After personally working with Midjourney and making over 1000 images, I felt compelled to write a comprehensive review of Midjourney, including its latest updates and controversies.
For those unfamiliar with it, Midjourney is an AI image generator that creates visuals based on users’ prompts. Essentially, you type a prompt, and Midjourney analyzes the text and generates corresponding images based on its training dataset.
In this post, I delve into more detail about all the Midjourney commands and how they function, but that’s the basic idea. It’s a fascinating tool that bridges the gap between textual description and visual representation.
- The Journey of Midjourney and Evolution
- All Midjourney Evolution Versions
- Midjourney Bot and Discord
- But How Does Midjourney AI Work Excatly?
- Midjourney Pricing Plans
- User Interface: Creating Images Made Simple with Midjourney
- So, Which Midjourney Plan is Best?
- Is Midjourney Worth it?
- Community and Public Perception
- Controversy
- Copyright and Legal Issues
- Exploring Artistic Styles
- 1. Surreal Landscapes
- 2. Dream-Like Portraits
- 3. Abstract Art
- 4. Realistic Still Life
- Summary
The Journey of Midjourney and Evolution
In 2020, an innovative team of developers launched Midjourney, a tool powered by artificial intelligence. Their mission was specific but ambitious: to create an AI engine capable of turning user input into high-quality images.
As the years rolled on, the team continuously improved Midjourney, enhancing its AI capabilities. Today, AI image generation has achieved remarkable success and is widely recognized for its capacity to produce highly realistic images.
All Midjourney Evolution Versions
| Version | Release Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Midjourney V1 | February 2022 | Beta released; 500 select users, each allowed to invite one more, totaling 1000. David Holz encourages social media sharing. |
| Midjourney V2 | April 12, 2022 | Release of Upscaling and Variation buttons; new model introduced; concrete pricing plan; transition to paid beta. Waitlist grows. |
| Midjourney V3 | July 25, 2022 | Release of V3 with –stylize and –quality parameters. Discord grows to one million users. |
| Midjourney V4 | November 5, 2022 | Unprecedented quality improvement; viral growth on social media. |
| Midjourney V5 | March 15, 2023 | Continues quality and versatility upgrades of the previous version. |
| Midjourney V5.1 | May 3, 2023 | Other changes include higher coherence, more accuracy to text prompts, fewer unwanted borders or text artifacts, improved sharpness. |
| Midjourney V5.2 | June 23, 2023 | Introduction of New “Zoom Out” Feature and New Aesthetic System. Improved aesthetics, sharper images, increased diversity, and fixed –stylize command. |
Midjourney Bot and Discord
Midjourney operates through a Discord server, where users can submit prompts and generate images. Operating only through a discord has both its advantages and disadvantages.
On the one hand, Discord allows for easy communication between users and the Midjourney bot. On the other hand, the highly cluttered server interface can be confusing and overwhelming for new users.
But How Does Midjourney AI Work Excatly?
Midjourney leverages the power of machine learning algorithms and neural networks to create its images. Here’s how it works: when a user provides a prompt, Midjourney’s AI scrutinizes the user’s input, interprets the meaning, and then generates a corresponding image.
What makes this possible is the massive dataset of images on which the AI has been trained. This extensive training empowers the AI to create high-quality and impressively realistic images.
At its core, Midjourney is an efficient tool, capable of swiftly turning out striking images. However, it’s worth noting that mastering its full potential may require some time and exploration.
Midjourney Pricing Plans
Midjourney offers four distinct subscription plans to suit various needs and budgets: Basic, Standard, Pro, and Mega. Starting with the Basic plan at just $10 per month, users can generate up to 198 images. For those seeking more, the Standard plan offers up to 900 images at $30 per month.
If you need even more flexibility, the Pro plan, costing $60 per month, allows up to 1,800 images. Finally, the Mega plan, priced at $120 per month, provides a robust 3,600 images. Interested in diving deeper into Midjourney’s pricing structure? You can find more detailed information about each plan here.
When it comes to pricing, Midjourney stands out against popular image services like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock, both of which charge $29 per month for just 10 images. In contrast, Midjourney offers a more budget-friendly option.
With Midjourney, you’re not only paying less, but you’re also gaining the ability to create images according to your own creativity and vision. It’s an attractive alternative for those looking to stretch their dollars without sacrificing quality or creative control.
User Interface: Creating Images Made Simple with Midjourney
Midjourney offers a user-friendly interface that streamlines the process of generating images. To create an image, you have two convenient options. First, you can visit the Midjourney Discord, navigate to any of the member rooms, and type your desired prompt.
Alternatively, for a more straightforward approach, you can directly message the Midjourney bot and generate your images from there. Once you’ve created your images, finding them is a breeze; simply log into your Midjourney account at Midjourney.com/app, and your generated images will be there.
So, Which Midjourney Plan is Best?
Choosing the right Midjourney plan boils down to what you need. If you’re just beginning, I’d steer you toward the basic plan. It’s the most affordable and a great place to start. As you become more familiar with Midjourney, you may move up to more advanced options. For those needing to generate a larger volume of images, the Standard or Pro plan might be more suitable. The Mega Plan, with its turbo mode, is ideal for generating images at a faster pace.
All paid plans come with commercial usage rights, allowing you to sell the images you generate. However, if you’re generating 1,000,000 USD or more in annual gross revenue, you must purchase a Pro or Mega membership to own the assets you create. Rest assured that you will retain ownership of these assets even if you cancel or downgrade your membership.
It’s vital to consider your budget and image-generation requirements when selecting a plan. Additionally, if privacy is a concern and you want to generate your images in private mode, this feature is only available with the Pro or Mega plan. This tailored approach ensures you can find the perfect plan for your specific needs.
Is Midjourney Worth it?
Having personally experimented with Midjourney, creating and downloading more than 1000 images, and I can vouch for its effectiveness as a powerful tool for content creation and concept art. Its AI-driven art generation technology enables the crafting of high-quality images quickly and easily.
Although Midjourney has limitations, such as a cap on the number of images you can generate per month, these drawbacks don’t overshadow its value. Whether you’re a designer, a business owner, or simply someone looking to create eye-catching visuals, Midjourney is likely to be a worthwhile investment for you.
Community and Public Perception
Midjourney has garnered a lot of attention from the public and the AI community. The company has been actively engaging with its users through its Discord server, where users can chat with the team and share their experiences with the AI tool.
Midjourney has been praised for its community engagement efforts. The team has been active on social media, responding to user feedback and sharing user-generated content. The company has also been hosting events and workshops to help users learn more about the tool and how to use it effectively.
Midjourney has received mostly positive reviews from the public. Users have praised the tool for its ability to generate unique and creative images and ease of use. However, there have also been some concerns about the potential misuse of the tool, particularly in the creation of deepfakes.
Controversy
Midjourney has been at the center of some controversy due to its potential for misuse. The tool can generate highly realistic images, which has raised concerns about creating deepfakes and spreading misinformation. However, the company has been proactive in addressing these concerns. It has implemented measures to prevent the misuse of the tool.
Overall, Midjourney has been well-received by the public and the AI community. The company’s efforts to engage with its users and address concerns about the tool have helped to build trust and confidence in the technology. Yet, the potential for misuse remains a concern, and it will be necessary for the company to continue to monitor and address these issues as they arise.
Copyright and Legal Issues
As with any new technology, there are bound to be legal issues and controversies surrounding it. Midjourney is no exception, and it has faced several copyright and legal issues since its inception.
Copyright is a legal right that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to its use and distribution. This includes the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the work. Copyright law is designed to protect creators’ rights and prevent others from using their work without permission.
Midjourney has faced several legal issues and controversies related to copyright infringement. A group of visual artists sued Midjourney, along with Stability AI and DeviantArt, for copyright infringement. The lawsuit claimed that the AI art tools violated copyright law by scraping artists’ work from the web without permission.
In response to the lawsuit, the US Copyright Office ruled that Midjourney AI-generated images cannot be copyrighted, as they are not created by a human author. This ruling has been controversial, as it raises questions about the role of robots in the creative process and whether they should be granted legal rights.
Midjourney has also faced criticism from artists who claim that the company’s AI image generator was trained using assets without consent. Midjourney founder, David Holz, admitted in an interview with Forbes that the AI image generator was trained using images from the internet without permission.
Overall, Midjourney has faced several legal and ethical issues related to copyright and the use of AI in the creative process. As the use of AI becomes more widespread, these issues will continue to be debated. And they will shape the future of copyright law.
Exploring Artistic Styles
Midjourney offers a wide range of artistic styles that you can explore to create unique and stunning images. From surreal to dream-like, Midjourney has it all. Whether you are a designer, editor, or just someone who loves art, you will find something that suits your taste.
I’ve composed a few posts about Midjourney prompt ideas, showcasing a range of applications. From assembling a list of stunning creative prompts to exploring logo design. Even a professional, Midjourney prompt generator.
Here are some examples of the kind of art you can create using Midjourney:
1. Surreal Landscapes
2. Dream-Like Portraits
3. Abstract Art
4. Realistic Still Life
With Midjourney, the possibilities are endless. You can create anything you can imagine, and the platform will bring your ideas to life.
Summary
In summary, Midjourney is more than just a handy tool; it’s an exceptional resource for creating amazing visuals without spending thousands or hiring a professional artist.
One noteworthy feature is the ability to have your images generated privately. I’ve created a detailed post to explain everything you need to know about this, but to briefly touch on it: to generate images privately, you must subscribe to either the Pro or Mega Plan, which cost $60 and $120 per month, respectively.
Private mode is a fantastic way to protect your work from being seen by others, adding an extra layer of security to your creative process.
Check out our Midjourny Fantasy Art Showcase!
