Artificial IntelligenceMidjourney Guide: Create Professional AI Images Step by Step
Learn to use Midjourney step by step to generate artistic and professional images with ready-to-use prompts, advanced settings, and pricing in 2026.
What you will learn
- You'll learn to use Midjourney from sign-up to your first professional image
- You'll get 20 ready-to-use prompts you can copy and paste
- You'll understand the advanced settings that separate ordinary images from stunning ones
Imagine typing a single sentence — "traditional Arabian palace in a golden desert at sunset" — and getting a stunning artwork in 30 seconds that looks like a professional artist spent weeks painting it. That's exactly what Midjourney does.
But the difference between getting jaw-dropping images and disappointing results isn't the tool — it's how you write the prompt. This guide teaches you the right approach from scratch. For a broader overview of AI image generation tools, read the AI basics guide.
According to Statista, Midjourney holds 30% of the AI image generation market — the largest share among all competitors.
What Is Midjourney and How Does It Work?
Midjourney is an AI model specialized in generating images from text descriptions — you type what you want in English and it generates 4 different images in seconds, with an artistic quality that consistently outperforms competing tools in independent comparison tests.
Midjourney is an AI model specialized in generating images from text descriptions. You type what you want in English and it generates 4 different images in seconds. It works through its official website midjourney.com or via Discord.
What sets it apart from competitors (like DALL-E and Stable Diffusion) is its artistic quality — images look like actual artwork, not just machine-generated pictures.
If you want a full comparison of all AI design tools, read best 11 AI design websites.
How Do You Get Started with Midjourney?
The first steps are simple, but many beginners get lost. Here's the clear path from sign-up to your first image.
Step 1: Sign up at midjourney.com with a Google or Discord account.
Step 2: Choose the right plan (there's no free plan currently).
| Plan | Price | Images/Month | GPU Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $10/month | ~200 images | 3.3 hours |
| Standard | $30/month | ~900 images | 15 hours |
| Pro | $60/month | ~1,800 images | 30 hours |
| Mega | $120/month | ~3,600 images | 60 hours |
Step 3: Write your first prompt. Type a description in English in the prompt field and hit send.
Start with the Basic plan at $10 — it's enough for 200 images per month. If you find yourself using it daily, upgrade to Standard. Don't subscribe to Pro unless you're using it commercially.
How Do You Write a Professional Prompt?
Prompt writing is the most important skill in Midjourney — a four-element structure covering subject, art style, lighting, and technical parameters consistently produces results that look professional rather than generic.
Prompt writing is the most important skill in Midjourney. A professional prompt has 4 elements: subject, art style, lighting, and technical parameters.
The Basic Formula
[Subject], [Art Style], [Lighting], [Additional Details] --[Parameters]
Beginner example: a cat → ordinary, boring result
Professional example: Persian cat sitting on a velvet cushion, oil painting style, warm golden hour lighting, intricate details, shallow depth of field --ar 16:9 --v 6.1
The difference is clear — the second prompt specifies the breed, pose, art style, lighting, and aspect ratio.
20 Ready-to-Use Prompts
Realistic photos:
Portrait of an Arab businessman in a modern office, natural light, Canon EOS R5, 85mm lens, shallow depth of field --ar 3:4 --v 6.1Aerial view of Riyadh skyline at sunset, golden hour, drone photography, ultra realistic --ar 16:9 --v 6.1Traditional Arabic coffee setup with dates, macro photography, warm tones, studio lighting --ar 1:1 --v 6.1
Digital art:
4. Futuristic Arabian city with flying cars, cyberpunk style, neon lights, rain, cinematic --ar 21:9 --v 6.1
5. Arabic calligraphy forming a phoenix, digital art, gold and teal colors, dark background --ar 1:1 --v 6.1
Commercial design:
6. Minimalist tech startup logo, letter A, gradient blue to purple, clean background --ar 1:1 --v 6.1
7. Social media banner for AI technology blog, modern design, blue and green palette --ar 16:9 --v 6.1
According to Creative Bloq, Midjourney v6.1 produces realistic images that outperform DALL-E 3 by 40% in blind comparison tests.
What Are the Advanced Parameters and How Do You Use Them?
Parameters are what separate beginners from professionals. They're added at the end of the prompt after --.
| Parameter | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
--ar | Aspect ratio | --ar 16:9 (landscape), --ar 9:16 (portrait) |
--v | Model version | --v 6.1 (latest) |
--q | Quality | --q 2 (highest quality, slower) |
--s | Stylize | --s 750 (more artistic) |
--c | Chaos | --c 50 (more varied results) |
--no | Exclude elements | --no text, people |
--tile | Repeating pattern | For background designs |
The --s (Stylize) parameter has the most impact. Default value is 100. Raise it to 500-750 for more artistic and beautiful images. Lower it to 0-50 if you want a realistic image that closely follows your description.
How Do You Get Arabic Text in Images?
One of the biggest challenges for Arabic-speaking Midjourney users. The model handles English text well but often fails with Arabic.
Practical solution:
- Generate the image without Arabic text in Midjourney
- Add Arabic text using Canva or Photopea (free)
- Or use Ideogram to generate images with Arabic text directly
How Do You Automate Image Generation with Python?
If you're a developer and want to generate images programmatically, you can use the Midjourney API through intermediary services:
import requests
import time
def generate_midjourney_image(prompt: str, api_key: str) -> str:
"""Generate an image via Midjourney API (intermediary service)"""
# Send generation request
response = requests.post(
"https://api.mymidjourney.ai/api/v1/midjourney/imagine",
headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"},
json={"prompt": prompt}
)
task_id = response.json()["taskId"]
print(f"Generation started... Task: {task_id}")
# Wait for result
for _ in range(30):
result = requests.get(
f"https://api.mymidjourney.ai/api/v1/midjourney/task/{task_id}",
headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"}
).json()
if result["status"] == "completed":
return result["imageUrl"]
time.sleep(10)
return "Timeout — try again"
# Usage example
image_url = generate_midjourney_image(
prompt="Modern Arabic mosque, minimalist architecture, sunset --ar 16:9 --v 6.1",
api_key="YOUR_API_KEY"
)
print(f"Image: {image_url}")
How Does Midjourney Compare to DALL-E 3?
For a comprehensive comparison of all AI models, read AI fundamentals.
If your budget is limited and you have a ChatGPT Plus subscription, use the built-in DALL-E 3 — it's free with your subscription. If you need exceptional artistic quality and precise control, Midjourney is worth the investment.
What Are the 7 Common Mistakes Beginners Make?
1. Prompts that are too short. "beautiful landscape" won't give you a standout result. Add lighting, style, and mood details.
2. Ignoring aspect ratio. A square image doesn't work for a YouTube thumbnail. Use --ar 16:9 for landscape and --ar 9:16 for Instagram Stories.
3. Not using --no. If you don't want people in the image, type --no people. Much easier than regenerating ten times.
4. Skipping Upscale. After choosing your favorite image, press U1-U4 to increase resolution. Don't use the thumbnail directly.
5. Writing in Arabic. Midjourney only understands English. Write your prompt in English even if you want Arabic-themed content.
6. Not experimenting with --s. The Stylize value completely changes the image. Try 50, 250, and 750 for the same prompt and compare.
7. Forgetting the version. Always add --v 6.1 to get the latest model and best quality.
؟Can I use Midjourney images commercially?
Yes, with paid plans. The Basic, Standard, Pro, and Mega plans all include commercial usage rights for images you generate. The only exception is if you are earning more than $1 million annually from Midjourney-generated content — in that case, you need the Pro or Mega plan specifically. Always check the current terms of service at midjourney.com/legal before using images commercially, as policies can update.
؟Why does Midjourney sometimes ignore parts of my prompt?
Midjourney assigns different weights to different parts of a prompt, and when the prompt is complex, some elements get deprioritized. Solutions: use double colons with a weight to emphasize specific elements (e.g., sunset::2 city makes sunset twice as important), break a complex scene into multiple generation attempts, or use the --no parameter to exclude unwanted elements that keep appearing. Shorter, more focused prompts often produce better results than very long, complex ones.
؟What is the difference between Midjourney v5 and v6.1?
Version 6.1 produces significantly more realistic images, handles complex lighting better, renders text in images more accurately (though still imperfect for Arabic), and follows detailed prompt instructions more precisely. V5 sometimes produces more "dreamy" or stylized results that some artists prefer. Both are available — use --v 5.2 in your prompt to access the older version. For most users and use cases, v6.1 is the better choice.
؟Is there a free trial for Midjourney?
As of 2026, Midjourney no longer offers a free trial. The Basic plan at $10/month with approximately 200 images is the entry point. Some third-party services offer limited Midjourney API access for free, but quality may vary. If you want to experiment before subscribing, platforms like Adobe Firefly (free tier available) or Microsoft Designer (free) can help you understand AI image generation before committing to Midjourney.
؟How do I make Midjourney generate consistent characters across multiple images?
Character consistency is one of Midjourney's more advanced features. The most effective method in v6.1 is the Character Reference (--cref) feature — generate a character image you like, copy its URL, and add --cref [URL] to subsequent prompts to maintain the same character appearance. Alternatively, use detailed character descriptions and include the same specific descriptors in every prompt (hair color, clothing, distinguishing features). Style references (--sref) help maintain visual consistency across an entire image series.
؟Can I remove backgrounds from Midjourney images?
Midjourney itself does not have a background removal tool. However, the workflow is straightforward: generate your image in Midjourney, then use Remove.bg (free for low resolution), Canva's background remover (free with account), or Photopea (free browser-based editor) to remove the background. For the cleanest results, generate the subject against a simple, contrasting background initially, which makes automated background removal much more accurate.
؟What styles work best for professional business use?
For professional business applications, the most reliable styles are: photorealistic corporate imagery (use camera references like Canon EOS R5, specific lens settings), clean minimalist design (specify "minimalist, clean, white background, professional"), product visualization (use "studio lighting, product photography, high resolution"), and infographic-style illustrations (specify "flat design, vector art style, professional"). Avoid highly abstract or painterly styles for business content — they often feel unprofessional in corporate contexts.
؟How do I upscale Midjourney images to print quality?
Midjourney's native upscaling produces good results for screen use but may not be sufficient for large print formats. For print quality: use Midjourney's upscale feature first (U1-U4 buttons), then run the result through a dedicated upscaling tool like Topaz Gigapixel AI or Magnific AI (both paid) for 4x-8x upscaling with detail enhancement. For standard print sizes (A4, A3), Midjourney's 4x upscale is usually sufficient. For very large prints (posters, banners), dedicated AI upscaling is recommended.
What's Next?
Midjourney is a powerful tool, but it's a means — not an end. Start by generating 10 images today — try different styles, adjust parameters, and compare results. Within a week, you'll develop an intuition for what produces stunning images and what doesn't. Most importantly: use these images in your real projects — don't just generate them to admire.
Sources & References
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