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Midjourney is a subscription-based, cloud image-generation platform available through its website and Discord. It creates images from text prompts and visual references, and also offers editing, personalization, upscaling, and short video generation. It is particularly strong for visual ideation, stylized artwork, concept art, moodboards, cinematic scenes, and rapid exploration—but it is not the best choice for exact typography, deterministic character continuity, local processing, or public API automation.
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This guide reflects Midjourney’s current V8.1 default model and explains how to begin, write better prompts, use references, manage GPU time, choose a plan, and avoid privacy and commercial-use mistakes.
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What is Midjourney AI image generation?
Midjourney is a commercial generative-AI service rather than downloadable desktop software. You describe an image in natural language, optionally add one or more visual references, and Midjourney generates new image variations in the cloud.
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There are four different concepts to keep separate:
- Generation: creating a new image from a prompt.
- Reference prompting: using an image to influence a new result.
- Variation: exploring alternatives to an existing result.
- Editing: making a more precise change to an existing image through the Editor.
An image reference is inspiration, not a command to reproduce the source exactly. For precise changes to an existing image, use the web Editor rather than expecting an Image Prompt to behave like a copy-and-paste operation.
What changed in Midjourney V8.1?
V8.1 is Midjourney’s current default model. Midjourney released it on April 30, 2026, and made it the default on June 10, 2026. The company says standard V8.1 jobs render approximately four to five times faster than earlier versions. V8.1 also supports SD and HD image modes, with --hd producing output Midjourney describes as 2K, or 2048 pixels.
These claims are from Midjourney’s version documentation, not an independent benchmark. V8.1 is not automatically the right choice for every workflow:
- Omni Reference is V7-only.
- Some V8.1 HD images can be downscaled when edited with inpainting, outpainting, Pan, Zoom Out, Edit, or Vary Region operations.
- The V8.1 Editor workflow may require another upscale if you need to restore HD resolution.
- V8.0 Alpha is a separate, limited-time model and is Fast-mode only.
- V8.1 may require you to unlock a Global V7/V8 Personalization Profile.
Use an explicit version parameter when reproducibility or a model-specific feature matters, such as --v 8.1 or --v 7.
How to create your first Midjourney image
Using the Midjourney website
- Create or sign in to a Midjourney account.
- Choose a subscription plan.
- Open Midjourney and go to the Create page.
- Enter a description in the Imagine bar.
- Submit the prompt and select the result you want to develop.
- Use variations, editing tools, aspect-ratio controls, or upscaling to refine it.
- Save or organize the finished image.
The website is now the simplest starting point for new users because it exposes generation and editing tools in one interface.
Using Discord
In the official Midjourney Discord environment, enter:
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- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The UGEE M708 V3 offers USB to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C, ensuring easy connection to various devices and allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns; Whether using a laptop, desktop, chromebook, or tablet, the UGEE M708 V3 provides a seamless experience for those just starting their digital art journey
/imagineWhen Discord displays the prompt field, type your description and submit it. Useful commands include:
/settings
/info
/fast
/relax
/stealth
/public
/shorten/settings changes configuration, /info shows account and job information, and /fast and /relax select GPU modes. The complete Discord command list documents current syntax.
How to write effective Midjourney prompts
Midjourney generally responds better to a concise visual description than to a long list of conversational instructions. Build the prompt in this order:
- Subject: what should appear.
- Action or pose: what the subject is doing.
- Environment: where the scene takes place.
- Composition: portrait, close-up, overhead, wide shot, or product view.
- Lighting: window light, studio light, foggy backlight, or hard noon sun.
- Material and visual qualities: brushed steel, matte ceramic, watercolor paper, or film grain.
- Mood and color: restrained, joyful, ominous, monochrome, or teal and amber.
- Parameters: aspect ratio, model, speed, or resolution.
For example:
editorial portrait of a marine biologist on a research vessel at dawn,
windblown hair, muted teal and amber palette, natural documentary lighting,
35mm photography, medium close-up --ar 4:5 --rawStart with the composition and subject. Add only details that materially affect the image, then iterate. If composition, color, or identity matters more than verbal description, add an appropriate reference. Treat every result as probabilistic: the same conceptual prompt can produce different outputs.
Essential Midjourney parameters
| Need | Parameter | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Wide image | --ar 16:9 |
Aspect-ratio behavior can vary by model. |
| Portrait image | --ar 4:5 or --ar 2:3 |
Choose the format for the intended platform or print use. |
| Current model | --v 8.1 |
V8.1 is currently the default. |
| V7-specific workflow | --v 7 |
Required for Omni Reference. |
| Higher-resolution V8.1 output | --hd |
Midjourney describes this as 2K and charges more GPU time than SD. |
| Standard V8.1 output | --sd |
Lower-cost standard-resolution mode. |
| More literal prompting | --raw |
Reduces some of Midjourney’s default styling. |
| Rapid experimentation | --draft |
Draft Mode is intended for faster, lower-cost prototyping. |
| Relax queue | --relax |
Available for image generation on Standard, Pro, and Mega. |
| Image-prompt influence | --iw |
Range depends on the model. |
| Omni subject reference | --oref IMAGE_URL |
V7 only. |
| Omni influence | --ow 100 |
Values range from 1 to 1,000; 100 is the default. |
See Midjourney’s current parameter list before relying on a parameter in a production workflow, because compatibility changes between models.
Using image references
Image Prompts
Image Prompts influence the content, composition, style, or colors of a new generation. They do not guarantee an exact reproduction.
Upload a supported PNG, GIF, WEBP, JPG, or JPEG file, or provide a valid image URL. Cropping the source to match the intended output ratio can improve the result. Use descriptive text with the image, and adjust --iw when the image needs more or less influence.
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- Designed for Beginners: This drawing pad desinged with 8 customizable shortcuts for both right and left-hand users, express keys create a highly ergonomic and convenient work platform
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- Large Drawing Space, Bigger Bold Inspiration: This expansive drawing pad has10 x 6.25-inch helps you break through the limit between shortcut keys and drawing area
- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The Deco 01 V3 offers USB-C to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C. This ensures easy connection to various devices, allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns. Whether using a laptop, tablet, or desktop, the Deco 01 V3 provides a seamless experience, making it an ideal choice for those just starting their digital art journey
Style References
Style References transfer visual qualities such as palette, texture, lighting, mood, and overall visual treatment. They are separate from Image Prompts and Omni Reference. A Style Reference should not be treated as a reliable way to reproduce a specific artist’s entire body of work or duplicate a particular image.
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Omni Reference is Midjourney’s V7-only system for placing a person, object, vehicle, or non-human creature from a reference image into a new generation.
/imagine a cinematic portrait of a traveler in a desert --oref IMAGE_URLOn the website, adjust Omni Strength in the Imagine bar. In Discord, use --ow. Midjourney recommends staying below approximately 400 unless using very high stylization, because stronger settings can become unpredictable. Omni Reference uses approximately twice the GPU time of a regular V7 image.
It can improve subject continuity, but it does not guarantee an identical face, clothing, accessory, hand position, or production-ready character sheet. It also does not grant permission to use another person’s likeness or copyrighted material. Omni Reference results are currently incompatible with Vary Region, Pan, and Zoom Out, and the feature is not compatible with some V6.1 inpainting and outpainting workflows.
Personalization and Moodboards
Personalization profiles make results reflect a user’s preferred aesthetic. Moodboards collect visual preferences that can inform that profile. This is different from applying a one-off Style Reference: personalization describes a recurring preference, while a Style Reference influences a particular generation. V8.1 users may need to unlock a Global V7/V8 Personalization Profile.
Editing, variations, and upscaling
Use the right tool for the job:
- Generation: create a new image from text and optional references.
- Variation: explore alternatives to a selected result.
- Editor: crop, change aspect ratio, pan, zoom out, or make localized edits where supported.
- Upscaling: increase resolution or refine a selected image.
- Reference prompting: guide a new image using source visuals.
Midjourney’s web Editor supports tools such as crop, aspect-ratio adjustment, Pan, Zoom Out, region-based variation, and other adjustments depending on current availability and model. V8.1 HD images may be reduced to SD during certain editing operations, so upscale again when the final file needs to return to HD resolution.
GPU time, Fast Mode, Relax Mode, and Draft Mode
Midjourney’s cost model is based on access to GPU capacity rather than a fixed number of finished images. Midjourney’s approximate figures include:
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- Tilt Function Battery-free Stylus: This computer graphics tablet come with a battery-free stylus PW100, no need to charge, allowing for constant uninterrupted drawing. ±60° tilt support enables imitation of lines input with diverse drawing gestures, with accuracy ensured.
- Press Keys:12 programmable press keys plus 16 programmable soft keys, you can set shortcut keys on drawing tablet's driver based on your preferences, such as erase, zoom in/out, scroll up and down, and so on.
- Compatibility: HUION graphics tablet supports Windows 7 or later/ macOS 10.12 or later/ Android 6.0 or later/ Linux (Ubuntu). A USB adapter is required to connect to a Mac computer. H1060P supports various mainstream design and drawing software, including PS, SAI, AI, CDR, etc. (Please note: The H1060P is compatible with Ubuntu, but it requires the use of the Xorg display server. Wayland is not supported.)
- NOTE: You can easily connect your phone to the art tablet via the OTG connector; while iPhone and iPad are NOT at the moment. The cursor will not show up in the SAMSUNG Galaxy S series at present. If you are not sure whether the product is compatible with your Phone or any help, please contact us.
- V8.1 SD image prompt: about 0.8 minutes of GPU time.
- V8.1 HD image prompt: about 1.3 minutes.
- Variation: less than one minute in typical cases.
- V7 Omni Reference prompt: approximately two minutes.
- Video: considerably more GPU time than image generation.
These are approximate values. Complex aspect ratios, older models, Turbo, and advanced operations can use more. Unused Fast time does not roll over after renewal.
Fast Mode uses your plan’s monthly Fast allocation. Relax Mode queues work and can take approximately zero to 30 minutes depending on demand; qualifying plans receive unlimited image generation in Relax Mode. Draft Mode is useful for rapid experimentation and lower-cost iteration where supported, but its behavior differs between V7 and V8.1.
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Midjourney pricing and which plan to choose
The following US-dollar prices and allowances were listed in Midjourney documentation checked on August 18, 2026. Prices and features can change.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Fast GPU time | Relax image generation | Stealth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $10 | $96/year | 3.3 hours, listed as 200 minutes | No | No |
| Standard | $30 | $288/year | 15 hours | Unlimited images | No |
| Pro | $60 | $576/year | 30 hours | Unlimited images and SD video | Yes |
| Mega | $120 | $1,152/year | 60 hours | Unlimited images and SD video | Yes |
Annual billing is listed as 20% cheaper than monthly billing, and additional Fast GPU time is listed at $4 per hour. Check the official plan comparison before subscribing.
- Basic: occasional personal use and experimentation.
- Standard: the best default for frequent image exploration when Relax queues are acceptable.
- Pro: privacy-sensitive professional work, more Fast capacity, or SD video in Relax Mode.
- Mega: unusually heavy Fast-mode usage requiring the largest allocation.
Choose based on privacy, queue tolerance, HD and reference usage, video, concurrent jobs, and business eligibility—not just the number of images you expect to create.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Privacy: are Midjourney images private?
Not by default. Midjourney is open by default, and Stealth Mode is limited to Pro and Mega plans.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteFor stronger privacy, use the web Create page, Discord direct messages, or a private Discord server together with Stealth Mode. Images generated in public Discord channels remain visible even when Stealth Mode is enabled. Upgrading does not automatically make older public creations private, and deleting or trashing an image is not the same as making it private.
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- Customize Your Workflow: The 6 customizable press keys on Huion H640P drawing tablet for pc let you assign your most-used commands—like undo, zoom, brush switch, or save—so you can keep your hands on the tablet and your mind on the art. Whether you're a digital painter switching brushes, or a comic artist zooming in and out, these keys keep your workflow smooth and uninterrupted. Plus, the Huion driver lets you save different shortcut profiles for different apps, so you never have to reconfigure when switching software.
- Professional Pen Performance: Huion H640P drawing pad for computer comes with the battery-free PW100 stylus that's always ready when inspiration strikes. With 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, every light sketch, or bold stroke responds naturally to your hand—just like a real pen. The 5080 LPI resolution and 233 PPS report rate deliver lag-free, precise strokes, so you can draw confidently without second-guessing your cursor. The pen side buttons help you switch between pen and eraser instantly.
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- Stable Compatibility: Huion H640P graphic drawing tablet works seamlessly with Mac, Windows, Linux PCs, and Android smartphones/tablets (OS version 6.0 or later). Left-handed friendly, and you just need to flip the tablet and adjust the settings in the driver. Please note: H640P does NOT support iPhone/iPad.
- Move Beyond the Mouse: Huion Inspiroy H640P is a pen tablet that replaces your mouse for more natural, precise control. Freehand draw, take notes, or even play OSU—everything you do with a mouse, you can do better with a pen. The precise tip makes it ideal for detailed photo editing, graphic design, or signing PDF. Meanwhile, the ergonomic pen grip helps you avoid the strain that comes from hours of using a mouse.
Review the Stealth Mode documentation before using confidential client work, unreleased products, or personal likenesses.
Commercial use, ownership, and copyright
Midjourney says subscribers own the images and videos they create under its commercial-use terms, including after cancellation, subject to the service terms. A company with more than $1 million in annual gross revenue must use a Pro or Mega plan to own its assets under those terms.
That contractual permission is not the same as guaranteed copyright protection. Copyright depends on applicable law and the amount of human creative contribution. You must also consider rights in uploaded references, trademarks, recognizable people, copyrighted characters, and other third-party material. Midjourney’s terms do not give blanket permission to use any image commercially.
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Midjourney versus alternatives
| Tool | Likely stronger fit | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Firefly | Adobe users, Photoshop workflows, and design-production teams | Part of Adobe’s broader creative ecosystem. |
| Ideogram | Posters, logos, signs, thumbnails, and text-heavy designs | Evaluate specifically for typography and layout accuracy. |
| ChatGPT image generation | Conversational prompting and iterative editing | Chat-based multimodal workflow rather than Midjourney’s GPU modes and reference systems. |
| Local or open image models | Privacy, reproducibility, customization, and automation | Require compatible hardware or hosting, setup, and model-by-model license review. |
Compare tools using visual quality, text rendering, character and object consistency, editing precision, privacy, commercial terms, API access, pricing structure, learning curve, and ecosystem integration. Midjourney generally does not provide a public API and its guidelines prohibit unauthorized automation through third-party apps or scripts. Do not build a production workflow around unofficial bots or wrappers without confirming that the method is permitted.
Common mistakes and quick fixes
- No image appears
- Check the account, subscription, queue, and
/info. Retry in Fast Mode if appropriate. - The job is too slow
- Use Fast Mode or, where supported, Draft Mode. Relax Mode can queue for up to approximately 30 minutes depending on demand.
- The prompt is rejected
- Simplify the wording and remove potentially restricted text or image inputs. Midjourney automatically blocks some inputs.
- The result is unexpectedly public
- Check Stealth settings and avoid public Discord channels. Stealth does not hide a job posted publicly.
- A reference has little effect
- Confirm the file type and reference system, add descriptive text, crop the source to the target ratio, and adjust
--iwor Omni Strength. - The image has the wrong shape
- Add an aspect-ratio parameter such as
--ar 16:9. - HD editing lowers resolution
- Use the supported editing workflow, then upscale again if you need HD output.
Who should use Midjourney?
Midjourney is a strong choice for painters, illustrators, designers, marketers, game developers, and creative teams who need rapid visual exploration, distinctive styles, cinematic imagery, concept art, moodboards, and reference-driven experimentation without maintaining local hardware.
Choose another tool—or combine Midjourney with one—when the job depends on exact typography, vector output, pixel-level retouching, fully private generation on every plan, frame-perfect characters, local processing, a public API, or a tightly integrated Adobe production pipeline.
The most practical workflow is often hybrid: use Midjourney for ideation and visual direction, then finish typography, layout, retouching, rights review, and production preparation in a tool designed for those tasks.
Quick Recap
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