How to create high-quality AI-generated images with Midjourney

Do you need a logo for your company or images for a presentation? One option is to use an AI image generator like Midjourney. With this image creator, you describe the type of image you need and the website displays four high-quality renderings for you to refine and edit.

You need a paid subscription to use Midjourney. The company has offered free trials in the past, but not on a regular basis. Plans range from $10 to $60 per month and $96 to $576 per year. Each level accelerates response speed and provides additional benefits. To get a feel for Midjourney, you should start with the basic plan to see how well it works for you.

In the past, Midjourney required you to use Discord to create AI images. This required a lot of fiddling with text-based prompts, a process that could be cumbersome and frustrating, especially for newcomers. To appeal to a wider audience, Midjourney has now launched its own website, which is much simpler and more user-friendly.

Sign up for Midjourney

To get started, go to the Midjourney website and click Sign in button at the bottom of the home page. Either a Google or Discord account is required to sign in. If you have previously created images through Discord, you can use this account to get your history and then merge your Discord and Google accounts to log in with either account.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

After logging into the site, tabs for different sections appear in a sidebar on the left. Choose Explore to look at images that other people have created. Filter the images by selecting different categories at the top, such as: E.g., “Random,” “Hot,” “Top Day” (as well as “Top Week” or “Top Month”) and “Like.”

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

Click on an image you are interested in to view it in full screen mode. There you will also find the prompt to generate the image, which you can copy and use as a basis for your own image. Click the X to return to the image gallery.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

When you’re ready to create your own images, click Create tab on the left. At this point you will be asked to sign up for one of the paid subscriptions. Click on Join now Click the button, select the subscription level you want, and follow the steps to pay and activate your subscription.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

Create an image

On the Create screen, generate an image by typing a command prompt What will you imagine? field at the top of the page. Add the necessary details to describe the image. You will also want to specify the style you want, e.g. E.g. watercolor, drawing, anime or photorealism. Press Enter to send your prompt. Four images will be generated in response, hopefully matching your description.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

Adjust an image

Don’t like the result? Change the image by clicking the three-line settings icon to the right of the command prompt. Here you can change options such as size, model and aesthetics of the image. For example, you can change the aspect ratio between square, portrait and landscape. You can also move the slider to tweak the stylization, weirdness, and variety. Hover over any of the Aesthetics options to see how it changes your image.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

After making the adjustments, copy and paste your previous prompt into the What will you imagine? Type in the field and press Enter. Similar to Microsoft’s Copilot and Google’s Gemini, Midjourney creates a new set of four images based on the same prompt, but uses the options you customize.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

Hover over an image to view options for it Vary subtly And Vary widely. Click on one and Midjourney will create a new batch of four images with subtle or strong variations based on the image and options you choose.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

Modify images with create actions

Click on an image that you like and would like to further optimize. The image will then open in a larger view. Various actions are displayed on the right side of the screen Creation actions. When you hover over a specific action, it explains what it does. The Vary The action allows you to change the image in a subtle or strong way. In response, Midjourney creates a new image with subtle or dramatic changes. Click to try it out Subtle or Strong.

With the Upscale This action allows you to create a larger image that is more suitable for downloading or printing. For this click on Subtle or Creative. With the More Action, you can run the same prompt again or go directly to the editor. You can also use the image, a style, or a prompt to rework it. Click Repetition or editor. With the Use Action allows you to use the image, style, or original prompt to generate a new image.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

Try out some of the different actions. Each time you select one, a new series of four images is generated. You should limit the number of actions you choose. Otherwise you will get lots of new images. When you’re finished, return to the Create screen to view the new image sets.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

Edit an image

On the Create screen, select an image. Midjourney has a built-in editor that allows you to make further changes to an image. Click editor right. In the editing screen, zoom in or out by dragging the image scale Slider at top. Here you can also change the aspect ratio by selecting one of the presets.

You can then move the image on the canvas by dragging the four-arrow icon in the middle. For example, you can shrink the image to add more content to the left, right, top, or bottom. When you’re done, click Submit and return to the Create screen to view the newly generated images.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

Reselect the image you want to use in the future. Next, you can change parts of the image based on revisions to your prompt. For example, you can add a new element to your image by deleting the part you want to change and then adding the new information to the prompt.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

After you submit the new prompt, Midjourney will generate a new set of images to the right of your current one. Click on any of the new images to view it.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

Download and organize images

Once you’ve selected the image you like best, open it in its own window. Click on Download image Click the button on the right and select a location to save the file. Your image will then be downloaded as a PNG file.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

You can view and organize all the images you created by clicking Organize Category on the left. Right-click a specific image to access a menu where you can like, hide, change, copy or save the image. Click on Organize Click the button on the right to display a sidebar. Here you can create folders to store your images, filter the image list based on various criteria, and experiment with the layout and image size.

(Image credit: PCMag / Midjourney)

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About Lance Whitney

Contributor

I’ve been working for PCMag since early 2016, writing tutorials, guides, and other consumer technology articles. In addition to PCMag, I have written news and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, PC World, Time, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. As one of the site’s East Coast reporters, I wrote breaking news for CNET for seven years. I have also written two books for Wiley & Sons:Windows 8: Five minutes at a time And Bring yourself to LinkedIn visually.

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