Understanding Key Midjourney Parameters for Better Images

A Midjourney generated image using Midjourney Automation Suite

Midjourney is a powerful tool for creating images from text. But did you know you can get much more specific results by using parameters? Parameters are like special instructions you add to your prompt. They help you control different aspects of the image Midjourney creates. Learning these can really improve your images and give you more control over the creative process.

Let's look at some important Midjourney parameters and how to use them.

Keeping Your Character Consistent

Imagine you have a character you love and want to show them in different situations. Midjourney makes this possible with the `--cref` (character reference) parameter. You give Midjourney an image of your character, and it tries to recreate them in new scenes.

How to Use Character Reference

First, find an image of the character you want to use. In Midjourney's interface, you can use the image as part of your prompt. When you add an image URL, you'll see options. Select the one that says "Use as character ref".

Then, add your text prompt describing the new scene. For example, if you use an image of a woman and your prompt is "woman in a space suit", Midjourney will try to put that same woman in a space suit.

Fine-Tuning with Character Weight (--cw)

Sometimes, the `--cref` parameter might try to copy too much from the original image, not just the face. This is where `--cw` (character weight) helps. It tells Midjourney how much attention to pay to the 'character' part of the image.

• `--cw 100`: This is the default. Midjourney looks at the whole character image for reference.

• `--cw 0`: This tells Midjourney to focus mostly on the character's face. This is often best if you want the same person but with different clothes, settings, or poses.

By adjusting `--cw`, you can get better results when trying to keep a specific character in different pictures.

Copying a Style or Feel

Midjourney can also copy the artistic style of an image you provide. This is done with the `--sref` (style reference) parameter. It lets you take the look and feel of one image and apply it to a different subject.

Using Style Reference (--sref)

Similar to character reference, you start with an image. Find an image with a style you like. Add its URL to your prompt area. Make sure you select the option that says "Use as style reference".

Then, type your prompt for the image you want to create. Midjourney will try to generate your subject while using the colors, mood, and style from the reference image.

Using Images as Inspiration

Image prompts are different from character or style references. When you add an image URL at the beginning of your prompt without specifying `--cref` or `--sref`, it acts as an image prompt. Midjourney uses the image as a starting point or inspiration for creating a new image.

Understanding Image Weight (--iw)

The `--iw` (image weight) parameter controls how much influence the image prompt has on the final result. A higher number means Midjourney will try harder to make the new image look like the reference image. A lower number means it will rely more on your text prompt.

• `--iw` values typically range from 0 to 3.

• Adjusting `--iw` lets you decide the balance between the reference image and your text description.

Controlling Your Image Size

The aspect ratio (`--ar`) determines the width and height of your image. It's written as a ratio, like 16:9 for a wide picture or 4:5 for a tall picture. You can set this directly in your prompt using `--ar` followed by the ratio (e.g., `--ar 16:9`).

Midjourney also offers quick ways to set common aspect ratios through its settings interface. You can often choose between square, portrait, or landscape options.

Testing Different Ideas Quickly

Permutations are a handy feature using curly brackets {} that let you run multiple versions of a prompt in one go. You put the options you want to test inside the brackets, separated by commas.

For example, `{red, blue} car` will create images for "red car" and "blue car" using the rest of your prompt.

This is great for comparing different styles, colors, or parameters quickly. If you're testing how `--ar` or `--chaos` affects your image, permutations are a quick way to see the results side-by-side.

Bonus Tip: Relax Mode

While experimenting with permutations or just creating lots of images, keep Relax speed in mind. Standard speed uses your fast hours, but Relax speed lets you create images without using those hours. They just take a bit longer.

Take control of your Midjourney creations! Experimenting with parameters like --cref, --sref, and --ar can significantly impact your results. For even more control and efficiency in managing your Midjourney workflow, explore tools designed to automate and enhance your experience, such as the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT.

Adding Randomness with Chaos (--chaos)

The `--chaos` parameter (values from 0 to 100) affects how varied the images in your grid will be. A low chaos value (like 0) means the four images Midjourney generates for a single prompt will be quite similar to each other. A high chaos value (like 100) makes the images much more different and sometimes unexpected.

You can use `--chaos` in your prompt (e.g., `--chaos 50`) or adjust it with a slider in Midjourney's settings, often labeled "Variety".

Telling Midjourney What NOT to Include

Beginners often try to tell Midjourney what they *don't* want directly in the main prompt, like "a blue car without yellow stripes". But Midjourney tends to treat every word in the main prompt as something it *should* consider adding.

The correct way to exclude things is with the `--no` parameter. You add `--no` followed by the things you want to leave out.

• Example: `a blue car --no yellow stripes`

This tells Midjourney to create a blue car but actively avoid yellow and stripes (as separate concepts). If you wanted stripes but not yellow ones, you'd just say `--no yellow` and mention other stripe colors in your main prompt.

Getting Consistent Results with Seed (--seed)

When Midjourney creates images, it uses a random 'seed' number as a starting point. This seed influences the initial noise pattern, which affects the final image grid. If you run the exact same prompt twice without specifying a seed, you'll get different results because Midjourney uses a new random seed each time.

If you generate a grid you like and want to make small changes to one of the images while keeping the overall composition similar, you need the seed number. You can usually get the seed number for a job using reactions.

Once you have the seed number, you can run the prompt again but add `--seed` followed by the number (e.g., `a blue car --seed 12345`). This tells Midjourney to start from the exact same visual noise pattern, so the resulting images will be very similar to the original set, allowing for controlled variations.

Controlling the Artistic Style and Feeling

Midjourney has a default artistic style applied to images. Sometimes you might want a more raw, less interpreted look. This is where the `--style raw` parameter comes in. It reduces Midjourney's default artistic filter, aiming for a more direct interpretation of your prompt.

You can add `--style raw` to your prompt or select "Raw" mode in the settings.

Adjusting Stylization (--s)

If you want to lean *into* Midjourney's artistic filter more than the default, you use the `--s` (stylization) parameter. This parameter takes a number (often from 0 to 1000 or higher, depending on the Midjourney version/settings). A higher number means Midjourney will apply its artistic style more strongly.

You can use `--s` in your prompt (e.g., `a dragon --s 750`) or control it with the "Stylization" slider in the settings.

Want to make the most of these parameters without the manual hassle? Tools like the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT can help streamline your process, letting you focus on creativity.

Creating Repeating Patterns

The `--tile` parameter is used to create images that can be repeated seamlessly to form a pattern or texture. This is useful for backgrounds, textures, or printable patterns.

Add `--tile` to the end of your prompt (e.g., `hardwood floor --tile`). Midjourney will generate an image designed so that if you place copies of it next to each other, the edges match up perfectly online.

Making Things... Weird

The `--weird` parameter, often shortened to `--w`, is for adding unusual and unexpected qualities to your images. It takes a number generally from 0 to 3000. A higher number increases the level of weirdness.

Use `--weird` followed by a number in your prompt (e.g., `broccoli with a face --weird 1000`) or adjust the correlating slider in the settings.

Anime and Eastern Aesthetics (--niji)

Midjourney usually has a default style. But if you're looking to create images with an anime or more Eastern art style, the `--niji` parameter is perfect. It activates a different model trained to produce images with these aesthetics.

Simply add `--niji` to your prompt (e.g., `dragon --niji`). Compare the results to the same prompt without `--niji` to see the difference.

Putting It All Together

Learning these parameters gives you much more control over your Midjourney images. You can recreate characters, copy styles, control image size, test ideas quickly, exclude unwanted elements, get consistent variations, adjust artistic style, make repeating patterns, add weirdness, or shift to an anime style.

Experiment with combining these parameters in your prompts to see what you can create! Start with one or two and see how they change your results.

Ready to take your Midjourney workflow to the next level? Explore the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT for tools that can help manage prompts, run jobs, and organize your creations more effectively.