MidJourney 6.1: Marshall Atkinson's Guide to Mastering AI-Enhanced Design

"Your success with MidJourney is highly dependent on how you phrase your prompts. Being specific can significantly improve the quality of the generated images."

What happens when everyone's favourite text-to-image tool drops a new version that's feature rich and packed with enhanced features?

We run a free bonus session, that's what!

Watch the video to get a summary of the Midjourney 6.1 update from Marshall Atkinson, our Midjourney course creator.  Then read on for a synopsis of the main features, plus some great prompts to give it a go. Finally don't forget to get the free mini Midjourney course.

For all things Midjourney, we've got you covered, let's go!

Highlights of Version 6.1

• Algorithm Update in Version 6.1:
  • Marshall demonstrated the improvements brought by the new algorithm in MidJourney 6.1. He encouraged users to rerun past images that struggled with earlier versions, as the new update could yield better results.
• Experimenting with New Features:
  • Atkinson highlighted the "q2" option, which potentially improves texture in generated images. He suggested experimenting with this feature along with various prompts like "flat background", "floral", and "glitch" to explore their effects.
• Creative Prompts and Techniques:
  • He shared his go-to prompts such as "Kawhi" for cute images and "light and shadow" for added visual interest. Would you like to know Marshall's amazing prompts? Sign up for the next Midjourney Design course.

Important Advice

• Understanding and Using Prompts:
  • "Your success with MidJourney is highly dependent on how you phrase your prompts. Being specific can significantly improve the quality of the generated images."
  • Atkinson suggests using detailed descriptions to guide the AI. For example, instead of just typing "cat", you might use "a fluffy white cat with blue eyes sitting on a sunny windowsill."
• Leveraging the "q2" Option:
  • The "q2" option can enhance texture quality. Atkinson advises experimenting with this feature to see how it impacts different types of images.
  • "Texture can make or break your design. Use 'q2' to add depth and realism to your images."
• Exploring Artistic Techniques:
  • Techniques like anaglyph, stereoscopic, and Batik can add a unique flair to your designs. Atkinson demonstrated how these can be applied to create visually striking images.
  • "Don't shy away from experimenting with different art techniques. They can transform a simple image into something extraordinary."
• Revisiting Old Designs:
  • Atkinson encouraged designers to rerun old designs through the new algorithm. "You'd be surprised how much better your old images can look with the latest updates."
  • This approach not only saves time but also helps in refining and improving previous works with minimal effort.

Diverse Art Techniques Explored

• Alcohol Ink Technique:
  • This technique creates vibrant colours and unique designs. Atkinson showcased how alcohol ink can be used to produce stunning visual effects.
  • "Alcohol ink is fantastic for creating bold, abstract art. It's a great way to add a splash of colour to your designs."
• Hand Colouring and Iridescent Effects:
  • Hand-colouring techniques were demonstrated for photographs and illustrations. Atkinson also showcased the use of iridescent foil for a distinctive look.
  • "Hand colouring adds a personal touch to your images. Combine it with iridescent effects for an eye-catching result."
• Cell Shading and Chibi Styles:
  • Atkinson explored cell shading and chibi art techniques for cartoon-style designs, such as a samurai kitten and an old man at sea.
  • "Cell shading is perfect for creating sharp, vibrant cartoon characters. It's a technique worth mastering if you're into illustration."

Utilising AI for Unique Designs:

• Exaggerated Features:
  • MidJourney's potential to create cartoonish illustrations with exaggerated features was highlighted. Atkinson discussed using flat backgrounds for clean, simple designs and explored the creative possibilities of glitchy patterns and the Golden Hour effect in various scenarios.

Graphic Design Applications:

• Time-Saving Projects:
  • Atkinson illustrated how MidJourney can save significant time in graphic design projects. He shared examples like surreal graphics for an amusement park t-shirt design and tarot cards incorporating logos for each maze, significantly cutting down the work time.
  • "MidJourney is a huge time-saver. It can produce high-quality designs in a fraction of the time it would take to create them manually."

Action Items:

• Rerun past images using MidJourney 6.1 to see improved results.
• Experiment with the "q2" option to test texture enhancements.
• Try new prompts like "flat background", "floral", and "glitch".
• Utilise favourite prompts such as "Kawhi" and "light and shadow" for creative outputs.

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Sum Up

If this is what you get with a free bonus session from Marshall, imagine what tips and design tricks you'd pick up in a full course? 

The next Midjourney for Designers course starts in October. It runs over 4 sessions and you will step away as an AI augmented designer, thanks to the support, live Q&A, workbooks and live learning sessions.

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Could the rise of AI-generated art eventually overshadow human creativity, making traditional art forms obsolete?

We don't think so!

Sign up for the Free MidJourney for Designers mini-course and start creating stunning AI-enhanced designs today: Free MidJourney for Designers Mini-Course.

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This is a Midjourney course unlike any other.

Whether you're aiming for clean designs or intricate artwork, Midjourney 6.1 offers a powerful platform to bring your creative visions to life and our next Midjourney course will bring you from zero to pro in just 4 sessions.

Check out what long time web designer and previous course attendee, Kris Buyers had to say about Midjourney for Designers.

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