name: midjourney-prompting
description: Craft effective Midjourney V7 prompts for any style — photography, illustration, anime, or artistic. Provides frameworks (7-Element, F.O.C.A.L.), parameter reference (--ar, --stylize, --sref, --cref), lighting/camera terminology, and V7-specific optimization. Auto-activates when writing Midjourney prompts, discussing MJ parameters, or creating AI image prompts. Triggers: Midjourney, MJ prompt, --ar, --stylize, --sref, style reference, character reference, image generation prompt.
Midjourney V7 Prompting Guide
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.
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
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 |
--style raw | Less MJ beautification | - | Off |
--tile | Seamless patterns | - | Off |
Reference Parameters
| Parameter | Purpose | Weight Control |
|---|
--sref [URL or code] | Copy style from image | --sw 0-1000 (default 100) |
--cref [URL] | Copy character from image | --cw 0-100 (default 100) |
--iw | Image prompt weight | 0-3 (default 1) |
See reference/parameters.md for complete details.
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 |
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] --style 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 --style 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 6
Example:
A fierce warrior princess, dynamic action pose, cherry blossom
battlefield, dramatic lighting, detailed armor --niji 6
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)
Character Reference (--cref)
Maintain character consistency across images:
A knight in a forest --cref [character_image_URL]
Character weight (--cw):
--cw 100 (default): Face, hair, AND clothing--cw 50: Moderate consistency--cw 0: Face only (different hair/clothes allowed)
Best Practice: Works best with Midjourney-generated characters. Real photos may produce distortions.
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
V7 Key Features
V7 is Midjourney's latest and most capable model:
- Superior prompt understanding — More accurate interpretation of complex prompts
- Better coherence — Improved hands, bodies, and object relationships
- Richer textures and details — Higher quality output by default
- Draft Mode — 10x faster, half cost for exploration (
--draft)
- Personalization ON by default — V7 applies learned preferences automatically
- Omni Reference — Enhanced reference capabilities
V7 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
--style raw for photorealism and precise control
- Use
--draft for quick exploration iterations
- Leverage V7's improved coherence for complex scenes
DON'T (Junk Words to Avoid)
V7 produces high quality by default — these waste tokens:
- 4k, 6k, 8k, 16k, ultra 4k
- Octane, unreal, v-ray, lumion
- HDR, high-resolution
- Award-winning, photorealistic (unless specifically needed)
Negative Prompts (--no)
Correct usage:
still life painting --no fruit, shadows, bright colors
Critical warnings:
- "don't" and "without" DO NOT work — use
--no instead
--no modern clothing = "no modern" AND "no clothing" (words interpreted separately)
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
--style raw for better accuracy
- Lower
--stylize helps text clarity
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 --style raw | Over-stylized photos | Use raw for photorealism |
| Not saving seeds | Can't reproduce results | Note seeds for favorites |
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 --cref provide more consistent control than text descriptions alone.
The Iteration Mindset
First generation = starting point. Use variations, remix, vary region to refine.
Photography Reference
For detailed camera settings, lighting terminology, and film stocks, see reference/photography.md.
Quick Templates
Product shot:
[Product] on [surface], [lighting], professional product photography,
clean background --ar 1:1 --style 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
