Looking Back: How Midjourney Image Quality Changed Over Time

Discovering an image from Midjourney's first version got me thinking. It looked really different from what we create today. Like this otter laughing, the early quality was, well, modest. This sparked an idea for a look at how Midjourney has grown over the years. Many people only know the platform from versions 5, 6, or 7. Seeing the older images might bring a smile, given how fast AI develops.

Trying Earlier Midjourney Versions

You can easily try older versions yourself. Go to the settings icon in Midjourney and set the default model there. Or, just type the version number into your prompt like this: `--v 1` (for version 1). This lets you experiment and see the differences firsthand.

Comparing Midjourney Across Versions

Let's look at some examples to see the progress. For this comparison, I'll only use the full version numbers, otherwise, it would be too much.

Funny Ninja Cookie

My first comparison was a funny ninja cookie. It's a sweet idea mixed with something sharp. The results in version 7 show Midjourney's power now. Dynamic, creative, and cool.

Sheep on a Hill

Next, I used a prompt from the Midjourney homepage about a sheep on a hill. This simple scene shows how details have improved.

People and Text

AI platforms often struggle with text in images. Midjourney has improved, but it can still lag sometimes. This example shows how making images of people with text has changed in detail and impact over versions. You've probably seen this challenge yourself if you've used Midjourney for text.

Pencil Drawn Kitten

I tried different styles and levels of detail. Here's a pencil drawing of a kitten. It started looking like a simple scribble. Now, it looks like a very fine drawing in later versions.

Yeti With Microphone

You might know the Yeti hype. Imagine a Yeti with a microphone walking in forests, interviewing hikers. This idea was influenced by the abilities of version 03.

Turtle on a Skateboard

Like the idea of a monkey on roller skates, I tried a similar image: a turtle on a skateboard. This shows how Midjourney interprets playful concepts.

Cowgirl in the Wild West

Thinking about the Wild West theme, I created a cowgirl. Comparing versions shows how Midjourney pictures specific settings and characters.

Anatomy: Hands

I wanted to see how good Midjourney is at anatomy, using hands as an example. While results are much better now, anatomy is still one of the biggest challenges, along with text. But look at versions 1 through 4 – you can really see the progression.

Black Bear Underwater

This is one of my favorites: a black bear underwater. It started as just a black shape with eyes. It became a fierce-looking animal. The result in version 7 is impressive. I even used this image for a video thumbnail. Big thanks to a colleague who found a trick for this prompt: adding "fear of deep water."

Not sure how to write a good prompt? Chat GPT can help. I asked it about phobias after hearing the "fear of deep water" trick. It listed things like fear of tall buildings or empty rooms. Try using phobias or other unusual inputs in your prompts. You might get unexpected images that don't come from typical prompts. It's a great way to get creative ideas.

More Comparison Examples

Sports Snapshot

Here is a try at capturing a moment in sports: a ball hitting a man's face. Early versions were hard to understand. Version 3 is funny, almost like a cartoon. Versions 6 and 7 capture the moment very well. You see the surprised look, the blur, and the ball just before impact.

Computer Game Scene

If you know computer games, here's an attempt to create a scene. Early versions looked like splotches. By version 4, you can see a recognizable message. Version 7 is the best, of course. It shows a gangster, a race car, palm trees, and a sunset in an impressive, illustrative way.

Midjourney has come a long way. After maybe millions of training data points, it can do so much more. When I use it daily, Midjourney is definitely my top choice for image creation.

Creating many variations and managing your Midjourney images can take time. If you want to speed up your workflow and manage your creations easily, check out the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT. It's designed to help you get more done with less effort.

Conclusion: Midjourney Today and Tomorrow

You know what to expect with Midjourney now. The results are very good most of the time. Of course, not always perfect. There will likely be new updates soon. People are talking about version 7.1 or even 8. A video model might also be coming, but we don't know exactly when.

Looking back shows how far Midjourney has developed. What started modest has become a powerful creative tool.

Ready to enhance your Midjourney experience? The Midjourney Automation Suite by TitanXT can help you streamline everything from generating prompts to organizing results. Visit the link to learn more.