Image generation has come a long way in less than three years. What originally felt like a novelty with a long way to grow is now a powerful tool that will continue evolving in leaps and bounds.
Took a minute today to reflect on how far Midjourney has come.
I first used Midjourney on August 26, 2022. Back then you used the Discord app to generate images.
Midjourney has since migrated to a web app. Its toolset has expanded to include an editorial suite, personalization, and image training, and more flexibility and control over your creations using sliders and drop-down menus.
Previously, you had to be hyper-specific with your words. Now, it is more about using simple phrases combined with mixing and matching profiles and in-app editing to refine things however you want.
Generating a collection of 4 images takes less than 15 seconds where it once took several minutes.
I am still unsure what I feel about what it means to "create" or be an artist or how to think about copyright.
I put together a few comparison images from using Midjourney in 2022 with model version 3 with the same prompt using the v6.1 model.
It is not an exact science, as image generation has evolved significantly. I avoided editing or modifying the prompt or images too much. I did have to tweak a few prompts, but those changes were minimal.
The images about "supplements" were because I worked for a supplement company and had excitedly shared some of those early images.
Back then, I had commented that it was cool but hardly usable and would never be usable. We were all wrong. Less than three years later a lot has changed.
Over the next three years, I expect to see more editorial control over camera placement, camera rotation, lighting control, and more granular control over things like clothing and much more.
Along with the comparisons, I am including a bunch of recent generations that I liked. I will try to include the prompt and the profile I am using.
fashion model with her gigantic white rabbit companion, together in bed, simple illustration and shading, fairy tale background, laughing and joyous expression --ar 3:2 --style raw --profile qq38b2u royrgtt --stylize 1000
A French woman with a bob haircut and boyish features, Valentine's day dress adorned with vines and roses, on a date in a comedy club. --ar 4:3 --style raw --profile qq38b2u royrgtt pqvlgxv --stylize 0
https://s.mj.run/7XNME53GYAU woman time traveler from the future stepping into a portal to the past where a city swirls, photograph, cinematic lighting, glowing particles, clocks --ar 4:3 --style raw --sref https://s.mj.run/7XNME53GYAU --profile qq38b2u royrgtt pqvlgxv --stylize 500 --weird 1600
A medic wearing a company logo for "Origami" they leverage AI powered robotic instruments, should emphasize connection between doctor, robot, and patient. --chaos 60 --style raw --profile phno1g1 sop498j dupar54 pqvlgxv --stylize 1000
A medic wearing a company logo for "Origami" they leverage AI powered robotic instruments, should emphasize connection between doctor, robot, and patient. --chaos 60 --ar 61:73 --style raw --profile phno1g1 sop498j dupar54 pqvlgxv --stylize 1000
fashion model with her mutant penuin, together making dinner, simple illustration and shading, fairy tale background, laughing and joyous expression --ar 4:3 --style raw --profile qq38b2u royrgtt --stylize 1000
american woman with brown hair and thick eyebrows, green eyes, soft skin, together with her cybernetic plant robot, laughing and joyous expression --chaos 50 --ar 4:3 --style raw --profile qq38b2u royrgtt --stylize 1000
An older man sits with his bowl of ramen in a traditional Japanese diner, the bowl is ornate and filled with broth and bamboo and beef. --ar 4:3 --style raw --profile phno1g1 dupar54 pqvlgxv --stylize 1000
A girl punk rock band, a lead singer, a guitarist, a drummer, ripped tee shirts, colorful makeup, a stage in a five bar --ar 6:5 --style raw --profile qq38b2u royrgtt pqvlgxv --stylize 500
A hyper car with the edges of a Lamborghini but the curves of a Ferrari on the Monaco circuit, retro futuristic, 35mm film --ar 3:2 --style raw --stylize 0
Electric car charging, wind capture airship in the background, blue sky, white clouds, happy people --ar 16:9 --sref https://s.mj.run/079Cql4ElEM https://s.mj.run/ibaTXb9tK0g --stylize 300
https://s.mj.run/5M7zx2UgE2E https://s.mj.run/9qvhLm4h190 https://s.mj.run/85R_Mjk1zUU https://s.mj.run/M3pu4okEiMc Desert racing motorcycle, fusion power source, black metallic paint with gold accent bands, desert environment with cliffs sides and colorful sandstone --chaos 55 --ar 3:2 --style raw --sref https://s.mj.run/85R_Mjk1zUU --profile royrgtt dupar54 --stylize 0
Speeders racing along the desert dunes, colorful stand stone buildings along the cliff sides, crowds cheering with flags caught in a hard wind --ar 3:2 --style raw --profile royrgtt dupar54 --stylize 0
clown girl with big eyes and red nose is part of a giant parade in a roman city, large crowds, venders, balloons, bright colors, the style of a painting --chaos 50 --ar 3:2 --profile sfx1q2v --stylize 650
Okay, I am done for now. Plenty more to come later?
Any profiles you know of that you want to share? Are any creators doing Midjourney the right way? Share them with me, please!
