Midjourney Patchwork Review – Amazing Tool, Bad Experience

Keep in mind when Midjourney was only a easy Discord bot? Lately, they’re dreaming greater — means greater. Like, “let’s create a whole universe with prompts” greater.

See, here is the factor about AI artwork: for all its controversy, there are some areas the place it simply is smart. Suppose idea artists needing fast iterations, or storytellers wanting to visualise their worlds with out breaking the financial institution. That is the place Patchwork is available in — Midjourney’s bold new software that guarantees to alter how we strategy visible storytelling. 

However is Patchwork truly value your time? Or is it simply one other Midjourney characteristic that we’ll neglect in a few months?

What’s Midjourney Patchwork?

Everyone knows what Midjourney is, so I gained’t waste plenty of time speaking about it. However in case you don’t, Midjourney is an AI picture technology mannequin that at present has greater than 21 million lively customers. Beginning out as a easy Discord bot, they ultimately grew to have their very own platform and introduce many new options. You may learn our full evaluate of their newest mannequin right here.

So, now that we bought that out of the way in which, what’s Patchwork?

Midjourney is asking Patchwork an “infinite canvas.” It’s their try at making a storytelling software that mixes a number of LLMs and Midjourney, permitting customers to assemble visuals and preserve a common fashion. Merely put, Patchwork offers you the facility to create worlds utilizing prompts.

Supply: Midjourney

How To Use Midjourney Patchwork?

There’s no a technique of utilizing Patchwork. One of the simplest ways I might describe it’s like enjoying an open-world recreation — certain, you’ll be able to observe guides, however on the finish of the day, you’re higher off exploring and choosing up issues alongside the way in which.

So, as a substitute of a conventional step-by-step information, right here’s a rundown of the whole lot you are able to do with Patchwork:

The Starting

When you “create a world,” you’re going to be requested two issues: the setting of your world (the premise of your story) and a common fashion (or the theme of your story). It will set up how your world will appear to be. 

The Toolbox

So, we’ll speak about this extra once we get to the demo, however upon getting your world, Patchwork directs you to an empty canvas with a toolbox. It will allow you to create, edit, or editorialize the whole lot in your world. Right here’s a fast rundown of the whole lot on this toolbox:

• Character: Creates a picture of a personality. 
• Occasion: Creates an outline of a sure occasion.
• Place: Creates a setting inside your world.
• Prop: Creates an object inside your story.
• Faction: Creates a common theme for a gaggle of characters.
• Notice: Attaches a textbox (containing data, storylines, or author’s notes) to a block to assist with storytelling.
• Picture: Permits you to add a third-party picture.
• Portal: Makes a portal in your canvas that results in one other canvas. 

Creating My Personal World With Patchwork

Earlier than I proceed: I would like to return clear with one thing. As a lot as I really like Midjourney, utilizing Patchwork might be one of the vital irritating issues I’ve ever accomplished. When I attempt to log in, 95% of the time, I’m hit with a Gateway Error. Once I efficiently sign up, I’m typically disconnected from the server.

I virtually give up so many occasions. I do know that this model of Patchwork is only a analysis preview (and that they’re conscious of this challenge, simply that it’s a decrease precedence for them as they concentrate on releasing Midjourney V7), however I want they’ve put some extra effort into the UX. 

Nonetheless, I ultimately managed to log in with none disconnections. So, right here’s my expertise utilizing Patchwork.

Worldbuilding with Patchwork

Even at occasions once I didn’t disconnect, Patchwork wasn’t actually producing photos as quick as I hoped. I spent two days attempting to evaluate this software, and greater than three-quarters of these was wasted on this:

However I’m getting side-tracked. 

So, again to the world I used to be attempting to create: a contemporary tackle sorcerers — a narrative the place they’re pressured into hiding after getting hunted by the federal government and bounty hunters. Now we have our protagonist, a novice sorceress. An antagonist, a strong sorcerer who operates within the shadows by controlling the federal government. And our setting: twenty third century New York Metropolis, which is now a mixture of futuristic dystopia and spaghetti westerns.

First, I wished to create 4 characters: the protagonist, the antagonist, the mentor (form of like Obi-Wan Kenobi), and an anti-hero (so, on this case, our personal Boba Fett).

When you choose “Character” within the toolbox, a block seems whereby you need to enter the title of your character and their description. 

When you’ve typed within the title and outline, you’ll be able to press the outline field and choose the paint emblem, mechanically creating 4 depictions of the character. The one you decide will even function the principle avatar of the block.

So, I went forward and created all the opposite characters as nicely.

The method was largely the identical for props, occasions, and locations — you create, title, and outline them and generate photos utilizing the paint button. So, I shortly populated my world with the whole lot I might consider. That is the outcome:

It’s barebones, however after a number of server disconnections, the expertise was truly fairly enjoyable and immersive. The fashion remained considerably constant all through too. Would I do that once more or develop my world? Positively, however provided that Midjourney fixes the issue.

Execs & Cons of Midjourney Patchwork

Right here’s The Deal

I mentioned it earlier, however I’ve by no means been extra annoyed attempting a product than with Midjourney’s Patchwork. It took me two days simply to get an uninterrupted session. 

For what it’s value: though it could appear that Patchwork was rushed and has a decrease precedence of their timeline, they nonetheless have large plans for this software. Midjourney’s final aim is for the customers to have the ability to import creations from Patchwork to different storytelling apps — one thing that I imagine can be superb for storyboarding.

However past that, I discovered Patchwork to be an incredible subsequent step for Midjourney. I’ve seen different critiques whose backside line is a query: is there even a necessity for Patchwork? And my reply to that’s, not essentially, however that doesn’t imply it shouldn’t be made. I truly prefer it when platforms develop and introduce new issues. 

Put it this fashion. As somebody who’s 50-50 on AI artwork, there’s two areas that I wholeheartedly welcome the concept: idea creation and tabletop RPGs. With Patchwork, storyboarding for somebody with none artwork expertise can grow to be straightforward. It additionally offers hobbyists working a D&D or Dread recreation an expansive canvas to create their world and share it with their gamers.

Server points apart, this was a blast and I can’t wait to strive Patchwork as soon as they formally roll it out as a characteristic. If in case you have a Midjourney account and plenty of persistence, I counsel you give it a strive as nicely. Have enjoyable!