How to Generate AI Images with Midjourney: A Beginner's Complete Guide
To use Midjourney, you sign up at midjourney.com, subscribe to a paid plan, and type image prompts directly into the Midjourney Discord server or the new web interface. Within seconds, the AI generates four image variations based on your description — no design skills required. This guide walks you through every step, from account setup to writing prompts that actually work.
What Is Midjourney and Why Should You Use It?
Midjourney is one of the most powerful AI image generators available today. Unlike many competitors, it's renowned for producing images with a distinctly artistic, high-quality aesthetic — making it a favorite among designers, marketers, concept artists, and hobbyists alike.
It doesn't run as a standalone desktop app. Instead, it operates primarily through Discord (a chat platform), though Midjourney has been rolling out a dedicated web interface for subscribers. If you've never used Discord before, don't worry — the learning curve is short, and we'll cover it below.
Who is Midjourney best for? Anyone who wants to generate professional-quality artwork, illustrations, concept designs, or creative visuals without needing Photoshop expertise or a graphic design background.
Step 1: Setting Up Your Midjourney Account
Create a Discord Account (If You Don't Have One)
- Go to discord.com and click "Sign Up"
- Enter your email, username, and password
- Verify your email address
Subscribe to Midjourney
Midjourney no longer offers a free trial — a paid subscription is required to generate images. Here's what each plan offers:
- Basic Plan (~$10/month): ~200 image generations per month, limited to relaxed mode
- Standard Plan (~$30/month): Unlimited relaxed generations + 15 hours of fast GPU time
- Pro Plan (~$60/month): 30 fast GPU hours + stealth mode (private generations)
- Mega Plan (~$120/month): 60 fast GPU hours, best for heavy professional use
For most beginners learning how to use Midjourney, the Standard Plan offers the best value — unlimited relaxed generations mean you can experiment freely without watching a meter.
Join the Midjourney Discord Server
- Visit midjourney.com and click "Join the Beta"
- This opens Discord and adds the Midjourney server to your sidebar
- Once subscribed, you can also use the bot in your own private Discord server — highly recommended for beginners to avoid a cluttered feed
Step 2: Generating Your First Image
Using the /imagine Command
In any channel where the Midjourney Bot is active, type /imagine and hit space. A "prompt" field will appear. Type your image description and press Enter.
Example: /imagine prompt: a golden retriever sitting in a coffee shop, watercolor illustration style, warm lighting
Midjourney will generate a grid of four image variations within 30–60 seconds (fast mode) or a few minutes (relaxed mode).
Understanding the Buttons Below Each Image
After your image grid appears, you'll see two rows of buttons:
- U1, U2, U3, U4: "Upscale" — enlarges and adds detail to one of the four images
- V1, V2, V3, V4: "Variation" — generates four new versions inspired by that specific image
- 🔄 (Re-roll): Runs the same prompt again for entirely new results
Step 3: Writing Great Midjourney Prompts
This is where most beginners either unlock Midjourney's full potential or get stuck. Good Midjourney prompts follow a simple formula:
[Subject] + [Setting/Context] + [Style] + [Lighting] + [Mood] + [Technical parameters]
Prompt Examples That Work
- Basic:
a mountain lake at sunset - Intermediate:
a mountain lake at sunset, dramatic clouds, reflection on water, photorealistic, golden hour lighting - Advanced:
a mountain lake at sunset, dramatic clouds, reflection on water, photorealistic, golden hour lighting, shot on Canon EOS R5, 24mm lens, high detail --ar 16:9 --v 6
Notice how each level adds specificity. More detail generally means more controlled, intentional results.
Essential Midjourney Parameters
- --ar 16:9 — Sets aspect ratio (widescreen). Also try --ar 1:1, --ar 9:16 for portrait
- --v 6 — Specifies which Midjourney model version to use (v6 is current default)
- --style raw — Produces less "processed" results, closer to your exact prompt
- --q 2 — Higher quality render (uses more GPU time)
- --no [word] — Excludes elements (e.g., --no text, --no people)
- --chaos 0-100 — Higher values = more unpredictable, creative results
Style Keywords Worth Knowing
- Photorealistic, cinematic, hyperdetailed
- Watercolor, oil painting, pencil sketch, ink illustration
- Studio Ghibli style, Pixar style, comic book style
- Bauhaus, Art Deco, cyberpunk, cottagecore
Real Pros and Cons of Midjourney
What Midjourney Does Well
- Image quality: Consistently among the best AI image generators for artistic output
- Style range: Handles photorealism, illustration, and abstract equally well
- Active development: Regular model updates with noticeable improvements
- Community: Massive user base means endless prompt inspiration and support
Limitations You Should Know
- No free tier: You must pay before generating a single image — a real barrier for curious beginners
- Text rendering: Midjourney still struggles with accurate text inside images (though v6 improved this)
- Hands and faces: Complex human anatomy can still produce occasional errors
- Prompt precision: Very literal, complex compositions can be hit-or-miss
- Discord dependency: The interface isn't as intuitive as a purpose-built app for some users
- Commercial rights: Free and Basic plan users don't own the images they generate — check Midjourney's terms carefully
Practical Use Cases for Midjourney
- Social media content: Create unique visuals for Instagram, LinkedIn, or blog posts
- Concept art: Rapid prototyping for game design, film, or product ideas
- Marketing materials: Backgrounds, hero images, mood boards
- Personal projects: Book covers, gifts, custom wallpapers, fantasy maps
- Interior design inspiration: Visualize room layouts or decoration styles
Tips to Get Better Results Faster
- Browse the Midjourney showcase at midjourney.com/explore — click any image to see its exact prompt
- Use /describe — upload any image and Midjourney will suggest prompts that would recreate it
- Set up your own Discord server with just the Midjourney Bot added — much cleaner than the public newbie channels
- Save prompts that work — keep a personal document of your best-performing prompt structures
- Iterate, don't abandon — use V buttons to refine a good result rather than starting from scratch
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Midjourney free to use?
No. Midjourney discontinued its free trial in 2023. You need a paid subscription starting at approximately $10/month to generate any images. It's one of the platform's biggest drawbacks for beginners.
Do I need Discord to use Midjourney?
Currently, Discord is the primary interface for most users. However, Midjourney is actively developing a standalone web app (alpha.midjourney.com) available to subscribers. Expect full web access to roll out broadly over time.
Can I use Midjourney images commercially?
It depends on your plan. Pro and Mega subscribers get full commercial usage rights. Basic and Standard plan users have more restrictions, and free users technically have no commercial rights. Always review Midjourney's current terms of service before monetizing generated images.
What makes a good Midjourney prompt for beginners?
A strong beginner Midjourney prompt includes: a clear subject, a setting or context, a visual style (e.g., photorealistic, watercolor), and a lighting or mood descriptor. Starting with 10–15 words and refining from there is a practical approach that avoids overwhelming the AI.
How is Midjourney different from DALL-E or Stable Diffusion?
Midjourney typically produces more aesthetically polished, "artistic" results out of the box. DALL-E (from OpenAI) integrates directly into ChatGPT and is simpler to access. Stable Diffusion is open-source and free but requires more technical setup. For pure image quality and artistic style, most users consider Midjourney the gold standard — at a cost.
What is the best Midjourney version to use?
As of 2024, Midjourney v6 is the default and most capable model, offering improved photorealism, better text rendering, and more accurate prompt following than earlier versions. You can specify it with --v 6 in your prompt, though it's now set automatically.
Bottom Line
Midjourney remains one of the most impressive AI image generators available, and learning how to use Midjourney effectively is a genuinely valuable skill whether you're a designer, marketer, or creative hobbyist. The learning curve is real — particularly around prompt writing and Discord navigation — but the results justify the effort. The lack of a free tier is a legitimate complaint, and beginners should start with the Standard Plan to experiment without constraint. Once you understand how Midjourney prompts work, you'll be producing images that would have required a professional illustrator just a few years ago.
Start simple, iterate often, and study prompts from the community — that's the fastest path from beginner to confident Midjourney user.