Midjourney Finds A New Home With Its Own Website, Simplifying Image Generations
By Mikelle Leow, 20 Dec 2023
Image via Midjourney
Midjourney is transitioning from its Discord roots and saying hello to its very own dedicated website, promising a revamped and more intuitive experience for enthusiasts of artificial intelligence-generated imagery.
Previously, users had to traverse a somewhat labyrinthine process to gain access to the AI art generator. First, they needed a Discord account. Then, they had to seek out and join the Midjourney server, a niche corner of the Discord universe.
Once inside, the image creation process involved typing specific commands in the chat window. This was the native language Midjourney spoke—a series of text prompts that, when deciphered correctly, would conjure up AI-generated images. Understanding the right syntax for image prompts and commands was also essential, which could be daunting for newcomers.
Further, as Discord mainly emphasizes text-based communication, users had to sift through chat threads to interact with their newly generated images.
Midjourney’s makers understood that while Discord is great for chatting, building digital spaces, and fostering communities, it might not be the coziest spot for visual creation. Enter the new Midjourney website, currently in alpha mode and available to users who have created over 10,000 images via Discord.
Screenshot via Midjourney
The tool’s new home boasts user-friendly graphical user interfaces (GUIs), eliminating the need for repetitive command typing. Notably, the ‘Imagine’ prompt is pre-entered, allowing users to jump straight into the creative process.
Midjourney Alpha is officially here!!
— Nick St. Pierre (@nickfloats) December 12, 2023
If you've generated 10k or more images you should have access.
This is still the alpha, so things may change a bit. But here is a quick look at image creation on the web.
BYE BYE DISCORD ð pic.twitter.com/JbS9L7e59P
The platform also offers intuitive sliders for adjusting stylization, weirdness, and variety, alongside simpler methods for image format and size adjustments. And unlike Discord, where users had to manually type full URLs, the new site enables effortless drag-and-drop for adding image addresses.
In addition to the website, Midjourney is branching into the mobile realm with upcoming apps for both iOS and Android, further widening its reach. The introduction of voice prompts on the new platform is a nod to the future, integrating voice commands alongside traditional text inputs for image generation.
A broader rollout of the website in early 2024 will make the more direct and engaging process of image generation accessible to a wider audience.
[via DIY Photography and ZDNet, images via Midjourney]