“What exactly is this ‘Midjourney’ everyone on Discord is talking about?”
“I want to create AI art, but isn’t it too technical for me?”
If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, you are in the right place! This guide will walk you through the fascinating world of AI image generation using Midjourney on Discord. From creating your account to mastering the “magic spells” (prompts) that create stunning visuals, we cover everything from zero to hero.
Let’s dive in and turn your imagination into colorful reality!
What is Midjourney? (And Why Discord?)
First, let’s demystify the tool and explain why it lives inside a chat app.
Turning Words into Art
Midjourney is a powerful AI tool that acts like a digital artist. It takes your text prompts (descriptions) and transforms them into high-quality images in seconds. You simply type “a futuristic city in the clouds,” and the AI paints it for you. It’s not just a search engine; it creates entirely new images that have never existed before.
Why Discord?
Midjourney operates primarily within Discord, a popular chat application. While this might seem odd at first, it was a strategic choice. Discord isn’t just for gamers anymore; it’s a hub for creators.
- Community: You create art alongside thousands of others. You can see what prompts they use, learn from their techniques, and get inspired.
- Interface: It works just like chatting with a friend. You send a message to the “Midjourney Bot,” and it replies with an image.
3 Easy Steps to Start Your Adventure
Step 1: Get Your Passport (Create a Discord Account)
If you don’t have a Discord account yet, you’ll need one.
- Go to the Discord website or download the app.
- Register with your email, pick a username, and verify your account via the email they send you.
Quick Discord Vocab:
- Server: Like a club or a building. Listed on the left sidebar.
- Channel: Rooms inside the server. Text channels start with
#. - DM (Direct Message): Private chats between you and another person (or bot).
Step 2: Join the Guild (Join the Midjourney Server)
- Visit Midjourney.com.
- Click “Join the Beta.”
- Discord will pop up asking for permission. Click “Join Midjourney.”
- Alternative: In Discord, click the
+icon on the left sidebar -> “Join a Server” -> typehttp://discord.gg/midjourney.
- Alternative: In Discord, click the
- Once inside, the Midjourney Bot might DM you. Be sure to read and accept the Terms of Service!
Step 3: Choose Your Plan
Midjourney is a premium service. While they occasionally offer brief free trials, you generally need a subscription to generate images. Use the command /subscribe in any newbie channel to get a personal link to the payment page.
Quick Plan Overview (Estimates as of 2025):
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Fast GPU Time | Relax Mode | Stealth Mode | Best For… |
| Basic | $10 | ~3.3 hr (200 images) | ❌ No | ❌ No | Beginners testing the waters. |
| Standard | $30 | 15 hr | ✅ Unlimited | ❌ No | Hobbyists who want unlimited generations. |
| Pro | $60 | 30 hr | ✅ Unlimited | ✅ Yes | Power users & professionals. |
| Mega | $120 | 60 hr | ✅ Unlimited | ✅ Yes | Heavy volume users. |
- Fast GPU: Generates images instantly.
- Relax Mode: Unlimited generations, but you wait in a queue (can take 1-10 mins).
- Stealth Mode: Allows you to generate images privately (otherwise, your art is visible on the Midjourney gallery).
The First Spell: Creating Your First Image
Once you have subscribed, find a channel named #newbie-12 or similar in the server. This is your training ground.
The Magic Command: /imagine
- Click the chat bar and type
/. A list of commands will appear. - Select or type
/imagine. - A
promptbox will appear. This is where you type your description in English. - Example:
/imagine prompt: a cute astronaut cat on the moon - Press Enter.
In about a minute, the bot will generate a 2×2 grid of 4 images.
The Secret Buttons (U, V, and 🔄)
Under your generated images, you will see buttons:
- U1, U2, U3, U4 (Upscale/Select): liked the top-right image (Image 2)? Click U2. This isolates that image, making it larger and ready to save.
- V1, V2, V3, V4 (Variation): Liked image 2 but want to see it in a different style? Click V2. The AI will generate 4 new variations based on that image.
- 🔄 (Re-roll): Don’t like any of them? Click this to run the prompt again from scratch.
After Selection (Editing)
Once you click a “U” button, new options appear:
- Vary (Subtle/Strong): Change the image slightly or drastically.
- Zoom Out: Expands the canvas, filling in the surroundings.
- Pan (Arrows): Expands the image Left, Right, Up, or Down.
Mastering the Prompt: How to Talk to AI
The AI is smart, but it can’t read your mind. You need to be specific.
The Formula for Success:
[Subject] + [Action/Context] + [Art Style] + [Lighting/Color]
- Bad: “A dog.”
- Good: “A happy golden retriever running on the beach.”
- Pro: “A joyful golden retriever running on a sandy beach at sunset, cinematic lighting, photorealistic, 8k –ar 16:9”
Tips:
- Be Specific: Instead of “big,” try “gigantic” or “colossal.”
- Use Styles: Try keywords like Cyberpunk, Watercolor, Anime, Oil Painting, 1990s Photograph, Sketch.
- Lighting Matters: Use Cinematic lighting, Natural light, Neon glow, or Golden Hour.
Advanced Spells: Parameters
Parameters are special tags added to the end of your prompt (starting with --) to control technical aspects.
| Parameter | Function | Example |
| –ar | Aspect Ratio: Changes the shape. | --ar 16:9 (Widescreen), --ar 9:16 (Phone) |
| –no | Negative Prompt: Removes items. | --no clouds (Removes clouds from sky) |
| –niji | Anime Mode: Switches to the anime model. | --niji 6 |
| –stylize | Artistic Level: How creative the AI gets (0-1000). | --s 750 (Very artistic), --s 50 (Literal) |
| –chaos | Variety: Increases weirdness/difference (0-100). | --c 50 |
| –cref | Character Reference: Keeps character consistency. | --cref [URL] (Copies the face/outfit) |
| –sref | Style Reference: Copies the art style. | --sref [URL] (Copies the vibe/technique) |
Example: /imagine prompt: a futuristic race car --ar 16:9 --s 750 --no people
Rules & Etiquette
Midjourney is a public space. To keep it safe and fun, follow these rules:
- No NSFW: Strictly no adult content, gore, or extreme violence. You will be banned.
- Be Kind: Don’t be rude in the chat.
- Copyright: If you are a paid member, you own the images you create and can use them commercially. However, Midjourney also retains the right to use them for their gallery/marketing.
- Privacy: Unless you are on the Pro/Mega plan with “Stealth Mode,” your images are visible on the public Midjourney gallery website.
FAQ: Common Questions
Q: Can I use Midjourney for free?
A: Currently, no. They sometimes open free trials for short weekends, but usually, you must purchase the Basic Plan ($10/mo) to start.
Q: My image disappeared in the chat! Where is it?
A: The newbie channels move fast! Check your Direct Messages (DM) with the Midjourney Bot to see your generations in a private feed. You can also view your archive on Midjourney.com.
Q: Can I make the images look like a real photo?
A: Yes! Use keywords like: Photorealistic, 8k, Canon EOS R5, Depth of Field, National Geographic style.
Q: Can I keep my character consistent across different images?
A: Yes, use the –cref [Image URL] parameter. Paste the URL of your character’s image after the tag to tell the AI to use that face/costume.
Conclusion
You are now ready to start your journey! Midjourney and Discord combined offer a boundless playground for your creativity. Don’t be afraid to experiment, make mistakes, and press that Re-roll button.
Your imagination is the only limit. Go type /imagine and see what you can create today!