Exploring the Latest Updates in Midjourney v7 Alpha

Midjourney's v7 alpha is here, and it's bringing new features and improvements as it develops. This latest update includes some popular returning features, enhancements to existing ones, and a powerful new way to interact: Conversational Mode. Let's look at what's new in this second alpha refresh.

Features Now Available in v7 Alpha

Midjourney v7 alpha is still under development. Not all past features were available from day one. More are being added gradually. Here are a couple that are now back and working in v7 alpha.

What is Tile Mode?

The Tile Mode is now supported in v7. You use this by adding the `--tile` parameter to your prompt. This tells Midjourney to create an image that can be repeated seamlessly to form a pattern.

For example, if you prompt for "simple and pastel colors with circles," you get a standard image. But add `--tile` to that same prompt, and Midjourney creates a repeating pattern of pastel circles.

This is great for creating backgrounds, wallpapers, or textures. You can try it with different subjects, like small robots or floral designs. The `--tile` parameter turns a single image idea into a usable pattern element.

How Remix Mode Works Now

Remix Mode is another feature that is now available in v7 alpha. This mode helps you make changes to an existing image while keeping its overall style.

After generating an image, click on it to expand it. You will see options, including "Remix." There are two types: Subtle (small changes) and Strong (larger changes).

When you select Remix (Subtle or Strong), a prompt box appears already filled with the prompt that generated the image. You can then edit this prompt slightly and generate new images based on the original. For example, you could change "Lionel Messi" to "Cristiano Ronaldo" in the prompt. Midjourney will then create images of Cristiano Ronaldo in a similar style to the original Messi image.

Remix Mode is useful for creating variations or changing elements in an image without losing the initial look and feel.

Draft Mode Enhancements

Draft Mode was introduced in the first v7 alpha update. It lets you generate images up to 10 times faster. The trade-off is that the initial quality might be a bit lower.

When you use Draft Mode (by toggling the lightning bolt icon before prompting), the generated images have a new option: "Enhance."

The 'Enhance' Option

Below a Draft Mode generated image, you might see "Vary Subtle," "Vary Strong," and "Enhance." Vary Subtle/Strong create variations with small or large changes, respectively.

The "Enhance" button is different. It improves the quality of the draft image with even *less* change than "Vary Subtle." This means you can quickly generate drafts and then use "Enhance" to boost the quality while keeping the image almost identical to the original draft composition.

This is helpful when you want to quickly see general layouts or ideas, and then refine a promising draft without major alterations.

Changes to the Prompt Bar

The prompt bar has been updated. Originally, Draft Mode and a form of conversational input were linked. Now, they are separate modes you can toggle on or off.

One major addition is the distinct Conversational Mode.

Understanding Conversational Mode

Conversational Mode is activated by clicking an icon, which then reveals a microphone button (indicating voice input is also possible, though text input is the primary focus here).

This mode changes how you interact with Midjourney. Instead of needing to write a detailed, technical prompt right away, you can give instructions in a chat-like format.

How Conversational Mode Works

You can type simple requests as if talking to the AI. For instance, type "make me a sheep with a blue hat and a red scarf." Midjourney's AI then interprets this and automatically creates a detailed prompt in the background. It might decide on a style, like "cute cartoon 3D rendering," based on its understanding and add that to the prompt it uses.

You can give multiple instructions in one message, like "make me a cow with a red hat, and a horse with a yellow hat." Midjourney will generate prompts (and images) for both based on your simple input.

You can also build on previous images and give follow-up instructions in the conversation. For example, after creating the sheep, cow, and horse, you could say, "Change the style of the cow and horse to be similar to the sheep." Midjourney will attempt to follow this instruction in generating new images.

Conversational Mode allows for a more natural way to refine ideas. You can say things like "put the cow, horse, and sheep in the same picture" and see how Midjourney attempts it (while still developing, the AI is trying these complex instructions). You can even ask it to change the entire feel, like "change this illustration into a more realistic one."

This mode simplifies the prompting process, especially for complex ideas or for those new to generating images with AI. It allows you to evolve your image idea through dialogue rather than crafting a perfect prompt from scratch every time. For users looking to streamline their Midjourney workflow, especially with evolving features like this, consider the Midjourney Automation Suite by TitanXT. It can help manage generations and variations, making these new modes even more powerful.

Looking Ahead

The v7 alpha rollout continues. Features like character references are highly anticipated. These updates suggest Midjourney is moving towards making image creation more intuitive and flexible.

Managing the output from these creative sessions, especially with new modes like conversational, can become a task in itself. Tools designed to automate parts of the Midjourney process can significantly help. Discover how simplifying prompt management and output organization can enhance your creative flow by checking out the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT.

Conclusion

The latest updates to Midjourney v7 alpha bring back useful features like Tile and Remix modes, improve the functionality of Draft Mode with the "Enhance" option, and introduce the exciting, intuitive Conversational Mode. These changes aim to make creating with Midjourney easier and more powerful during this alpha phase. As the alpha continues, more updates are expected, promising even more control and flexibility for creators.

Stay updated on Midjourney's progress and keep experimenting with these new tools. And if you find yourself needing a little help managing all your creative output and prompts, remember that automation tools can make a big difference. Learn more about streamlining your creations with the Midjourney Automation Suite by TitanXT.