Guide: Create Cinematic Photos in Midjourney V6

Midjourney Version 6 is here. It brings amazing quality improvements. But it also changes how we write prompts compared to previous versions. If you want to make images that look like they came from a movie scene, then learn how to write prompts for V6. This guide walks you through the key steps.

Understanding Midjourney V6 Prompts

Older versions of Midjourney were more interpretive. With V6, you get much more control over your image results. This means you need to be more specific in your prompt writing.

Key Elements for Cinematic Style

To get started with cinematic prompts, think about the core parts of a film shot:

Subject and Setting

• Start with the subject. Describe your character or object.

• Add the setting. Where are they? Specify the location (e.g., luxurious restaurant, sprawling Metropolis).

• Think about the genre. Is it a spy movie, a thriller, or something else? Adding a genre keyword helps set the scene.

Camera Details

Camera information is important for the look and feel.

• Director Style: You can name a famous director Known for a specific cinematic style. Or, you can describe the look yourself.

• Camera Type: Mention a specific camera model, like ARRI Alexa XT, used in many films.

• Lens: Some prompts can benefit from specifying a lens type.

Shot Composition and Angle

How the camera frames the shot makes a big difference.

• Angles: Examples include low angle, high angle, Dutch angle, overhead, eye level, shoulder level.

• Shot Types: Think about medium shot, wide shot, close-up.

• Composition: Consider framing and use of space. Depth of field (how much is in focus) is also key and can be described using f-stop numbers (lower F-stop means less is in focus, like f1.4; higher means more is in focus, like f8).

Technical Film Details

Adding technical terms used in filmmaking can enhance the cinematic feel.

• Film Gauge: Specify film sizes like 16mm, 35mm, 65mm, or 70mm (IMAX 70mm). 35mm is common for movies.

Lighting Techniques

Lighting sets the mood.

• Natural Light: Uses sunlight or ambient light for a realistic look.

• Artificial Light: Man-made light, from soft to harsh, shapes the scene's tone. Examples include practical lighting (lights visible in the scene) or ambient lighting.

Color Theory and Palette

Colors greatly affect the visual story. A specific color palette (like muted tones or neon colors) can change the entire feel of an image. Think about how colors are used in certain movies to show character mood or plot changes.

Midjourney V6 Parameters

These parameters give you more control over the final image.

• Aspect Ratio (`--ar`): Use 21:9 or 16:9 for a cinematic widescreen look.

• Stylize (`--s`): A lower number (like `--s 50`) gives you more control based on your prompt text. Higher numbers allow Midjourney more creative freedom.

• Style Raw (`--style raw`): Using this mode works with lower stylize values to give you maximum prompt control. You can enable this in your Midjourney settings, which is similar to using `--s 50` and `style raw` mode together. This mode helps the AI stick closely to your words rather than apply its default aesthetic.

Creating these detailed prompts can become quite involved. If you find yourself writing many complex prompts or need to manage variations efficiently, consider using an automation tool. The Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT can help streamline your workflow, letting you focus more on creative ideas and less on repetitive tasks.

Putting it into Practice

Let's look at an example prompt structure:

• Start with genre and subject: "modern psychological thriller starring Daniel Craig"

• Add actions and setting: "in a tuxedo at nighttime walking through a storm about to embark on a mission in the middle of a sprawling Metropolis while carrying two guns"

• Specify technical/camera details: "taken with an Ari Alexa XT with a hawk V light vintage 74 lens, low angle medium shot"

• Include aesthetic instructions: "muted color palette"

• Add parameters: "--ar 21:9 --s 50 --style raw --v 6.0"

This level of detail helps Midjourney create exactly the scene you imagine. You can experiment by changing specific details like the color palette (e.g., neon colors) or camera angles to see how the image changes. Sometimes you might get a result you didn't expect, like an unintended umbrella, which is part of the creative process!

Handling many detailed prompt variations and tests manually can be time-consuming. Tools designed for Midjourney automation can significantly speed up this process. The Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT is built to assist with generating, managing, and upscaling your images more efficiently.

Conclusion

Midjourney V6 allows for incredible creative control, especially for cinematic images. By focusing on detailed prompts covering subject, setting, camera, lighting, color, and using the right parameters, you can guide the AI to produce stunning, movie-like visuals. Keep experimenting with different elements to see what works best for your vision.

Ready to take your cinematic prompting workflow to the next level? Explore the features of the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT to help you generate more prompts and manage your results more effectively.