How to Write Better Midjourney Prompts: A Complete Guide

Midjourney is one of the most powerful generative AI tools for artists, designers, and marketers. Unlike text-based models, Midjourney requires a specific linguistic style and an understanding of technical parameters to produce consistent, professional-grade images.

If you have ever typed a simple prompt and received a blurry or generic result, it is likely because you haven’t mastered the underlying structure that the model expects. This guide will walk you through the anatomy of a high-performing Midjourney prompt and the technical commands that give you precise control over the output.

The Anatomy of a Midjourney Prompt

A great prompt is not just a sentence; it is a collection of descriptive blocks. For the best results, structure your prompt in the following order:

1. The Subject: What is the main focus of the image? Be specific about the action, the setting, and the appearance.
2. Style and Medium: Is it a photograph, a watercolor painting, an oil on canvas, or a 3D render?
3. Lighting: Describe the source, color, and intensity of the light (e.g., golden hour, soft studio lighting, neon glow).
4. Composition: Define the camera angle, depth of field, and framing (e.g., wide shot, macro detail, low angle).
5. Technical Parameters: The commands at the end of the prompt that control aspect ratio, version, and stylization level.

Example Structure:

“A portrait of a futuristic explorer in a dense jungle, digital art style, glowing cyan accents, dramatic backlight, low angle shot, highly detailed —ar 16:9 —v 6.0”

Key Parameters for Precise Control

Technical parameters are the “levers” of Midjourney. They are added to the end of your prompt starting with double hyphens.

Aspect Ratio (—ar)

By default, Midjourney generates square images (1:1). Use the —ar parameter to change this for different platforms.

• —ar 16:9 (Widescreen for YouTube or cinematic shots)
• —ar 9:16 (Vertical for Instagram Stories or TikTok)
• —ar 3:2 (Common in traditional photography)

Version (—v)

Midjourney releases new versions frequently. While the latest version is usually the default, you can specify earlier versions if you prefer their specific aesthetic. Version 6.0 currently offers the most realistic detail and better understanding of complex instructions.

Stylize (—s)

The stylize parameter (0 to 1000) controls how much of Midjourney’s artistic flair is applied to the image. A low value (—s 50) stays closer to your literal prompt, while a high value (—s 750) allows the AI more creative freedom, often resulting in more beautiful but less accurate images.

Chaos (—c)

The chaos parameter (0 to 100) determines how varied the initial four images in your grid will be. High chaos leads to more unexpected and diverse results, which is excellent for the brainstorming phase of a project.

Mastering Style Keywords

The keywords you choose for “style” and “medium” will have the biggest impact on the final look. Instead of using vague words like “cool” or “pretty,” use industry-standard terms:

• Cinematic: Evokes the look of a high-budget film with intentional lighting and composition.
• Photorealistic: Directs the model to mimic the textures and clarity of a high-end digital camera.
• Ukiyo-e: For a traditional Japanese woodblock print aesthetic.
• Cyberpunk: For high-tech, low-life aesthetics with neon colors and dark rainy streets.
• Minimalist: For clean lines, simple shapes, and lots of negative space.

Before and After: Improving Your Prompts

Seeing the difference between a basic prompt and an engineered one is the fastest way to learn.

Basic Prompt: “A house in the mountains.” Result: A generic, stock-photo-looking house with average lighting.

Engineered Prompt: “A modern A-frame cabin in the Swiss Alps during a snowstorm, warm light glowing from the windows, photorealistic, 8k resolution, cinematic lighting, wide shot —ar 16:9 —v 6.0” Result: A moody, atmospheric, and professional image that tells a story.

Basic Prompt: “A futuristic car.” Result: A typical sci-fi concept car on a white background.

Engineered Prompt: “A sleek electric supercar driving through a neon-lit Tokyo at night, motion blur, rain on the pavement, reflections, synthwave aesthetic, low angle shot, highly detailed —ar 21:9 —v 6.0” Result: A dynamic, high-energy image suitable for a website hero section or marketing campaign.

Common Midjourney Pitfalls

Even with good keywords, there are common mistakes that can ruin a generation:

• Too much text: Midjourney ignores many words in very long, rambling sentences. Keep your prompts descriptive but concise.
• Contradictory terms: Asking for “dark lighting” and “bright colors” simultaneously can confuse the model.
• Over-reliance on “4k” and “8k”: These terms are less effective in newer versions. Instead, use specific lighting and texture keywords like “unreal engine 5” or “sharp focus.”

Automating the Creative Process

Crafting the perfect Midjourney prompt requires a lot of trial and error. You often find yourself looking up aspect ratio codes or trying to remember the name of a specific art style.

PromptForge simplifies this by providing a dedicated Image category that structures your prompt for you. Instead of memorizing parameters, you can select your desired style, lighting, and aspect ratio from a curated list. The tool then compiles these into a single, optimized Midjourney prompt that follows the anatomy outlined in this guide.

Whether you are building a brand identity or generating assets for a presentation, having a structured starting point saves you from wasting credits on failed attempts. You can generate your own optimized image prompts at https://app.prompt4orge.xyz/generate.

By understanding the relationship between subjects, styles, and technical parameters, you can move away from “rolling the dice” and start creating specific, high-quality AI art that meets your exact needs.