Exploring Styles in Midjourney: A Comprehensive Guide
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This article is part of the “Exploring Styles in Midjourney” series.
How perplexing can the new Style Tuner be? It required 29 posts on Discord and a dedicated Midjourney event to clarify how the Style Tuner operates—29 posts, quite astonishing, right? For those looking for a comprehensive guide to Style Tuner queries, Clarinet from Midjourney has compiled an extensive FAQ list.
After some personal experimentation, I found the styling process in Midjourney to be quite intricate. My earlier trials with the /tune command were prohibitively expensive, leaving several gaps in my understanding of this new functionality.
Fortunately, Midjourney has temporarily enabled the /tune command to function in /relax mode, allowing users to create Style Tuner pages at no cost. I’m uncertain how long this offer will last, but let’s hope it continues!
Seizing this opportunity, I created several Style Tuner pages, including multiple 128-question Tuners that would otherwise deplete my Fast Hours in a single day! With various Tuner pages available, I can now test my hypotheses and gain a deeper understanding of the Style Tuner, /tune, --style, --stylize, and numerous other styles in Midjourney.
Understanding Style in Midjourney It’s essential to acknowledge that grasping the concept of Style in Midjourney can be time-consuming, given its connections to various terms, concepts, and features. Once you comprehend how Style functions, it will empower you to construct improved Midjourney prompts, explore custom styles, and enhance your creative toolkit.
This comprehensive series, “Exploring Styles in Midjourney,” will explain the workings of Styles within the platform.
The Series Breakdown Part 1: Create a Style (This is the first installment) Part 2: Style Tuner Part 3: Explore the Styles Part 4: Apply a Style Part 5: Template Tuning Method Part 6: Adjust a Style Part 7: Practical Tips Related to Styles
The aim of Part 1: Create a Style is to equip you with a solid foundation in various styles in Midjourney, enabling you to create, refine, and troubleshoot your style creations.
TL;DR
- Midjourney automatically applies its default style to your images.
- The default house style is visually appealing, contributing to its popularity among users.
- You can replace the house style with an alternative.
- Use the --style raw parameter to command the bot to generate raw outputs without any house style.
- With the --style parameter, you can instruct the bot to apply a specific style using a Style Code.
- Differentiating between the default house style and raw style will assist in determining the type of Style Tuner to create.
What is a Style in Midjourney?
Styles dictate how your prompts are rendered on the canvas. If you don’t specify a style using the --style parameter, Midjourney’s default house style (predefined configurations) is automatically applied, referred to as the “base style.”
For example, adding the style keyword “watercolor” to a prompt will lead to an integration of the watercolor aesthetic with the base style, resulting in an image that combines both.
To substitute the default style, use the --style raw parameter, which prompts the bot to produce a raw output without the base style’s influence. Alternatively, you can replace the base style with another aesthetic using a Style Code generated from a Tuner page.
Why Create a Style?
If you don't define a style in your prompt, Midjourney will automatically create one for you. However, this method can lead to inconsistent results, especially when attempting to apply the same style to different subjects. By including a style in your prompt, you can ensure a more reliable application of that style to various subjects.
#### Example: Prompt A: /imagine prompt: a cat Prompt B: /imagine prompt: an alien
In Prompt A, the default house style is applied to the cat. However, this style may not translate effectively to the alien in Prompt B.
Including a style keyword, such as “watercolor,” allows for a consistent transfer of that style across different subjects.
Key Terms in Midjourney
- Create a style
- Craft an artistic style
- Develop an aesthetic
These terms may seem interchangeable, but clarity is essential, especially in the FAQs where they may be referred to differently.
How to Create a Specific Style
There are two main methods to create a specific style: 1. Include at least two style-related keywords in your prompt. 2. Utilize the --style parameter.
The /tune command helps explore various styles but is not for creating a specific one.
1. Style-Related Keywords Midjourney advises using at least two keywords related to style in your prompt. This could include art movements, media types, artist names, techniques, and more.
Using multiple keywords helps refine the style, making it more specific and reusable.
Pros: - Intuitive and user-friendly. - Achieve the desired artistic style. - Reliable reapplication of styles across different prompts. - Combining keywords allows for unique, personalized styles.
Cons: - Requires accurate spelling of names and terminology. - Users unfamiliar with the art concepts may find it challenging.
2. Using the `--style` Parameter The --style parameter allows for deeper influence over the image's composition, mood, and overall aesthetic. Various --style parameters exist, including those that employ a Style Code.
Prior to the Style Tuner’s introduction, --style primarily indicated raw output or Niji styles. Now, users can apply customized styles by using a Style Code derived from a Tuner page.
Style Parameters and Commands
The “Styles and Aesthetics” section in Midjourney’s documentation includes several parameters and commands, such as: - /tune: Command to create a Style Tuner page. - --style: Parameter to replace the default Midjourney aesthetic. - --stylize: Adjusts the intensity of the style applied. - --chaos: Controls the variability of images in a grid. - --weird: Explores unconventional aesthetics.
Conclusion
Styles are a significant aspect of Midjourney. The related commands and parameters include /tune, --style, --stylize, --chaos, and --weird. Unless specified otherwise, the default Midjourney house style is automatically applied to images. Creating a specific style can be achieved by including at least two style-related keywords or using the --style parameter, each with its advantages and challenges.
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