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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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)

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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.

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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

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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

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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)

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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)

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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

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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

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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.

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Photography Reference

For detailed camera settings, lighting terminology, and film stocks, see reference/photography.md.

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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