How to Use MidJourney for Stunning AI Art: Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide (2025)

1. Set Up Your MidJourney Account

MidJourney operates primarily through Discord, a popular communication platform. To begin, you’ll need to join the official MidJourney Discord server. You can access it through the MidJourney website. MidJourney offers both free and paid plans, but to truly unlock its creative potential, a paid subscription is highly recommended. For beginners, the Basic Plan at $10 per month is an excellent starting point, providing you with approximately 200 image generations per month.

Steps to Set Up:

1. Visit the MidJourney website.
2. Click on “Join the Discord” to get an invite to their Discord server.
3. Follow the instructions to create a Discord account if you don’t already have one, and join the MidJourney server.
4. Once inside Discord, explore the free trial channels (if available) or subscribe to a paid plan to start generating.

2. Navigate the Interface

The MidJourney interface within Discord might seem a bit unconventional at first, but it’s designed for ease of use. The primary way to interact with MidJourney is by using the /imagine command. You can work in public channels, where your creations are visible to others, or utilize direct messages (DMs) with the MidJourney bot for more privacy during your creative process. For beginners, working in public channels can be beneficial as you can see prompts and creations from other users, providing inspiration and learning opportunities.

Key Interface Elements:

• Public Channels: Channels like `#newbie-xx` are for general image generation and exploration. Your prompts and images will be visible to everyone in these channels.
• Direct Messages (DMs): To work privately, you can send a direct message to the MidJourney Bot. All commands and generated images in DMs are private to you.
• `/imagine` command: This is the core command to start generating images. Type `/imagine` followed by your text prompt to instruct MidJourney what to create.

3. Master the Basics: Your First Prompt

Let’s dive into creating your first AI artwork! The fundamental command in MidJourney is /imagine. To use it, simply type /imagine in the message bar of a MidJourney channel or your DM with the bot, then enter your text prompt after the command. For instance, let’s try a simple prompt:

Example Basic Prompt:

/imagine a futuristic city at sunset

Hit enter, and MidJourney v5.2 (the current model as of this guide) will process your prompt and generate four image options based on your description. Within about a minute, you’ll see a grid of four images that interpret “a futuristic city at sunset.” These initial images are your starting point, and from here, you can refine and upscale your favorites.

Understanding the Initial Output:

• Grid of 4 Images: MidJourney always generates a set of four images from each prompt, giving you variety to choose from.
• Buttons Below the Grid: Below the grid of images, you’ll see buttons labeled `U1`, `U2`, `U3`, `U4` and `V1`, `V2`, `V3`, `V4`.
  • `U` Buttons (Upscale): `U1`, `U2`, `U3`, `U4` correspond to the images in the grid (from top-left to bottom-right). Clicking a `U` button upscales the corresponding image, creating a larger, more detailed version.
  • `V` Buttons (Variations): `V1`, `V2`, `V3`, `V4` also correspond to the images in the grid. Clicking a `V` button generates variations of the selected image, creating new, similar images based on the style and composition of your chosen image.

Prompt Structure Formula: Subject + Style + Parameters

A winning prompt typically follows a simple yet effective formula:

Prompt Structure: Subject + Style Modifiers + Parameters

• Subject: This is the core element of your image – what you want to depict. It could be a person, object, scene, or concept (e.g., “a samurai,” “a forest,” “abstract art”).
• Style Modifiers: These words or phrases guide MidJourney on the artistic style you desire. This could include art movements, artists, rendering styles, or moods (e.g., “cyberpunk,” “impressionist,” “photorealistic,” “dreamlike”).
• Parameters: These are commands that fine-tune the technical aspects of the image generation, such as version, aspect ratio, and level of creativity (e.g., `–v 5.2`, `–ar 16:9`, `–chaos 80`).

Let’s illustrate this with an example. Consider creating an image of a cyberpunk samurai.

Example: Basic vs. Advanced Prompt

• Basic Prompt: A cyberpunk samuraiThis simple prompt will yield generic results. The output might be somewhat undefined in style and detail.

Placeholder Image: Example of a basic MidJourney output from “A cyberpunk samurai”. Replace with actual image.

• Advanced Prompt: A cyberpunk samurai, neon-lit Tokyo backdrop, intricate armor design, hyperrealistic 8K, cinematic lighting, trending on ArtStation --v 5.2 --ar 16:9This advanced prompt is far more descriptive and includes style modifiers and parameters. It specifies the setting (neon-lit Tokyo), details (intricate armor), rendering style (hyperrealistic 8K, cinematic lighting), and even references an online art community (ArtStation) to guide the aesthetic. The parameters --v 5.2 and --ar 16:9 further refine the output to use the latest MidJourney model and set a widescreen aspect ratio.

  Placeholder Image: Example of an advanced MidJourney output from the detailed cyberpunk samurai prompt. Replace with actual image.

As you can see, the advanced prompt yields a much more stunning and detailed piece of AI art compared to the basic one. The more descriptive and specific you are in your prompts, the better MidJourney can understand your vision and bring it to life.

Style Modifiers: Shaping the Artistic Vision

Style modifiers are keywords and phrases that tell MidJourney what kind of artistic style you want for your image. Experimenting with different styles is key to unlocking diverse and visually captivating AI art.

Here’s a table of style categories with example keywords and use cases to inspire your prompts:

1. Upscale & Remix: Refining Your Selections

After MidJourney generates your initial grid of four images, you can further refine your favorites using Upscale and Remix options.

• Upscale (U1-U4): When you find an image in the grid that you like, clicking the corresponding `U` button (e.g., `U1` for the top-left image) will upscale it. Upscaling creates a larger, more detailed version of the selected image, enhancing its resolution and clarity. This is essential for producing high-quality final artwork suitable for various uses.
• Variations (V1-V4): If you like the overall style or composition of an image but want to explore slight alterations, use the `V` buttons. Clicking a `V` button (e.g., `V2` for the top-right image) generates variations of that image. MidJourney will create new images that are similar in style and composition to your chosen image but with subtle differences, allowing you to iterate and find the perfect variation.

2. Parameters for Precision: Fine-Tuning Output

Parameters are powerful commands you add to your prompts to control specific aspects of the image generation process. Here are some key parameters for beginners:

• --v (Model Version): Specifies the MidJourney model version to use. --v 5.2 (or simply --v 5 or --v 5.1) utilizes the latest and most advanced model as of this guide, known for sharper details and coherence. Experimenting with older versions like --v 4 might yield different artistic styles.
• --ar (Aspect Ratio): Sets the aspect ratio of the generated image. For example, --ar 16:9 creates widescreen images ideal for YouTube thumbnails or cinematic artwork. Common ratios include 1:1 (square), 3:2, 4:3, and more.
• --chaos (Creativity Level): Controls the level of variation in the generated image grid. --chaos 0 (or omitting the parameter) produces predictable and consistent results, while --chaos 100 increases creativity, leading to more diverse and unexpected variations. Experiment with values between 0 and 100 to find your preferred level of creative randomness.

3. Blend Images: Merging Concepts Visually

The /blend command is a creative technique to merge the visual characteristics of 2 to 5 images into a new, unique concept. This is excellent for combining elements from different sources to create something entirely novel.

How to Use /blend:

1. Type /blend in the message bar.
2. You’ll be prompted to upload 2 to 5 images. You can upload directly from your computer or paste image URLs.
3. Once uploaded, hit enter. MidJourney will analyze the visual elements of the input images and blend them to generate new images that combine aspects of each.

Example Use Case: Imagine you want to create AI art that merges the fierce nature of a lion with the cosmic beauty of a galaxy. You could blend an image of a lion with an image of a galaxy using the /blend command. The result could be a stunning artwork featuring a lion with galactic patterns or textures, embodying both power and cosmic wonder.