Midjourney V7 Guide: From Beginner to Pro

Midjourney V7 changed everything.

When it dropped in April 2025, artists and creators immediately noticed: images were sharper, prompts were understood better, and the new features—like Draft Mode, Video Generation, and Personalization Profiles—opened creative possibilities that weren't possible before.

Whether you're new to Midjourney or upgrading from an earlier version, this guide covers everything you need to know to create stunning AI art with V7.

What's New in Midjourney V7?

Before we dive into tutorials, let's cover the major improvements:

1. Dramatically Better Image Quality

V7 produces noticeably higher resolution images with:

• Sharper details in textures and edges
• More vibrant, accurate colors
• Better skin tones and facial features
• Improved handling of complex scenes

2. Smarter Prompt Understanding

The new architecture "gets" what you mean:

• Interprets abstract concepts more accurately
• Handles longer, complex prompts better
• Follows instructions more literally
• Multilingual support (prompts in any language)

3. Draft Mode (10x Faster)

Generate quick concept sketches at half the cost:

• Rapid ideation for exploring ideas
• Lower resolution, faster output
• Upscale your favorites to full V7 quality

4. Video Generation

Yes, Midjourney does video now:

• Cinematic clips up to 21 seconds
• Smooth camera movements
• Generate from existing images or text

5. Personalization Profiles

Train the AI to understand YOUR style:

• Rate 200 sample images
• Model learns your preferences
• More consistent output matching your taste

6. Character Consistency 2.0

Keep characters looking the same across generations:

• Character IDs for recurring figures
• Better face and body consistency
• Essential for storytelling and series

7. Omni Reference

Upload character + style + composition references simultaneously:

• Maximum control over output
• Consistency across complex projects

Getting Started: Your First V7 Image

Step 1: Access Midjourney

You have two options:

Option A: Discord (Classic)

1. Go to discord.gg/midjourney
2. Join a #newbies channel
3. Type /imagine followed by your prompt

Option B: Web App (New)

1. Go to midjourney.com
2. Log in with your account
3. Use the prompt box directly

The web app is cleaner, but Discord offers community features and is where many tutorials are based.

Step 2: Enable V7

Make sure you're using the latest version:

1. Type /settings in Discord (or go to Settings on web)
2. Select Version 7
3. Choose Standard Mode (or Draft for faster iterations)

Step 3: Write Your First Prompt

Start simple:

/imagine A golden retriever puppy playing in autumn leaves, warm sunlight

Press Enter and watch the magic happen. Midjourney will generate 4 image variations.

Step 4: Upscale or Vary

Under your generated images, you'll see buttons:

• U1-U4: Upscale that image to full resolution
• V1-V4: Create variations based on that image
• 🔁: Regenerate all 4 with the same prompt

Click U1 to upscale your favorite.

Congratulations—you've made your first V7 image!

The Art of Prompting V7

V7 responds differently than previous versions. Here's how to get the best results:

Prompt Structure

Think of your prompt in layers:

[Subject] + [Details] + [Environment/Setting] + [Style] + [Technical Specs]

Example:

A young woman with red hair, wearing a vintage leather jacket, standing in a neon-lit Tokyo alleyway at midnight, rain reflections on wet pavement, cinematic photography, shallow depth of field

Be Specific, Not Vague

V7 interprets prompts more literally. Use precise language:

Specify Quantities

V7 handles numbers better:

• "three birds" not "birds"
• "a pair of shoes" not "shoes"
• "single red rose" not "rose"

Include Lighting

Lighting dramatically affects the result:

• "golden hour sunlight"
• "harsh studio lighting"
• "volumetric fog with rim lighting"
• "neon reflections"
• "candlelit, warm shadows"

Camera and Composition

Guide the "camera":

• "extreme close-up of face"
• "wide establishing shot"
• "low angle looking up"
• "overhead flat lay"
• "macro photography"
• "35mm film grain"

Essential Parameters

Parameters modify how Midjourney generates your image. Add them after your prompt:

--ar (Aspect Ratio)

Control dimensions:

• --ar 16:9 Widescreen landscape
• --ar 9:16 Vertical/mobile
• --ar 1:1 Square (Instagram)
• --ar 2:1 Ultrawide
• --ar 3:4 Portrait

Example:

A sunset over mountains --ar 16:9

--stylize (Artistic Interpretation)

Control how "artistic" vs. literal:

• --stylize 0 Very literal to prompt
• --stylize 100 Balanced (default)
• --stylize 1000 Very artistic, may deviate from prompt

--weird (Experimental Elements)

Add unexpected/surreal touches:

• --weird 0 Normal (default)
• --weird 250 Slightly unusual
• --weird 1000 Very experimental

--no (Exclude Elements)

Remove unwanted things:

Beautiful forest --no people, buildings, text

--style raw

Reduce Midjourney's default "beautification":

Documentary photo of a factory worker --style raw

Great for gritty, realistic images.

--tile

Create seamless, repeatable patterns:

Floral pattern for fabric design --tile

--chaos

Increase variation between the 4 outputs:

• --chaos 0 Similar results
• --chaos 100 Very different results

Advanced Techniques

Image-to-Image Prompting

Use an existing image as inspiration:

1. Upload your reference image to Discord
2. Copy the image URL
3. Add it to your prompt:

[image URL] A cyberpunk version of this scene --iw 1.5

The --iw (image weight) controls influence (0-2, default 1):

• --iw 0.5 Text prompt dominates
• --iw 2 Image reference dominates

Style Reference (--sref)

Match a specific visual style:

Portrait of a warrior --sref [style image URL]

This copies the aesthetic, not the content.

Character Reference (--cref)

Maintain character consistency:

My character in a coffee shop --cref [character image URL]

Essential for creating character series or storyboards.

Omni Reference

Combine character + style + composition:

[character ref] [style ref] [composition ref] A hero standing triumphant

V7's most powerful consistency feature.

Describe Command

Turn images into prompts:

1. Type /describe
2. Upload any image
3. Midjourney generates text prompts that could recreate it

Great for learning how to describe styles.

Blend Command

Merge multiple images:

1. Type /blend
2. Upload 2-5 images
3. Midjourney creates a fusion

Useful for combining concepts or styles.

Draft Mode Workflow

Draft Mode generates 10x faster at lower resolution. Here's how to use it efficiently:

1. Set Draft Mode

/settings → Draft Mode ON

2. Rapid Ideation

Generate many concepts quickly:

Concept art for a floating city Concept art for a floating city, art deco style Concept art for a floating city, organic shapes

3. Select Winners

Review your drafts and pick favorites.

4. Upscale to V7 Final

Click "Upscale to V7 Final" on your chosen draft to render at full quality.

Cost savings: Draft Mode uses half the GPU time = stretch your subscription further.

V7 Prompt Templates

Copy these and customize:

Portrait Photography

Portrait of [subject], [age/appearance], [clothing], [lighting type] lighting, [emotion] expression, shot on [camera], [lens]mm, shallow depth of field --ar 2:3 --stylize 250

Product Photography

[Product] on [surface], [lighting description], professional product photography, studio quality, white background, commercial shot --ar 1:1 --stylize 100

Landscape Art

[Scene type] landscape, [time of day], [weather], [foreground element], [art style], dramatic composition, cinematic --ar 16:9 --stylize 500

Character Design

Full body character design, [character description], [clothing/armor], [pose], neutral background, concept art style, character sheet --ar 2:3 --stylize 200

Interior Design

[Room type] interior, [style] design, [key features], natural lighting through [windows], architectural photography --ar 16:9 --stylize 300

Fantasy/Sci-Fi

[Scene description], [genre] atmosphere, dramatic lighting, detailed environment, cinematic composition, concept art --ar 16:9 --stylize 400 --weird 200

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-Prompting

❌ "A beautiful gorgeous stunning amazing incredible breathtaking magical fantastical sunset" ✅ "A dramatic sunset with vibrant orange and purple clouds, silhouetted mountains"

Too many adjectives dilute focus.

2. Conflicting Instructions

❌ "A dark bright moody cheerful scene" ✅ "A moody scene with dramatic contrast, single light source"

Pick a direction.

3. Ignoring Composition

❌ "A person" ✅ "A person, medium shot, eye level, centered composition, urban background"

Always guide the "camera."

4. Not Iterating

Your first prompt rarely produces the perfect image. Refine:

1. Generate initial concept
2. Identify what's working
3. Adjust prompt
4. Repeat

5. Forgetting Parameters

V7 has powerful controls. Use them:

• --ar for composition
• --stylize for artistic control
• --no for exclusions

Midjourney V7 Pricing

Pro+ subscribers get:

• Unlimited commercial images
• $25,000 legal indemnification
• No attribution required

For most creators, Standard is the sweet spot.

Niji 7 for Anime

If you create anime or manga-style art, use Niji 7:

1. Type /settings
2. Select Niji Mode
3. Choose Niji 7

Niji 7 is specifically trained for:

• Anime character designs
• Manga illustrations
• Eastern art styles
• Better eye rendering and facial details

Niji vs. Standard V7 for Anime

The Bottom Line

Midjourney V7 represents a genuine step forward in AI image generation. The improved prompt understanding, Draft Mode workflow, and Personalization Profiles make it both more powerful and more efficient.

My recommendations:

• Beginners: Start with simple prompts, experiment with --stylize, learn one parameter at a time
• Intermediate: Explore image references, character consistency, and Draft Mode workflow
• Advanced: Combine Omni Reference, Personalization Profiles, and parameter stacking for maximum control

The technology is remarkable, but remember: the best AI art still comes from human creativity. Midjourney is a tool. Your vision is what makes it meaningful.

Now go create something beautiful.

Related articles:

• AI Video Generation: Sora vs Runway vs Pika
• 50 ChatGPT Prompts That Actually Work
• How Designers Are Actually Using AI