There’s a purpose why Midjourney has been the discuss of the city within the AI world. Typically it’s as a result of they’re as soon as once more roped into discussions about deepfakes. However at the moment, it’s for one thing good: they lastly launched an replace to their V6 mannequin known as, properly, what else however Midjourney V6.1.
And belief me, it’s a game-changer.
So, what’s new with Midjourney V6.1? Properly, the group has centered on enhancing the mannequin’s creativity and making the photographs much more coherent and lifelike. I’ve been utilizing it for weeks, and let me inform you, it is perhaps a delicate change, however it makes a complete world of distinction within the output high quality.
Oh and yeah, in addition they added a reasonably nifty function that customers have been begging for for the longest time.
However do not simply take my phrase for it. Let’s dive in and see how Midjourney V6.1 stacks up in opposition to its predecessor throughout completely different picture classes.
What’s Midjourney?
Let’s be sincere — for those who’re even remotely conversant in AI, then you definately’ve most likely heard of Midjourney. That is an AI picture technology mannequin that may create any photograph starting from paintings to actual (properly, one thing that appears like one, not less than) photos. Launched in 2021, Midjourney’s newest mannequin is V6.1, which we’re reviewing at the moment and evaluating to V6.
For a extra full overview, right here’s our assessment of Midjourney from a yr again. It’s an excellent starter information for those who’re trying to familiarize your self with the appliance.
What’s New With Midjourney V6.1?
Because it’s not likely a brand new mannequin however reasonably an replace to V6, this new model centered on enhancing the pre-existing mannequin’s creativity and picture coherence. This implies much less lacking (or additional) fingers, extra life like photos, higher creativity, and quicker turnaround time. The group additionally put an emphasis on enhancing textual content technology, which we’re going to assessment in a bit.
Right here’s a whole rundown of all of the enhancements they’ve carried out:
Since its launch three weeks in the past, Midjourney additionally launched a brand new function on their internet app for V6.1 — a greater editor. So, what precisely makes it higher?
Again when Midjourney didn’t have an internet app and may solely be accessed on Discord, they already had a function known as area variation. This lets you choose an space of a generated picture and Midjourney creates a brand new model of it. Take this picture for instance:
Let’s say I’m not likely a giant fan of the lake. Right here’s how I’d change it utilizing Midjourney’s Discord bot.
From there, you’ll be able to choose the area that you really want modified.
Then, you get 4 new variations of your authentic picture with the chosen area modified.
So, what’s the issue?
The difficulty with that is that you just don’t actually have any management over the brand new photos. You may’t change the immediate, so that you’re caught with the unique immediate and Midjourney’s simply going to maintain producing new variations of the chosen space utilizing no matter immediate it already has.
With V6.1 and Midjourney’s internet app, that is modified. Now you’ll be able to choose the world AND change the unique immediate. So, for instance, right here’s a cute frog:
Let’s use the final one. Whenever you click on the picture, a toolbar will seem on the proper aspect. Choose the button labeled “Editor.”
Let’s say I need to see its tongue. Bizarre request, I do know. However what I can do now could be press the “Erase” button above and choose the mouth space. From there, I’ll simply change the immediate from “A cute frog” to “A cute frog along with his tongue protruding.”
And now you don’t need to marvel anymore if Midjourney can edit pictures. Right here’s the ultimate product:
Midjourney V6 vs. V6.1 In contrast: Output High quality
Let’s evaluate Midjourney V6.1 to its earlier model utilizing the identical prompts throughout completely different classes.
Portrait (Folks, Medium to Lengthy Pictures)
| Immediate: portrait, an previous sensible man, glamour road medium format images, shot on cinealta, day, cityscape background, vintage-inspired apparel, delicate ambient streetlights, reflective surfaces, delicate bokeh impact | |
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| Midjourney V6 | Midjourney V6.1 |
Each nonetheless give me a slight uncanny valley feeling, however V6.1’s model is much more coherent (as they promised). The older mannequin nonetheless feels actual for those who don’t zoom in, however when you do, you’ll be able to see slight points with the person’s eye.
Portrait (Folks, Shut-up Pictures)
| Immediate: someplace within the yr 1983, a girl wanting as much as the digital camera, birds eye view, melancholia, closeup, analog | |
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| Midjourney V6 | Midjourney V6.1 |
The face of the girl in Midjourney V6’s output is a bit of too easy and brushed up for my liking. It additionally ignored the a part of my immediate the place I specified “chicken’s eye view” angle.
The newer model did neither — exhibiting higher realism and immediate understanding.
Portrait (Non-Human)
| Immediate: A hyperrealistic magnolia bonsai tree, studio lighting, darkish background, remoted | |
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| Midjourney V6 | Midjourney V6.1 |
I believe these are each good photos, but when I have been to nitpick, I’d say that the lighting on V6 went a bit of too overboard and it didn’t actually generate a lot leaves in comparison with flowers.
Panorama
| Immediate: victoria falls, leica m6, panorama images | |
| Midjourney V6 | |
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| Midjourney V6.1 |
Whereas the colours of each photos are muted to an extent, the previous’s model is a bit of too muted for my liking. V6.1 has extra balanced coloration grading.
Dwell Motion Movie Nonetheless
| Immediate: a nonetheless from an early 2000s film, a person in his bed room studying a e book, colourful background objects, whimsical components, within the type of wes anderson, symmetrical | |
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| Midjourney V6 | |
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| Midjourney V6.1 |
| Immediate: a nonetheless from a superhero film, a superheroine who can management fireplace, road setting, within the type of marvel studios | |
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| Midjourney V6 | |
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| Midjourney V6.1 |
| Immediate: a nonetheless from a Nineteen Sixties japanese movie, a samurai standing over a vanquised foe, within the type of akira kurosawa | |
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| Midjourney V6 | |
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| Midjourney V6.1 |
Past creativity, what I can say is that V6.1 follows the immediate extra intently since their outputs are nearer to the administrators I discussed. And what the hell is occurring with these three toes from the primary picture?
Animated Movie Nonetheless
| Immediate: a ghost and a canine taking part in catch, whimsical, magical realism, within the type of hayao miyazaki, studio ghibli | |
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| Midjourney V6 | |
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| Midjourney V6.1 |
This one’s a matter of choice actually — each photos are adequate in my e book. I do have to provide the slight edge to Midjourney V6.1 as a result of it feels extra whimsy. However once more, that’s simply my opinion.
Digital Artworks
| Immediate: pixel artwork scene, a sorceror’s library, 8-bit recreation | |
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| Midjourney V6 | Midjourney V6.1 |
| Immediate: manila at twilight, digital artwork, low poly, geometric, colourful gradients, in delicate coloration fields | |
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| Midjourney V6 | Midjourney V6.1 |
| Immediate: an eldritch horror unleashed within the cosmos, darkish fantasy illustration, lithography, Nineteen Eighties illustration, gothic darkish and macabre, larry elmore, lovecraftian | |
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| Midjourney V6 | Midjourney V6.1 |
The primary one reveals decrease structural coherence in Midjourney V6 as a result of, let’s be sincere, who’s going to place a library outdoors their residence? V6.1’s output additionally has extra constant pixel tiling in comparison with its older model’s inconsistent pixel sizes.
The second comparability reveals extra creativity within the a part of Midjourney V6.1, in my view. It didn’t simply take polygons and formed them to seem like a metropolis — it’s rather more intentional and makes use of coloration contrasts properly.
And as for the third one, take your decide. Each are superb.
Summary Ideas
| Immediate: a visualization of hope | |
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| Midjourney V6 | |
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| Midjourney V6.1 |
If I’m an artwork pupil, I’d really feel like V6.1’s output is much more interpretable than V6 — which is only a bunch of glitter with bokeh in my view. I can’t see the way it’s speculated to symbolize the idea of hope.
Emblem (With out Textual content)
| Immediate: a brand for a flower store, clear pastel background, within the type of paul rand | |
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| Midjourney V6 | Midjourney V6.1 |
| Immediate: a brand for a wine distillery, clear dark-ish background, minimalist, bauhaus type | |
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| Midjourney V6 | Midjourney V6.1 |
| Immediate: a brand for a furnishings retailer, artwork deco type | |
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| Midjourney V6 | Midjourney V6.1 |
Whereas each are good, I believe Midjourney V6’s outputs are a bit of too “loud” to be a brand. There’s simply too many issues occurring.
Emblem (With Textual content)
| Immediate: a brand for a flower store, clear pastel background, within the type of paul rand | |
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| Midjourney V6 | Midjourney V6.1 |
It’s the identical situation because the one above: Midjourney V6’s output does an excessive amount of for use as a brand. As for textual content technology, each did rather well to jot down “Austen’s” however the former model wrote it off-center — so I’ve to provide the sting to V6.1.
Can You Use Midjourney For Free?
Sadly, no. If you wish to use Midjourney, it’s essential avail of any one in all their plans, which begins at $10 monthly. When you do, and let’s say you ran out of generations, you’ll be able to price photos on their web site they usually’ll provide you with a free hour of technology in alternate for it.
What Else?
Midjourney is on a roll, and V6.1 is proof of this. Their newest replace is a testomony to the group’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is attainable in AI-generated artwork. And boy, I can’t wait to see what else is in retailer for the remainder of 2024 since they promised V6.2 later this yr.
The enhancements in realism, coherence, and inventive expression are flat-out spectacular. Midjourney V6.1 is taking the visible storytelling recreation to a complete new degree.
Because the world of AI artwork continues to evolve at breakneck pace, it’s not DALL-E 3 or Firefly that’s main the change, however Midjourney. With every iteration, they’re charming and galvanizing creatives all over the place, leaving us hungry for extra.
