Since the launch of its beta version in 2022, Midjourney is now at version 5, much more complete than the previous ones. Midjourney not only allows you to generate original images using natural language, in the form of “prompts”, but it can now use your own images as sources of inspiration.
To access Midjourney, it is imperative to connect to the Discord server. Once in one of the channels dedicated to the production of images, you can upload your personal files. Then you have the choice: merge them together and/or modify them by adding a text prompt, as you could do for any classic generation. Follow the leader !
How to create images from your own photos and drawings in MidJourney?
1. Go to one of the #newbies-xx channels from the Midjourney Discord server
To use Midjourney, you must join one of the #newbies-xx channels on the official server. To do this, choose one in the left column and click on its name.
NB: you can also interact with Midjourney in a private message, or even install the robot on your personal Discord server.
2. Send a file to the server
To use one of your personal images, click on the + button to the left of the “Send a message in #newbies-xx” field.
Click on “Upload a file”.
Select the file to upload.
Validate with the Enter key, the image is now in the Discord channel.
3. Get the image URL
To use your photo, you need to retrieve its address from the server. Click on the image to enlarge it, then click “Open in Web Browser”.
In your browser, select the URL of the image and copy it with the right button or with the key combination Ctrl+C.
4. Use the image in a new prompt
Type /imagine in the input field on Discord, then validate with Enter.
Paste the URL of the image you just copied, using the right button or the key combination Ctrl+V.
Add a text prompt, which will modify your source image and validate with Enter.
It is also possible to ask Midjourney to use several of your personal images and merge them, possibly adding text instructions.
5. Merge multiple personal images
Upload each image to Discord and grab their URLs, as we saw above.
Enter the /imagine prompt and then paste the URLs of the visuals concerned. Validate with the Enter key.
If you haven’t entered any additional textual instructions, Midjourney just merges the uploaded images.
Add textual instructions at the end of the prompt, to fine-tune the composition, the style, the lighting…
It is also possible to add parameters as in any prompt.
NB: The /blend command offers a more ergonomic interface for merging images, but does not allow adding text instructions.
How to create an avatar from your passport photo?
1. Upload your photo to Discord
Send your photo to the server, as we saw in point 2 above and retrieve its URL (see point 3).
2. Reuse your photo in your prompt
Enter the /imagine prompt, paste the photo URL and add instructions to change the style of the output image (style, light, color…). Validate with the Enter key.
By adding your own images to the Midjourney prompts, you allow artificial intelligence to generate truly unique bespoke visuals. This ranges from merging sources, as the /blend prompt does, to modifying images with the usual /imagine prompt followed by text instructions. Note that in the latter case, you can also use one of Midjourney’s many settings to rectify the format, style…