Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Updated Midjourney V7 Editor

Midjourney helps you create amazing images. But what if you want to take an image you made and change it just a little? Or combine it with another picture? The Midjourney editor is the place for this. It lets you customize images further. This guide walks you through how it works, including the new features like layers.

Finding the Midjourney Editor

There are two ways to access an editor in Midjourney.

• The main editor is called the external image editor. You find it in the left navigation menu under "edit". This opens a page specifically for editing images. You can start with a new image there, either by pasting a URL or uploading a file from your computer.

• There's also an internal editor. You find this by clicking on a picture you've already made in Midjourney. Look for the "edit" button at the bottom right. If you don't see it, go to "more options," then "more actions," and make sure "edit" is checked.

The external editor is more powerful for combining images and using advanced tools. Clicking "open and edit tab" in the internal editor will take you to the external one.

Working in the External Editor

When you open the external editor and load an image, you see two main tabs: "edit" and "retexture." They do very different things. The "edit" tab lets you change specific parts of the image, like in a photo program. "Retexture" changes the overall look, style, or material.

Basic Editing Tools (Edit Tab)

Once you've started editing, tools appear below the tabs.

• Move and Resize: This tool gives you control handles on the image corners. You can drag corners to scale the image, or use a slider on the left to change its size by percentage. You can also change the canvas size (aspect ratio) and move the image around the canvas. A tip: do not make the image too small, or Midjourney might add things you didn't expect.

• Paint (Erase and Restore): This is like using a brush on your image. The brush size is controlled by a slider or your mouse wheel. Use "erase" to mark areas you want Midjourney to change or fill in. Use "restore" to bring back areas you accidentally marked. Tip: Use a slightly larger brush than needed; this gives Midjourney room to interpret better. After marking areas, click "submit edit" to tell Midjourney where to make changes.

• Smart Select: This helps you select objects or backgrounds easily. "Include" marks an object when you click it. "Exclude" removes parts from your selection. "Erase selection" cuts out the marked area. "Erase background" removes everything that is *not* marked.

Using Layers

Layers work like stacking images. You find this option at the bottom left. Click "add" to bring in another image from your computer. This second image becomes a new layer on top of your first one. You can select and delete layers. The layer you are currently working on is outlined in red.

Using layers with other tools is where it gets powerful. For example, you can add a penguin image as a layer on top of a background image. Use "move and resize" to place the penguin. Then, go to the background layer and use the "erase" tool around the edges where the penguin meets the background. This is important! Erasing the area between the two images helps Midjourney blend them together smoothly when you add a prompt and click "submit edit." Midjourney does a good job blending the layers without needing other software.

Automation tools can help you manage multiple layer experiments and edits. Check out the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT at https://www.titanxt.io/midjourneyautomator.

Adding Personalization with Mood Boards

This is a creative feature. Select an image in the editor, reduce its size slightly, and place it in the center. Find the "P" symbol at the top right and switch it on. This activates personalization. Now, pick a "mood board" style you like from the options. The red "P" shows it's active. Add a prompt and click "submit edit." Midjourney keeps your center image but applies the style from the mood board to the area around it, blending the two styles together. You can change mood boards and try different styles. Remember to turn off personalization by clicking the "P" symbol again when you are done with that style.

Changing Texture (Retexture Tab)

The "retexture" tab lets you change the look and feel of the image. For example, you could take a picture of a penguin and use the prompt "knitted penguin." Midjourney will change the image to look like a knitted version, giving it a different texture and style. Just enter your prompt and click "submit retexture."

You can use retextured images with layers. Take the retextured "knitted penguin" image (perhaps a cropped PNG), add it as a layer to a background image in the "edit" tab, and use the "erase" brush on the background layer where the penguin meets it. This helps Midjourney blend the retextured image into the scene.

Saving Your Work and Tips

Midjourney saves your work in the editor under "recent." If you need to stop, your project should be there when you return. To keep an image you make in the editor and add it to your main gallery, use "upscale to gallery." You can also download images directly. If you want to clear images from the editor's "view all" page, you can select them and choose "hide" or click the trash can icon to delete the project completely.

Important Tips:

• The editor is great for combining images and blending styles.

• It works best with one or two layers.

• Use the "erase" brush on the background layer between objects to help Midjourney blend them.

• Remember to upscale images to your gallery to save them permanently.

While the Midjourney editor is powerful for specific tasks like blending and restyling, it is not a full photo editing program. Many basic tools found in software like Photoshop are not present. Think of it as a tool for creative merging and adding depth.

Managing multiple image variations and iterative edits can become complex. To streamline your creative process and handle your Midjourney projects more efficiently, explore automation solutions. The Midjourney Automation Suite by TitanXT at https://www.titanxt.io/midjourneyautomator is designed to help manage and automate parts of your workflow.

In Closing

The Midjourney editor, especially the external version with layers and personalization, gives you new ways to control and refine your images. By understanding how to use the editing tools, layers, personalization, and retexture functions, you can go beyond simple prompting and create more complex scenes and visual effects. Give the editor a try and see how it changes your Midjourney workflow.