Midjourney prompting guide

Version note, last verified September 2026. The current default is V8.2, and this guide covers V7, V8.1, V8.2, and Niji 7. Midjourney ships new versions a few times a year, so if the user names a newer one, or a parameter behaves unexpectedly, check https://docs.midjourney.com with WebSearch before relying on a version-specific claim here.

Quick reference: prompt structure

A Midjourney prompt has up to four parts:

/imagine [description] [image URLs] [parameters]

Key Principle: Short, specific prompts work best. Describe what you want to see, not abstract concepts.

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The 7-element framework

Build complete prompts systematically:

Element	Question	Examples
Subject	Who/what is in the image?	A weathered fisherman, a cyberpunk samurai
Medium	What art form?	Oil painting, photograph, 3D render
Environment	Where is this?	Stormy harbor, neon-lit alley, misty forest
Lighting	How is it lit?	Golden hour, dramatic backlighting, soft diffused
Color	What palette?	Muted blues, warm earth tones, high contrast
Mood	What feeling?	Melancholic, triumphant, eerie
Composition	How is it framed?	Rule of thirds, centered, wide shot

Example:

A weathered fisherman, oil painting, stormy harbor at dawn,
dramatic backlighting, muted blues and grays, melancholic,
rule of thirds composition --ar 3:2

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Essential parameters

Parameter	Purpose	Values	Default
--ar	Aspect ratio	Any ratio (16:9, 2:3, 1:1)	1:1
--stylize / --s	Artistic interpretation	0-1000	100
--chaos / --c	Variation between grid images	0-100	0
--weird / --w	Unusual aesthetics	0-3000	0
--no	Exclude elements	Words (comma-separated)	-
--seed	Reproducibility	0-4294967295	Random
--raw	Less Midjourney beautification, closer prompt adherence (older prompts wrote --style raw)	-	Off
--hd / --sd	V8.1+: 2048px or 1024px render	-	--sd
--tile	Seamless patterns	-	Off

Reference parameters

Parameter	Purpose	Weight Control
--sref [URL or code]	Copy style from image	--sw 0-1000 (default 100)
--oref [URL]	Put a character or object from an image into the result (V7 only; V8 uses the Edit Model)	--ow 1-1000 (default 100)
--iw	Image prompt weight	0-3 (default 1)

See reference/parameters.md for complete details.

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Aspect ratio guide

Ratio	Best For	Feel
1:1	Instagram, avatars	Balanced
3:2	Classic photography	Natural
2:3	Portrait orientation	Vertical focus
16:9	Widescreen, presentations	Cinematic
21:9	Ultra-wide, panoramic	Epic
9:16	Phone wallpapers, stories	Vertical social

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Common prompt types

Photorealistic portrait

[Age] [ethnicity if relevant] [gender] [action/pose], [clothing],
[environment], [lighting type], [camera] [lens] [aperture],
[film stock if desired] --ar [ratio] --raw

Example:

30-year-old woman with freckles and auburn hair, wearing cream
linen shirt, sitting in sun-drenched cafe, soft window light,
Canon EOS R5, 85mm lens, f/1.8, Kodak Portra 400 --ar 2:3 --raw

Illustration/art

[Subject] in the style of [artist/medium], [environment],
[lighting], [mood] --ar [ratio] --stylize [value]

Example:

A mystical forest spirit, digital illustration in the style of Loish,
enchanted woodland, dappled sunlight, ethereal and mysterious
--ar 2:3 --stylize 250

Anime/manga (Niji mode)

[Subject], [action/pose], [environment], [style notes] --niji 7

Example:

A fierce warrior princess, dynamic action pose, cherry blossom
battlefield, dramatic lighting, detailed armor --niji 7

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Style reference (--sref)

Copy visual style from an image:

A mountain landscape --sref [image_URL]

Using SREF codes (numeric style codes):

A portrait of a warrior --sref 5000

Random styles (discover new aesthetics):

A cityscape --sref random

Multiple style references with weights:

A scene --sref URL1::2 URL2::1

Style weight (--sw): Higher = stronger style influence (0-1000, default 100)

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Putting a character or object in the image

Which feature does this depends on the Midjourney version, so check the user's version first.

Version	Feature	How
V8.1, V8.2 (V8.2 is the default since July 2026)	Edit Model	On the web, attach up to four reference images in the Imagine bar ("Attach to prompt"). In Discord, end the prompt with --edit followed by the image URLs, separated by spaces. Prompts may be instructions, such as "make this girl into a real character"
V7	Omni Reference	--oref [image_URL], one image only, with --ow for weight
V6	Character Reference	--cref [image_URL] with --cw 0-100. Not supported in V7 or later

Omni Reference (V7):

A knight in a forest --oref [character_image_URL] --ow 100

• --ow runs from 1 to 1000, default 100. Stay below 400 unless stylize is very high, or results get unpredictable.
• Lower the weight to change style, and restate the physical traits to keep in the prompt text.
• Works for characters, objects, vehicles, and creatures. For several characters, use one image that contains them all.
• Costs 2x GPU time. Not compatible with Fast Mode, Draft Mode, Conversational Mode, --q 4, inpainting, or outpainting.

Source: https://docs.midjourney.com (Omni Reference, Edit Model, and Version articles), last verified September 2026.

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Multi-prompts & weights

Use :: to separate concepts for independent interpretation:

space ship    → sci-fi spaceship
space:: ship  → a boat in outer space

Weighted prompts:

forest::3 cabin::1 river::1    // Forest dominates

Negative weights (equivalent to --no):

flowers::-0.5

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Versions: what changes and what doesn't

Ask which version the user is on when the request involves reference images, speed or cost modes, or resolution. Everything else in this guide (prompt structure, the 7 elements, lighting and camera vocabulary, --ar, --stylize, --chaos, --weird, --no, --seed, --sref, --raw) applies across V7 and V8.

Version	Status	What is specific to it
V8.2	Default since July 24, 2026	Tuned for aesthetics, image quality, and Personalization. Uses the Edit Model for reference images, editing, and retexturing
V8.1	Released April 14, 2026	About 4 to 5 times faster than earlier versions and holds small prompt details better. Adds HD images: --hd renders 2048px without upscaling (1.3 GPU minutes against 0.8 for --sd). Add --raw for even closer prompt adherence
V7	Default June 2025 to June 2026; select with --v 7	Draft Mode (--draft, half the GPU cost) and Omni Reference (--oref). --q accepts 1, 2, or 4
Niji 7	Released January 9, 2026; --niji 7	Anime and illustration model. More literal than Niji 6, so vague "vibey" prompts behave differently, with a cleaner, flatter look

Source: https://docs.midjourney.com Version and Parameter List articles, last verified September 2026.

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Best practices

DO

• Be specific with visual details
• Use natural language clearly
• Include time of day, weather, specific elements
• Place important elements early in prompt
• Use --raw for photorealism and precise control
• In V7, use --draft for cheap exploration before committing to a full render
• In V8, write Edit Model prompts as instructions when changing an existing image ("make the jacket red")

DON'T (junk words to avoid)

Current models produce high quality by default, so these add nothing:

• 4k, 6k, 8k, 16k, ultra 4k
• Octane, unreal, v-ray, lumion
• HDR, high-resolution
• Award-winning, photorealistic (unless specifically needed)

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Negative prompts (--no)

Correct usage:

still life painting --no fruit, shadows, bright colors

Warnings:

• "don't" and "without" do not work. Use --no instead
• --no modern clothing = "no modern" AND "no clothing" (words interpreted separately)

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Text in images

A storefront sign that says "BAKERY"

Tips (V7 handles text better than previous versions):

• Use double quotes only (single quotes don't work)
• Keep text short (5 words or fewer)
• Include context: "sign that says", "text reading"
• Use --raw for better accuracy
• Lower --stylize helps text clarity

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Common mistakes

Mistake	Problem	Solution
Vague prompts	Unpredictable results	Be specific about subject, setting, style
Using "don't/without"	Words ignored or reversed	Use --no parameter
Prompt overload	Confused output	Keep under ~40 words
Too many --no items	Contradictory exclusions	Limit to essential exclusions
Ignoring --raw	Over-stylized photos	Use raw for photorealism
Not saving seeds	Can't reproduce results	Note seeds for favorites

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Key principles

The specificity principle

More specific = more control. Vague prompts let Midjourney decide; specific prompts give you your vision.

The subtraction principle

Adding more words doesn't always help. Use /shorten to identify essential terms.

The reference power law

--sref and a character or object reference (--oref in V7, attached images with the Edit Model in V8) provide more consistent control than text descriptions alone.

The iteration mindset

First generation = starting point. Use variations, remix, vary region to refine.

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Photography reference

For detailed camera settings, lighting terminology, and film stocks, see reference/photography.md.

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Quick templates

Product shot:

[Product] on [surface], [lighting], professional product photography,
clean background --ar 1:1 --raw

Landscape:

[Scene], [time of day], [weather], [mood], wide angle,
[camera/film if desired] --ar 16:9

Character design:

[Character description], [pose], [outfit], [art style],
full body shot --ar 2:3

Abstract/artistic:

[Concept], [artistic style], [color palette], [texture],
[mood] --ar 1:1 --stylize 500