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The Best Prompts for MidJourney

Have you been using MidJourney for a while but still feel unsatisfied with your creations? Perhaps you’ve browsed the Community Showcase on the official website or Discord, admiring other users’ stunning works. You’ve likely wondered: “What are the best prompts for MidJourney?”

Unfortunately, your results might seem nowhere near as good—others’ works are more detailed, photorealistic, and beautifully lit. But why does this happen? What’s the difference between your images and theirs?

The answer lies in two key factors:

1. You’re likely using prompts incorrectly.

2. You might be generating images with the wrong version of MidJourney.

Yes, you read that right! MidJourney allows you to choose between different versions of its AI. Even if you’re a pro at crafting prompts, using the wrong version can lead to vastly different results.

Before diving in, I highly recommend reading my previous guide, MidJourney: The Complete Guide, to understand the basics.

What Are Prompts?

Here’s a definition of a prompt:

“A prompt is a short text phrase that MidJourney interprets to produce an image. The bot breaks down the words and phrases into smaller components, called tokens, which it compares with training data to generate an image.”

In simpler terms, MidJourney learns from user input. The more detailed and precise your description, the better the AI can understand what you want and create high-quality images.

How to Create the Best Prompts for MidJourney

A strategy I’ve personally used to craft the best prompts involves starting with simple words and gradually adding more details. Let’s go through an example:

Suppose we want to create an image of a tiger cub. Start with a basic prompt:

/imagine prompt: Cute Tiger Cub

This will generate a decent result. But to enhance it, we need to specify a style. Let’s say we want a look inspired by Pixar movies like Toy Story or Up. Update the prompt to:

/imagine prompt: Cute Tiger Cub by Pixar

This style specification alone makes a noticeable difference. But we can push the quality further by adding more visual details and effects:

/imagine prompt: Cute Tiger Cub by Pixar, Fairy Fantasy, Full Colors, Volumetric Lights, Ultra Details, 4K

Now the result will be far superior—fantasy-like, vivid, and highly detailed. However, keep in mind that even with the perfect prompt, it might take several tries or adjustments to achieve the desired image.

Pro Tip: Words That Boost Image Quality

Certain words can significantly enhance image quality, particularly for close-up subjects. For example Volumetric Lights, Ultra Details, 4K

These terms, when combined, often yield sharp and visually stunning results.

To summarize, use the following formula to craft high-quality prompts:

  1. Subject: Define what you want (a person, creature, or concept).
  2. Style: Specify the art style, inspired by artists, studios, or genres.
  3. Details: Add as many relevant and connected details as possible.
  4. Visuals: Include lighting, effects, and unique visual elements.
  5. Quality: Specify resolution and clarity (e.g., 4K or ultra-sharp).

Understanding MidJourney Versions

MidJourney frequently updates its AI with new versions to improve image generation. Currently, the default version is 5.2, but you can switch to another version by typing /settings and selecting your preferred option.

Alternatively, you can specify the version directly in the prompt:

/imagine prompt: Cute Tiger Cub by Pixar [...] 4K --version 5.2

For a more natural look and to reduce the “AI feel” in your images, use the –style raw command.

With these tips and tricks, you’ll be well-equipped to create exceptional images with MidJourney. Experiment, refine, and most importantly, enjoy the process!