How to Midjourney: A New Way of Creativity
Artificial intelligence doesn’t stop at the creative scene — the current and hot topic: AI-based programs such as “Midjourney” or “Dall-E-2”. Both tools use simple terms or text phrases from users to generate complex images that can even be used to win art competitions.
Using “Midjourney” as an example, we’ll show you how you can use the tool to turn words into images within a few seconds and talk about potentials where it can be used in the future.
How does Midjourney work?
To be able to use Midjourney, you need an active account on Discord, with which the rest can be set up real quick:
1. Log into Discord
2. Visit the Midjourney website and click the “Join the beta” button
3. Done! Welcome to the Midjourney Community!
Now it’s time to create your own Midjourney AI image:
1. Choose one of the existing “newbies” channels
2. Type in the text field “/imagine” *space* then your desired terms *enter*
3. The Midjourney Bot renders your image in 4 variants within 60 seconds
Tip: The use of terms and text phrases can be as simple as “A pink elephant”, but through a targeted use and their sequence in the text, it’s also possible to initially influence the result (coloring, form, rendering, image format, etc.) e.g. “A pink elephant, in a room, full of trees, volumetric lighting, light caustics, octane render, ultra realistic, 16:9”
4. Now you have several options:
a) You export the image with all 4 variants (or don’t)
b) You click on the “Reload” icon and get a new image direction of your input
c) You choose a variant and have it rendered again individually (U = Upscale 1–4)
d) You create further variants of a single variant (V = Variations 1–4)
Tip: Keep an eye on your message with the free trial: once your image has finished rendering, it’ll jump to the bottom of the chat.
If you’re wondering who owns the rights to all the images, Midjourney has commented on Discord this way:
“The creators now have ownership, but grant MJ a unlimited license. To be clear, one of the many things we use the unlimited license for is to continue to allow the remixing and openness the community enjoys.”
What potential does Midjourney have?
For years there have been discussions about the extent to which art, created by artificial intelligence, can even be called art.
Can we see these creations as a cooperation between man and machine, i.e. between artists and artificial intelligence — or are the programs more comparable to a new tool, such as a brush and canvas? One thing’s clear: the images, that AIs create, revolutionizes the previous approach and process of image creation.
But it’s not just about the artistic process and the fun factor that makes these image-AIs so interesting. Such programs can also be used in daily business: For example, as a catalyst for brainstorming and mood board processes.
Regardless of the creative industry, be it film, fashion, gaming or interior design: we already have the ability to visualize our thoughts within seconds using only language. Concept stages and decision-making processes are extremely shortened through the use of AI-based tools such as Midjourney.
The end of creativity?
Such tools support, but don’t replace the creativity and experience of a designer — only the conscious use leads to the goal. Because when we talk about commercial design, the saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” no longer suffices as a justification. It’s precisely for this reason that we as a UX/UI agency have developed a scientifically based UXi method that maps a comprehensible design process and at the same time ensures that the right brand values are represented in the digital product. The use of Midjourney enriches our daily business, as it can provide inspirational and guiding input for our UXi process at this point.
…which brings us back to the question:
Is this really the end of human creativity, or do we rather have to see the big picture, in which such tools “only” expand our possibilities of presenting ideas and thoughts visually?
But we’d also like to hear your opinion on this, so: write us!
This article was originally published at cobeisfresh.com.
