Comparing Midjourney Versions: Finding the Best Style for Your Art

Midjourney keeps evolving. Recently, the team looked back at versions V1 through V7. They asked people to vote on their favorite images from each era. This brought up many feelings among users.

Some people loved the colors of V3. Others focused on the details in V5. And some liked the smooth look of V6. While everyone talked about the older versions, Midjourney V7 arrived with big changes.

V7 is faster, generating images 40% quicker. It also has a new 'draft mode' that helps you create quick ideas fast. It's like having an art helper that understands what you want.

With all these versions, V1's wood carving feel to the newest V7, which one works best? Let's look closely at how each version handles the same request. This will help you see how picking the right version can make a big difference in your results.

To test, we used a prompt describing a creature from the Shanhaijing (a classic Chinese text) made into a trendy blind box toy. It asked for rich color, national style, and lots of detail.

Looking Back: Early Versions (V1-V3)

Version 1

Version 1 creates characters that look very abstract. They feel like small wooden toys you might find from a long time ago. The texture is rough, like pine wood. It has a strong old-fashioned feel. If you want a woodcut look, a retro display item, or 8-bit style art, V1 has a special charm.

Version 2

V2's images feel more like small ornaments with an "eraser" texture. It's still quite abstract.

Version 3

Version 3 has brighter colors and a bit more design sense. The details are still not very specific, but the colors can be beautiful. If you like a retro style with bright colors, V1, V2, and V3 are good choices.

The images from these first three versions have lower resolution and rougher details. But for certain styles, like retro pictures or effects that are meant to look rough, this can create a unique kind of art.

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Stepping Up: Versions V4 and V5

Version 4

Version 4 shows a big jump forward. The images look more complete and recognizable. You can usually tell what the creature is. Characters have more design and details. The images feel more polished and artistic.

Version 5 (V5.0, V5.1, V5.2)

V5 came in three steps:

• V5.0: Characters have lots of details but sometimes look a bit childish. The faces, especially mouths, aren't always well done.

• V5.1: Adds some cuteness with bright colors and rich details. Still some face issues sometimes.

• V5.2: Has even brighter colors than V5.1 and very rich details. The textures look real, with strong shine. Images feel like actual objects. Faces and features look correct and the characters can look intense. If you want a strong, realistic character, V5.2 is a good option.

Refinement and Speed: Versions V6 and V7

Version 6 (V6.0, V6.1)

V6 brought a focus on fine detail and design.

• V6.0: Creates detailed images with a sense of design. Colors are muted, like "Morandi colors." Characters often have a gentle look, like an elegant character.

• V6.1: Uses colors more freely and brightly than V6.0, but still feels comfortable because of the lower overall saturation. Details are still rich but with more open space, making the image feel less busy. Character eyes can look lively.

If you need high image quality with rich details and a refined, traditional style, V5.2, V6.0, and V6.1 are excellent choices. They can produce images suitable for detailed models or high-end artwork.

Automating your Midjourney workflow can save you time and effort, especially when generating many images for comparison. Learn more about the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT.

Version 7

The newest version, V7, is great for personalized designs or quickly making many sketch ideas. It produces high-quality images quickly.

V7's key feature is the draft mode. This mode works fast and lets you quickly generate many concept sketches. It helps you create ideas quickly without spending a lot of time on each image.

V7 draft mode needs to be used in fast or turbo mode, not relax mode. Adding 'draft' to your request lets you quickly get many ideas. This lets you quickly get many concepts ready.

Picking Your Version

As Midjourney has grown, the image quality has gotten better. However, the style has also changed. Knowing this helps you pick the right version for your project.

• For a retro or abstract style, try V1, V2, or V3.

• For more structured images with good detail, V4 is a step up.

• For realistic details and strong characters, V5.2 is a powerful choice.

• For refined, high-quality, detailed images with artistic style, V6.0 and V6.1 work well.

• For quick ideas, fast generation, or exploring many concepts, V7 with draft mode is the go-to.

Choosing the right version for the look you want and your needs can really speed up your creative process. Whether you need quick sketches, detailed realism, or a classic feel, there's a Midjourney version that fits.

Ready to take your Midjourney creations to the next level and manage them efficiently? Explore the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT.

Which version style do you prefer? The old-fashioned V3, the more artistic V4, the detailed V6, or the fast V7? Finding the right version for your art makes all the difference.