Midjourney V6 vs. V6.1: Step Towards The Right Direction

There’s a cause 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 immediately, it’s for one thing good: they lastly launched an replace to their V6 mannequin known as, nicely, what else however Midjourney V6.1.

And belief me, it’s a game-changer.

So, what’s new with Midjourney V6.1? Effectively, the staff has centered on bettering 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 may be a delicate change, however it makes an entire world of distinction within the output high quality. 

Oh and yeah, additionally 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 towards its predecessor throughout completely different picture classes.

What’s Midjourney?

Let’s be trustworthy — if you happen to’re even remotely aware of AI, then you definately’ve in all probability heard of Midjourney. That is an AI picture era mannequin that may create any photograph starting from art work to actual (nicely, one thing that appears like one, at the least) photos. Launched in 2021, Midjourney’s newest mannequin is V6.1, which we’re reviewing immediately and evaluating to V6.

For a extra full overview, right here’s our evaluate of Midjourney from a 12 months again. It’s a fantastic starter information if you happen to’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 quite an replace to V6, this new model centered on bettering the pre-existing mannequin’s creativity and picture coherence. This implies much less lacking (or further) fingers, extra lifelike photos, higher creativity, and sooner turnaround time. The staff additionally put an emphasis on bettering textual content era, which we’re going to evaluate in a bit.

Right here’s a whole rundown of all of the enhancements they’ve performed:

Since its launch three weeks in the past, Midjourney additionally launched a brand new function on their net app for V6.1 — a greater editor. So, what precisely makes it higher?

Again when Midjourney didn’t have an online 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 possibly can choose the area that you really want modified.

Then, you get 4 new variations of your unique picture with the chosen area modified.

So, what’s the issue?

The problem with that is that you just don’t actually have any management over the brand new photos. You possibly can’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 net app, that is modified. Now you possibly can choose the realm AND change the unique immediate. So, for instance, right here’s a cute frog:

Let’s use the final one. While you click on the picture, a toolbar will seem on the fitting facet. Choose the button labeled “Editor.”

Let’s say I wish to see its tongue. Bizarre request, I do know. However what I can do now’s 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 should marvel anymore if Midjourney can edit images. Right here’s the ultimate product:

Midjourney V6 vs. V6.1 In contrast: Output High quality

Let’s examine Midjourney V6.1 to its earlier model utilizing the identical prompts throughout completely different classes.

Portrait (Folks, Medium to Lengthy Photographs)

Immediate: portrait, an previous clever man, glamour avenue medium format pictures, shot on cinealta, day, cityscape background, vintage-inspired apparel, delicate ambient streetlights, reflective surfaces, delicate bokeh impact
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 if you happen to don’t zoom in, however when you do, you possibly can see slight points with the person’s eye.

Portrait (Folks, Shut-up Photographs)

Immediate: someplace within the 12 months 1983, a lady wanting as much as the digital camera, birds eye view, melancholia, closeup, analog
Midjourney V6	Midjourney V6.1

The face of the girl in Midjourney V6’s output is just a little too easy and brushed up for my liking. It additionally ignored the a part of my immediate the place I specified “hen’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
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 just a little too overboard and it didn’t actually generate a lot leaves in comparison with flowers.

Panorama

Immediate: victoria falls, leica m6, panorama pictures

Midjourney V6

Midjourney V6.1

Whereas the colours of each photos are muted to an extent, the previous’s model is just a little too muted for my liking. V6.1 has extra balanced colour grading. 

Stay 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

Midjourney V6

Midjourney V6.1

Immediate: a nonetheless from a superhero film, a superheroine who can management fireplace, avenue setting, within the type of marvel studios

Midjourney V6

Midjourney V6.1

Immediate: a nonetheless from a Sixties japanese movie, a samurai standing over a vanquised foe, within the type of akira kurosawa

Midjourney V6

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 enjoying catch, whimsical, magical realism, within the type of hayao miyazaki, studio ghibli

Midjourney V6

Midjourney V6.1

This one’s a matter of choice actually — each photos are ok 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 sport
Midjourney V6	Midjourney V6.1

Immediate: manila at twilight, digital artwork, low poly, geometric, colourful gradients, in delicate colour fields
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
Midjourney V6	Midjourney V6.1

The primary one exhibits decrease structural coherence in Midjourney V6 as a result of, let’s be trustworthy, who’s going to place a library outdoors their house? V6.1’s output additionally has extra constant pixel tiling in comparison with its older model’s inconsistent pixel sizes.

The second comparability exhibits extra creativity within the a part of Midjourney V6.1, in my view. It didn’t simply take polygons and formed them to appear like a metropolis — it’s rather more intentional and makes use of colour contrasts nicely.

And as for the third one, take your choose. Each are superb. 

Summary Ideas

Immediate: a visualization of hope

Midjourney V6

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 purported to symbolize the idea of hope.

Emblem (With out Textual content)

Immediate: a emblem for a flower store, clear pastel background, within the type of paul rand
Midjourney V6	Midjourney V6.1

Immediate: a emblem for a wine distillery, clear dark-ish background, minimalist, bauhaus type
Midjourney V6	Midjourney V6.1

Immediate: a emblem for a furnishings retailer, artwork deco type
Midjourney V6	Midjourney V6.1

Whereas each are good, I believe Midjourney V6’s outputs are just a little too “loud” to be a emblem. There’s simply too many issues occurring. 

Emblem (With Textual content)

Immediate: a emblem for a flower store, clear pastel background, within the type of paul rand
Midjourney V6	Midjourney V6.1

It’s the identical problem because the one above: Midjourney V6’s output does an excessive amount of for use as a emblem. As for textual content era, each did rather well to write 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 worthwhile to avail of any certainly one of their plans, which begins at $10 per thirty days. When you do, and let’s say you ran out of generations, you possibly can charge photos on their web site and so they’ll provide you with a free hour of era in trade for it.

What Else?

Midjourney is on a roll, and V6.1 is proof of this. Their newest replace is a testomony to the staff’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is doable 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 12 months.

The enhancements in realism, coherence, and inventive expression are flat-out spectacular. Midjourney V6.1 is taking the visible storytelling sport to an entire new stage.

Because the world of AI artwork continues to evolve at breakneck velocity, it’s not DALL-E 3 or Firefly that’s main the change, however Midjourney. With every iteration, they’re charming and galvanizing creatives in every single place, leaving us hungry for extra.