Make Your Midjourney Layouts Perfect with Editor Tricks

Getting the exact image composition you want in Midjourney can feel challenging. You have great ideas, but making Midjourney place elements precisely where you imagine isn't always simple. The Midjourney editor, particularly the Retexture feature, gives you powerful new ways to control layout and composition. This guide explores how to use simple photo bashing and the Retexture tool to achieve more control over your final images.

Using the Midjourney Editor for Image Layout

The core idea is to use images as building blocks for your layout. You can bring in photos or images generated elsewhere to create a basic scene composition. Think of it like digital photo bashing – arranging elements before you tell Midjourney what style or details to add.

Build Your Base Scene

Start by dragging in your first image. This might be a background or a main element. Use the editor's move and resize tools to position it. For example, you might bring in a temple image and stretch it out to fill the background.

Next, you might need to clean up the base image. The editor has tools like erase and smart select to remove unwanted parts, like people in a photo. After erasing, you can use the edit area to describe what should fill that space, like "ancient Japanese temple with trees and a stone footpath." Submit the edit, and Midjourney will generate a revised base image.

You can then add more background elements. Select areas (like the sky) with smart select and erase them. Drag in another image, like Mount Fuji, size it, and position it. Use the layer system to place it behind your main background layer. You might need to clean up edges with the eraser tool for a smoother blend.

Add Foreground Elements

Bringing in characters or objects is next. Using images with transparent backgrounds (PNGs) works best for easily adding elements without complicated cutouts. Tools outside Midjourney, like free online background removers, can help prepare your character or object image.

Drag the transparent PNG into the editor. Position it where you want your character or object to appear in the final image. You can add multiple layers for different elements – a character here, a specific object there. While you can use many layers, keeping it simpler at first (maybe 3-4 elements) can make the process easier.

Once your elements are positioned as desired, you now have a visual layout. You could stop here and just add a transparent character PNG to a pre-rendered background if that's all you needed. But the real power comes next.

Apply Style and Detail with Retexture

With your layout composed using layers, the Retexture feature allows you to apply a Midjourney style and prompt details to this composite image. Instead of generating from scratch, Midjourney uses your layered setup as the visual foundation.

Perform the Retexture Step

Go to the Retexture option. Type in a prompt describing the full scene you want, including the elements you've placed and the style or mood you're after. For instance, "Samurai man holding a sword. An ancient Japanese temple with trees and stone footpath. Mount Fuji in the background." Submit the retexture request.

Midjourney will generate new images based on your prompt, using your layered layout for composition. The style and details will change according to your prompt, and the character or elements might look different, but their general placement should follow your layout. You'll get a few options to choose from.

This method is powerful because you control the basic scene structure. You can experiment with different prompts ("cinematic movie screen cap", "dramatic lighting nighttime") on the same layout to see how the mood and appearance change while keeping the character near the temple and the mountain in the background.

Refine with References and Personalization

To get closer to a specific look or character, use image prompts within the editor during retexture. You can add character references (using features like Consistent Characters if available/compatible) and style references. Drag your character image or a style example image into the image prompt area.

Leverage your Midjourney personalization tools too. Include mood boards or personalization profiles in your prompt to guide the artistic result. For example, adding "ink dripper personalization profile" or referencing a specific mood board can dramatically change the output style based on your layout.

Sometimes, applying references or styles works best if you retexture the image multiple times. Generate an image from your layout, then take that *new* image, make a tiny edit (like erasing a small spot to make sure it processes the new image), and retexture it again with the style/character references. This can help Midjourney fully adopt the desired look on your chosen layout.

Iterating and Advanced Usage

The editor allows for iteration. If you get a result you like but want to tweak it, you can continue from that image within the editor. For instance, you could erase just the character's face and try retexturing a small area to get a better likeness without changing the whole image.

Keep in mind that getting everything perfect can take work. If specific details, like a character's face, aren't quite right even after retexturing, consider using external tools like a face swapper as a final step. There are free options available that can help achieve the desired look.

Alternatively, you don't have to start by building a complex scene in the editor. You could use a simple reference photo or even a basic sketch of the pose or layout you want. Upload the reference image and use it with a prompt. Then refine further in the editor or with retexture.

This approach using the editor and retexture gives you more control than just prompting. It lets you visually design your scene before Midjourney renders the final image based on your descriptions and references. You can use it to guide not just objects but also poses, as seen in the example of editing a sketch to change Batman's arm position before prompting.

Streamline Your Midjourney Workflow

Gaining this level of precise control in Midjourney using the editor, retexture, and other tools can involve many steps and iterations. Managing different layouts, prompts, references, and versions can become time-consuming. This is where automation can help.

Looking for ways to manage your Midjourney creations more efficiently and perhaps automate repetitive tasks involved in refining concepts? A tool like the TitanXT Midjourney Automation Suite is designed to help artists and creators streamline their workflow. Explore how automation could potentially reduce the manual effort in managing your Midjourney projects and iterations required to get perfect layouts and styles.

Putting It All Together

Using the Midjourney editor and the Retexture feature together provides a powerful way to control the composition and layout of your generated images. By combining photo bashing principles – arranging images and elements as layers – with descriptive prompts and various references (image, style, personalization profiles), you can guide Midjourney to create images that match your vision with much greater accuracy regarding placement and structure.

Experiment with different combinations of base images, elements, prompt styles, and reference images. Try iterating on the results by retexturing generated images. This method adds another layer of control over your creative process in Midjourney.

Enhance Your Midjourney Process

As you explore these techniques for fine-tuning your Midjourney results, consider tools that can assist with managing and automating parts of your creative process. The TitanXT Midjourney Automation Suite offers features aimed at helping users manage their Midjourney work, potentially saving time on repetitive tasks as you iterate towards your desired image compositions.

By combining the creative control offered by the Midjourney editor and retexture with workflow tools like TitanXT, you can spend more time creating and less time on manual adjustments.