Mastering Midjourney V7: Complete Beginner's Guide

What is Midjourney?

Midjourney is an AI-powered image generator that creates stunning visuals from text descriptions (called "prompts"). Unlike free tools like DALL-E, Midjourney specializes in artistic, photorealistic images that look professionally made.

Cost: Starts at $10/month for 200 images. Professional plan ($60/month) offers unlimited generations.

Step 1: Getting Started

Midjourney works through Discord. Here's how to set it up:

• Go to midjourney.com and click "Join the Beta"
• Create a Discord account (if you don't have one)
• Join the Midjourney Discord server
• Subscribe to a plan (Basic, Standard, or Pro)
• Start creating in any #general channel

Step 2: Writing Your First Prompt

The secret to great AI art is detailed prompts. Instead of saying "a cat," try this:

Prompt Structure Breakdown:

• Subject: "fluffy cyber-cat with neon blue eyes"
• Setting: "rainy Tokyo alley"
• Style: "cinematic lighting, blade runner style"
• Quality: "8k resolution"
• Parameters: --ar 16:9 --v 7

Step 3: Understanding Parameters

Parameters are commands that control how Midjourney generates images. Here are the most important ones:

Aspect Ratio (--ar)

• --ar 16:9 → Widescreen (YouTube thumbnails, desktop wallpapers)
• --ar 1:1 → Square (Instagram posts)
• --ar 9:16 → Vertical (Phone wallpapers, Stories)
• --ar 3:2 → Standard photo ratio

Version (--v)

Always use --v 7 for the latest and most realistic results. Older versions (v5, v6) are less detailed.

Stylize (--stylize or --s)

• --s 0 → Very literal, follows prompt exactly
• --s 100 → Balanced (default)
• --s 1000 → Maximum artistic interpretation

Quality (--q)

• --q 0.25 → Fast, lower quality (good for testing)
• --q 1 → Standard quality (default)
• --q 2 → High quality (uses 2x credits)

Step 4: Advanced Techniques

Image Prompts

You can upload a reference image and ask Midjourney to create variations:

Multi-Prompts (::)

Use :: to separate concepts and control their weight:

This tells Midjourney to focus twice as much on the sunset compared to the ocean and sailboat.

Negative Prompts (--no)

Tell Midjourney what NOT to include:

Step 5: Pro Tips for Better Results

1. Use Specific Art Styles

Instead of "realistic," try:

• "shot on Canon EOS R5, 85mm lens, f/1.4"
• "oil painting by Greg Rutkowski"
• "Studio Ghibli animation style"
• "Unreal Engine 5 render"

2. Add Lighting Details

• "golden hour lighting"
• "dramatic rim lighting"
• "soft diffused light"
• "neon lighting, cyberpunk"

3. Specify Camera Angles

• "low angle shot"
• "bird's eye view"
• "close-up portrait"
• "wide establishing shot"

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Vague prompts: "a cool picture" won't work. Be specific!
• Too many ideas: Focus on 1-2 main subjects per image
• Ignoring aspect ratio: Always set --ar based on your use case
• Not iterating: Your first result won't be perfect. Keep refining!

Example Prompts to Try

Final Thoughts