-on-paper on your desk, combined with the robust durability of magnesium making it equally suited for your office or life on the go
  • WIRELESS FREEDOM: use Intuos Pro with USB or connect wirelessly via Bluetooth to multiple computers with a simple switch

Remove a person or background element

Use Smart Select to isolate the unwanted subject, apply Erase Selection, then prompt for the background continuation. If the result changes too much, reduce the mask and restore important areas.

Replace clothing or scenery

Select the clothing or background region rather than the entire image. Describe fabric, color, season, light, and the unchanged subject. Expect some variation in faces, hands, and fine details.

Combine a product image with another image

Add the second image as a layer, position and scale it, make the correct layer active, and erase only the regions that should be regenerated. Keep exact labels and logos in a conventional editor if they must remain accurate.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Exporting your result

After reviewing the results, you can:

  • Continue editing in the results panel.
  • Choose Upscale to Gallery.
  • Choose Download Image.
  • Download a transparent PNG of areas erased in the current edit.

Uploaded-image edits and layered edits do not appear automatically in Create or Organize. Upscale the result to the Gallery if you want it in the normal Midjourney collection.

Choosing an editing workflow

Goal Workflow What to know
Change a defined region Editor erase or Smart Select Mask and apply the target area before submitting.
Change the overall style Retexture Use a style description for the whole image.
Extend a scene Editor canvas controls, Pan, or Zoom Out Choose based on whether you need a custom edit or a creation action.
Iterate prompt text on a creation Remix Edit Model results are not compatible with Remix.

An Image Prompt influences a new generation inspired by a reference image. It is not the same as making a precise local alteration to that image.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Troubleshooting

The Edit option is missing

Open the full website Edit tab rather than relying on the lighter Editor attached to a creation. The interface may vary by image type or account and can change over time.

Rank #4
Sale
Wacom Intuos Small, Bluetooth Graphic Drawing Tablet with Pen + Software
  • Wacom Intuos Small Bluetooth Graphics Drawing Tablet: Enjoy industry leading tablet performance in superior control and precision with Wacom's EMR, battery free technology that feels like pen on paper
  • Works With All Software: Wacom Intuos tablet can be used in any software program to explore new facets of digital creativity; draw, paint, edit photos/videos, create designs, and mark up documents
  • Wireless Superior Connectivity: Connect wirelessly via Bluetooth or directly using USB-A cable which enables you to work, draw or create whether it's at a desk, on the sofa, in classroom or even outside
  • Software and Training Included: Only Wacom gives you software with every purchase. Register your Intuos tablet and gain access to some of the best creative software and Wacom's online training
  • Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life

The image changes too much

Reduce the erased area, use Restore, describe the elements that must remain unchanged, and try another generation. If exact preservation is essential, finish the work in a conventional editor.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The replacement looks poorly blended

Expand the canvas first when the subject needs room. Leave surrounding context in the mask and describe perspective, lighting, scale, material, and placement. Several iterations may be necessary.

A layer does not regenerate

Confirm that the correct layer is active and that the unwanted region is genuinely transparent. Visible, non-transparent pixels are not automatically regenerated.

An image made with Omni Reference will not open as expected

Midjourney says gallery images made using Omni Reference can only be opened in the Edit tab. Its Editor documentation also says to remove Omni Reference and the –ow parameter before submitting edits.

Privacy, safety, and commercial rights

Before uploading an image, review Midjourney’s policies and make sure you have the necessary rights. Uploading sends the material to Midjourney, so do not treat the Editor as an enterprise-confidentiality guarantee.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Midjourney prohibits abusive, offensive, derogatory, inflammatory, or sexualized deepfake manipulation of real people; see its Community Guidelines.

Best Value
Wacom Cintiq 16, Drawing Tablet with QHD Screen & Pro Pen 3
  • IMMERSIVE CREATIVE CANVAS: 16" IPS display with 2.5K WQXGA resolution (2560 x 1600) delivers sharp, crisp, detailed visuals for digital art and design
  • WACOM’S BEST PEN TECHNOLOGY: Pro Pen 3 with 8192 pressure levels responds to your lightest touch; includes tilt support, 3 shortcut keys for tool access, and a holder that mounts to either side of the display with adjustable angle for quick access
  • CINEMATIC COLOR DISPLAY: 99% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB coverage with 8-bit color depth delivers the wide color gamut used in modern displays and digital media - see your artwork as it's meant to be viewed
  • READY TO CREATE: Built-in fold-out legs provide a 20-degree working angle or purchase adjustable stand for personalized comfort
  • CONNECTION: includes USB-C cable to connect to Windows/Mac computers with DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt 3 or 4 input (computers without DP Alt or TB 3 or 4 input require additional cables)

Being able to edit or upscale an image does not automatically give you ownership of it. Midjourney’s commercial-use guidance says that if you upscale an image created by another Midjourney user, the original creator owns that image and permission is needed for use.

Should you use Midjourney’s Editor?

Choose it when you want generative changes such as a wider scene, a new background, an added object, or a broad restyle. It is convenient if you prefer a browser interface and want to iterate on generated results.

Choose Photoshop, Affinity Photo, or another conventional editor for exact typography, logos, product retouching, color correction, deterministic masks, confidential images, or an inspectable professional layer workflow. A practical production workflow is often hybrid: use Midjourney for ideation and generative elements, then finish precise work elsewhere.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

FAQ

How do I edit an image in Midjourney?

Open a creation and choose Edit, or open the Edit tab to upload a personal image or paste an image URL. Erase or mask the part to change, describe the intended result, and submit.

How do I change only one part of an image?

Use Erase or Smart Select to mark the target region. With Smart Select, apply the mask using Erase Selection or Erase Background before submitting.

How do I change the style of the whole image?

Use the current retexturing workflow and describe the overall visual treatment you want. Retexture is for a whole-image style change, not a small local correction.

What image file size can I upload?

Midjourney’s web-creation documentation lists a maximum upload size of 10 MB.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Can I use Edit Model results with Remix?

No. Midjourney’s Edit Model documentation says its results are not compatible with Remix.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

More from the Paint Desk

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.