If you’re an aspiring artist or a professional looking to enhance your creative process, Midjourney’s reference image tool can be a game-changer. It empowers you to take your art to new heights by providing AI-generated images based on your reference images. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of how to give a reference image to Midjourney, covering different versions and offering tips for achieving the best results.
Why Use Reference Images in Midjourney?
Reference images serve as a powerful source of inspiration and guidance for artists. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, incorporating reference images into your creative process can lead to improved technical skills and more innovative artwork. Midjourney, an AI art generator, allows you to generate high-quality images based on your reference images, taking your artistic journey to new heights.
How to Give Reference Image in Midjourney?
Follow these steps to provide a reference image to Midjourney:
Click [ + ]
- Select a server to generate an image from your reference image.
- Click the [+] icon, or double-click to choose your reference image directly.
Upload File
- Select “upload file” to upload your reference image.
Select the Image
- When you double-click [+] or select “upload a file,” a dialogue box will open for you to choose your reference image.
- Hit enter to upload your image to the server room.
Copy the Image Address
- Open the image and right-click it.
- Select “Copy image address” to copy it into the message box for later use.
Select Command
- Click on the message area, select the command “/imagine,” and click “pop” on the screen to proceed with image generation.
Enter the Address
- Copy the address of your uploaded reference image into the message area.
- Leave a space to add your specific prompt.
Enter Prompt
- After creating space for your prompt, enter a description that aligns with the image you desire.
For example:
- For the above reference image, the prompt could be: “https://s.mj.run/QFci_-2LktE breathtaking sunrise, an iconic landmark, High quality, 4k.”
- Recommendations for Using Reference Images
To maximize the effectiveness of reference images in Midjourney, consider the following recommendations:
- Use image formats such as png, jpeg, or gif.
- Ensure that the image URL ends with a png, gif, or jpeg file name extension.
- Experiment with image weights (“iw”) to achieve different results.
- Adjust the style of the picture using the “s” parameter, which ranges from 0 to 1000.
- Maintain consistent aspect ratios between input and output images, e.g., 1:1 for 1:1 output.
- Opt for clear and straightforward reference images for better results.
- Always use the URL for reference images in your prompt; words cannot replace URLs.
- Remember that Midjourney won’t invent or add elements on its own. It requires specific prompts.
- Consider using Remix to add or remove image references for creative possibilities.
- How Reference Images Work in Midjourney
When you provide Midjourney with a reference image, it automatically performs image recognition to identify basic objects and make specific changes. It runs the “/describe” command on your image to detect elements to stylize, such as colors, themes, accents, and more. After this, it combines these image objects with an invisible prompt, adds image weight (ranging from 0 to 2 if not specified in your prompt), and generates new images with modernized prompts.
The more specific and detailed your prompts are, the higher the quality and creativity of the resulting images.
- Using Reference Images in Different Versions of Midjourney
Depending on the version of Midjourney you’re using, the process of providing a reference image remains similar. Here are the steps for different versions:
a. For V1
- Type “/settings” in the message box and select version 1.
- Provide the image address, type “/imagine,” and add your prompt.
- Ensure the image weight you use is a whole number like 1 or 2.
- Example prompt: “https://s.mj.run/SQl8dq8K2_c fire, aggression, power –iw 1 –v 1.”
b. For V2
- Follow the same steps as for V1.
- Use similar prompts as in V1.
c. For V3
- Follow the same steps as for V1 and V2.
- Use the same prompts as for the other versions.
d. For V4
- Similar steps are followed as for V1, V2, and V3.
- Midjourney may stylize the image based on recognition specifications if you don’t provide specific parameters.
e. For V5
- Select version 5 from the “/settings” command.
- Use a prompt like: “https://s.mj.run/SQl8dq8K2_c fire, aggression, power, no person –s 250 –v 5.”
f. For V5.1
- Select version 5.1 from the settings command.
- Upload the image, copy the image address, and use the command “/imagine.”
- Example prompt: “https://s.mj.run/SQl8dq8K2_c fire, aggression, power, no person –iw 2 –s 250.”
- Uploading Images to Midjourney
To upload an image to Midjourney, follow these steps:
- Click the “+” sign next to where messages are typed in Discord.
- Select “Upload a File.”
- Choose an image and send the message.
- To add the image to a prompt, type “/imagine” as usual.
- After the prompt box appears, drag the image file into the prompt box to add the image’s URL.
- Alternatively, right-click the image, select “Copy Link,” and paste the link within the prompt box.
- Blending Images in Midjourney
Once you’ve learned how to insert reference images in Midjourney, you can harness the blending tool to unleash your creative potential. Blending images allows you to combine two or more photos to create entirely new compositions. Here’s how to blend images in Midjourney:
- Type “/blend” in the message box and hit enter.
- When you click the “/blend” command, you’ll be prompted to add two images to the blend command.
- You can also add two or more images to the blend command.
- After hitting enter, wait for the results to appear.
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FAQs
What image formats are supported for reference images in Midjourney?
Midjourney supports image formats such as png, jpeg, and gif.
Can I use words instead of URLs for reference images?
No, you should always use the URL for reference images in your prompt; words cannot replace URLs.
Does Midjourney automatically generate images without specific prompts?
No, Midjourney requires specific prompts to generate images. It won’t invent or add elements on its own unless specified in the prompt.
What happens if I don’t provide image weight in my prompt?
Midjourney will add image weight ranging from 0 to 2 if you don’t specify it in your prompt.
What versions of Midjourney support image blending?
Image blending is supported in various versions of Midjourney, and you can create unique compositions by blending two or more images.
Conclusion
Midjourney is a game-changer for artists of all levels. Its user-friendly design makes it easy to create art by responding to directions, making it suitable for both beginners and professionals. With the help of word prompts and reference images, artists can bring their ideas to life and explore new creative possibilities.
Moreover, the blending tool opens up endless opportunities to create unique and captivating artwork by combining multiple images. As you delve deeper into Midjourney, you’ll be continually amazed by the results it can produce.