Midjourney Version 4c: What Changed (And Did It Improve)?
Apr 29
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Did you notice something different when you made images in Midjourney recently? It's not your imagination. Midjourney Version 4 got an update called Version 4c, released on February 1st, 2023.
This update brings back something many users missed: more aspect ratio options. But with any big change, the community is split. Some people love the new version, while others feel it changed Midjourney in ways they didn't expect.
A Quick Look Back at Midjourney V4 Versions
Midjourney can be confusing with all its versions. Let's quickly recap:
When Midjourney became public in July 2022, Version 3 was the main model.
Version 4 started testing in November 2022. This was a big jump in how the AI made images, adding more detail.
In December 2022, Midjourney updated Version 4 to Version 4B. This became the default model.
Now, in February 2023, we have Version 4c.
Each update changes how the AI understands prompts and styles images. Version 4 generally understands more ideas and has a specific style. But not everyone likes the changes in the newest updates.
Detail and Sharpness
Some creators feel Version 4c makes images softer and less detailed than earlier V4 versions. Skin textures, especially in AI photos of people, can sometimes look less natural or show AI glitches. Comparing images made with the same prompt and seed before and after the update shows why some users feel this way.
How Upscaling Works Now
Users have also talked about how upscaling changes images. The first upscale from the grid can change details. The "beta" upscale often looks closer to the original grid image.
With Version 4c, this pattern continues. The initial upscale changes things from the grid, but the beta upscale is a closer match to the grid image. So, upscaling hasn't changed much in how it behaves.
The Biggest Change: Aspect Ratios Return!
For many, the most important part of Version 4c is the return of aspect ratios.
In Version 3, you could use many different aspect ratios, from wide (16x9) to tall (9x21). When Version 4 first came out, we were limited to 1x1 (square) images. Later, the 3x2 aspect ratio came back, but options were still limited.
Version 4c fixes this! You can now use many aspect ratios again, including:
16x9
4x3
5x9
And any aspect ratio under 2x1 (like 8x5, 21x11, etc.).
These work for both wide (landscape) and tall (portrait) images. Sometimes, the image size is off by a few pixels for the requested ratio, but it's usually very close.
Managing different aspect ratios across many images can add extra steps to your workflow. If you're creating many images or exploring variations, automating parts of this process can save time. The Midjourney Automation Suite by TitanXT helps streamline these tasks.
Other Parameters and Blending
Did other settings change? Version 4c is still missing some older parameters like Image Weight, Video, and Tile.
Some parameters seem to have bugs right now:
Skylight doesn't seem to work.
Stylize 100 and Stylize 1000 give the same look, but Stylize 0 does have an effect, though it might not be what you expect. It's unclear if this is a temporary issue or a constant change.
Other parameters seem to work as before:
The Chaos parameter still works, resulting in more varied images with higher values.
The Quality parameter seems expanded (Quality 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 are listed), but it's not clear if using higher values really changes the output much compared to before.
Adding extra text in images is still a problem in V4. While you can prompt --no text, this hasn't worked well in V4 in general. It might be working a little better after the update, but more testing is needed.
Image prompts and blending:
Comparing images made with the Niji parameter before and after the update shows similar results. The newer one might have slightly less detail.
Image blending also seems to work about the same after the update. You might see a few more glitches or slightly less image connection, but overall it's consistent.
Using an image and a text prompt together still works, but you might notice that loss of detail some users report in the final image.
Creating variations and blends for many concepts can be repetitive. Tools that automate repetitive tasks can make your Midjourney work faster. Check out the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT to see how automation can help.
Final Thoughts on Midjourney V4c
Did the Version 4c update "break" Midjourney? Not really. It definitely changed things, especially the image look regarding detail and sharpness for some users. But the biggest win is the return of more aspect ratios.
Based on community feedback, some people love this new version, and others don't. The style you prefer might depend on what kind of images you create.
Exploring different prompts, styles, and parameters in each Midjourney version takes time and effort. Imagine being able to quickly test variations or manage projects across different styles without manual work. This is where the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT can be a game-changer for your creative process.
What's your take on Midjourney Version 4c? Let us know your thoughts!
