The most complete Midjourney guide for 2026. From setup and basic commands to advanced parameters and commercial use—step-by-step instructions to master AI art. Includes 100+ practical prompt examples.

Midjourney Complete Tutorial (2026): From Beginner to AI Art Master

Midjourney is currently the most popular AI image generation tool, famous for its incredible artistic quality. Whether you’re a designer, marketer, or just a creative hobbyist, this guide will take you from zero to Midjourney expert.

What is Midjourney?

Midjourney is an AI image generation tool that creates images from text descriptions (prompts). Its key features include:

High artistic quality: generates images with a distinct, painterly style
Simple operation: create by simply typing
Active community: see others’ work and prompts
Continuous evolution: significant improvements with every version

Subscribe to Midjourney

Chapter 1: Getting started with Midjourney

1.1 Create an account

Step 1: Join Discord

Midjourney operates primarily on Discord. If you don’t have a Discord account:

Go to discord.com
Click “Register”
Fill in username, email, and password
Verify your email

Step 2: Join the Midjourney server

Go to midjourney.com
Click “Join the Beta”
Accept the invitation to join the Discord server

Step 3: Subscribe to a plan

Midjourney currently has no free tier; you must subscribe to use it:

Plan	Monthly	GPU Hours	Features
Basic	$10	3.3 hours	~200 images
Standard	$30	15 hours	~900 images
Pro	$60	30 hours	Priority fast mode
Mega	$120	60 hours	Heavy users

My recommendation: Start with Basic to get familiar. Standard is the best choice for most users. View Midjourney plans

1.2 Interface tour

After joining the Midjourney server, you’ll see:

#newbies-xxx channels: Practice area for beginners
#general-xxx channels: General creation area
#show-and-tell: Share your work

1.3 Your first image

In any allowed channel, type:

``/imagine prompt: a cute cat sitting on a windowsill, sunlight, cozy`


Wait about 60 seconds, and your first AI image is ready!
Chapter 2: Basic commands explained
2.1 The /imagine command
This is the most used command. Format:


/imagine prompt: [your description]


Basic prompt structure:

Subject: a dragon, a woman, a cityscape
Details: with golden scales, wearing a red dress
Style: in the style of Studio Ghibli, cyberpunk
Vibe: dramatic lighting, peaceful, mysterious

2.2 Image action buttons
After generation, you’ll see two rows of buttons:
U1-U4 (Upscale): Upscale the corresponding image

U1 = Top Left
U2 = Top Right
U3 = Bottom Left
U4 = Bottom Right

V1-V4 (Variations): Generate similar variations
🔄 (Re-roll): Regenerate using the same prompt
2.3 Other common commands


/settings          # Adjust default settings
/info              # Check account info and remaining time
/describe          # Upload an image for AI to describe
/blend             # Blend 2-5 images together
/shorten           # Analyze and shorten your prompt


Chapter 3: Parameters guide

Parameters give you fine control over the result. Add them at the end of your prompt using --parameter value.


3.1 Aspect ratio --ar
Controls image dimensions:


--ar 1:1    # Square (default)
--ar 16:9   # Widescreen
--ar 9:16   # Portrait (good for phone wallpapers)
--ar 3:2    # Classic camera ratio
--ar 4:3    # Traditional screen ratio


Example:


/imagine prompt: beautiful sunset over ocean --ar 16:9


3.2 Stylize --stylize or --s
Controls how strongly Midjourney applies its artistic style:


--s 0       # Most faithful to prompt, less artistic flair
--s 100     # Default
--s 250     # Moderate stylization
--s 500     # High stylization
--s 1000    # Extreme stylization (may deviate from prompt)


3.3 Chaos --chaos or --c
Controls diversity of the results:


--c 0       # Four images look very similar (default)
--c 50      # Moderate difference
--c 100     # Four images look very different


3.4 Quality --quality or --q
Controls generation quality and speed:


--q 0.25    # Fastest, lowest quality
--q 0.5     # Fast, medium quality
--q 1       # Standard quality (default)


3.5 Version --version or --v
Specify the Midjourney version:


--v 6.1     # Latest version (recommended)
--v 6       # Previous version
--v 5.2     # Older version
--niji 6    # Anime style version


3.6 Negative prompting --no
Exclude unwanted elements:


/imagine prompt: forest landscape --no people, buildings, cars


3.7 Seed --seed
Use a specific seed to get repeatable results:


/imagine prompt: a dragon --seed 12345


3.8 Image weight --iw
Controls the influence of a reference image:


/imagine prompt: [Image URL] a cat --iw 2


Chapter 4: Advanced Prompt Techniques
4.1 Weight syntax

Use :: to adjust element weights:


/imagine prompt: cat::2 dog::1
cat is twice as important as dog

Negative weights can reduce elements:`/imagine prompt: landscape::1 people::-0.5`


4.2 Permutations
Generate multiple variations at once:


/imagine prompt: a {red, blue, green} car
Generates three batches: red car, blue car, green car


4.3 Multi-prompts

Separate concepts using :::


/imagine prompt: hot dog
Likely generates: a hot dog (food)
/imagine prompt: hot:: dog
Generates: a dog that is hot


4.4 Using reference images
Image Prompt:


/imagine prompt: [Image URL] futuristic version


Style Reference (--sref):


/imagine prompt: a cat --sref [Style Image URL]


Character Reference (--cref):


/imagine prompt: a woman in paris --cref [Character Image URL]


Chapter 5: Complete Style Guide
5.1 Art style keywords
Painting styles:

oil painting

watercolor

digital art

pencil sketch

charcoal drawing


Design styles:

minimalist

maximalist

art deco

art nouveau

bauhaus


Photography styles:

portrait photography

street photography

macro photography

cinematic


5.2 Famous artist styles


in the style of [Artist Name]


Examples:

in the style of Hayao Miyazaki

in the style of Van Gogh

in the style of Monet

in the style of Banksy


5.3 Anime style (Niji mode)

Use --niji 6 for anime aesthetics:


/imagine prompt: a girl with blue hair, magical powers --niji 6

Niji parameters:`--style cute # Cute style --style scenic # Scenery focus --style expressive # Rich expressions`


5.4 Photography terms
Camera settings:

50mm lens

85mm portrait lens

wide angle

macro lens

tilt-shift


Lighting:

golden hour

blue hour

rim lighting

studio lighting

natural light


Effects:

bokeh

long exposure

film grain


Chapter 6: Practical Prompt Library
6.1 Portraits


/imagine prompt: professional headshot of a young Asian businesswoman, confident smile, wearing navy blazer, soft studio lighting, shallow depth of field, 85mm lens --ar 3:4 --s 150


6.2 Product photography


/imagine prompt: minimalist product photography of a luxury perfume bottle, marble surface, soft shadows, elegant lighting, high-end advertising, 8K --ar 4:5 --s 100


6.3 Landscapes


/imagine prompt: breathtaking mountain landscape at sunrise, mist in valleys, dramatic clouds, golden light, National Geographic photography, ultra detailed --ar 16:9 --s 200


6.4 Illustration


/imagine prompt: whimsical children's book illustration of a fox reading a book under a tree, autumn leaves falling, warm colors, hand-drawn style, cozy atmosphere --ar 3:2 --niji 6


6.5 Sci-Fi


/imagine prompt: futuristic cyberpunk city street at night, neon signs in Japanese, rain reflections, flying cars, blade runner atmosphere, highly detailed --ar 21:9 --s 250


6.6 Food


/imagine prompt: professional food photography of a gourmet pasta dish, fresh basil, parmesan shavings, rustic wooden table, natural window light, appetizing, food magazine style --ar 4:5 --s 100


6.7 Logo Design


/imagine prompt: minimalist logo design for a coffee shop named "Dawn", abstract sunrise motif, warm colors, clean lines, professional, vector style --ar 1:1 --s 50


6.8 Interior Design


/imagine prompt: modern Scandinavian living room interior, large windows, natural light, wooden furniture, plants, cozy textiles, architectural photography --ar 16:9 --s 150


Chapter 7: Commercial Application Guide
7.1 Copyright and usage rights
Paid subscribers:

Own commercial rights to generated images
Can use for products, ads, books, etc.
Cannot sell the raw image file itself (platform dependent, verify terms)

Notes:

Cannot use real people’s likenesses for commercial use
Cannot imitate specific trademarks
Some artist styles may be controversial

Midjourney commercial terms
7.2 Social media application
Instagram Post: Use

--ar 1:1 or --ar 4:5


Stories/Reels: Use

--ar 9:16


Facebook Cover: Use

--ar 820:312

 (approximate)
YouTube Thumbnail: Use

--ar 16:9


7.3 Printing
Midjourney can generate images up to 4096×4096 (with upscale). For print:

Use Upscale to get max resolution
Consider AI upscalers for further enlargement
Ensure 300 DPI for print quality

7.4 Workflow optimization
Professional workflow:

Test quickly with low quality (--q 0.5)


Find a direction you like
Reroll with high quality
Upscale the chosen result
Refine in post-production software (Photoshop)


Chapter 8: FAQ & Troubleshooting
8.1 Why do my images look bad?
Common causes & fixes:

Prompt too short → Add details
Style conflict → Unify style descriptions
Parameter issues → Adjust --s and --c
Version issue → Check if you are using --v 6.1

8.2 How to get consistent characters?
Use Character Reference (--cref):


/imagine prompt: a woman in different poses --cref [Character Image URL] --cw 100

--cw

 controls character weight (0-100).
8.3 How to avoid weird hands?

Add detailed hands to prompt

Use --no deformed hands, extra fingers


Choose compositions that hide hands
Fix in Photoshop


8.4 Generation is too slow?


Use Relax mode to save fast hours

Lower quality --q 0.5`
Avoid peak times
Upgrade to Pro

Chapter 9: Community Resources

9.1 Inspiration

Midjourney Official Gallery: See others’ work
PromptHero: Search and share prompts
Lexica.art: Massive database of AI images and prompts
Pinterest: Style references

9.2 Learning resources

Midjourney Documentation: The authoritative source
YouTube Tutorials: Visual learning
Discord Community: Live Q&A

Join Midjourney Discord

FAQ

Q1: Is there a free trial?

Currently no. Midjourney ended free trials in 2026. You must subscribe to use it, starting at $10/mo.

Q2: Can I use Midjourney images commercially?

Yes, if you are a paid subscriber. However, limitations apply (e.g., trademarks, public figures).

Q3: How is Midjourney different from DALL-E or Stable Diffusion?

Midjourney is known for high artistic quality and a unified aesthetic. DALL-E is better at understanding complex instructions. Stable Diffusion is open-source and run locally.

Q4: How do I improve image quality?

Use Upscale, choose appropriate --stylize values, write detailed prompts, and study prompt structures from top creators.

Q5: Can I write prompts in Chinese?

You can, but English works much better. Midjourney is trained primarily on English data.

Q6: How many images can I generate per month?

Depends on your plan. Basic ~200, Standard ~900, Pro ~1800. Relax mode offers unlimited generation (slower).

Conclusion

Midjourney is a powerful creative tool, but the real magic comes from your imagination. This guide provides the technical foundation—now go experiment and practice.

Advice for beginners:

Practice 30 minutes daily
Analyze prompts from works you like
Build your own prompt template library
Join the community to learn from pros

Advice for pros:

Experiment with complex parameter combinations
Develop your own unique style
Combine Midjourney with other tools
Explore commercial applications

Start your AI art journey today!

Start using Midjourney

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Last updated: January 2026 Midjourney updates constantly—check official documentation for the latest features.