AI-GENERATED IMAGES|ART|FICTION|NON-FICTION
How to write prompt weights— secrets revealed!
A white wolf in a mysterious forest — AI image using Midjourney
Are you unable to tweak your image prompt to produce what is in your mind?
Perhaps something should be more prominent in the image? Something else should be further in the background or smaller?
Often, our prompts become more complex in an attempt to generate the image in our mind’s eye — which can overwhelm the AI. Or we generate many images in the hopes of getting lucky and landing that one unique image.
We are going to look at a simple prompt together and break down how to utilize prompt weights to achieve the desired end result.
A white wolf in a mysterious forest — AI image using Midjourney
This simple prompt generated some amazing images. (None of the sets of four have been upscaled for quality.)
For the image above, we are using the very simple phrase below. Each of us being different, would have a different desired image in mind.
/imagine prompt white wolf in a mysterious forest
When no prompt weight is applied, Midjourney reads each part with a value, or importance, of 1. Each word has equal importance in the outcome (although AI will generate variations of importance.)
Commas act as separators much like the double colon does for weight.
The prompt weight is applied by adding :: and a numeric value, such as ::2
The above prompt can also be read as below with prompt weights. (Though this would generate something different because the wording has changed.)
/imagine prompt white wolf::1 in a mysterious forest::1 under a full moon::1
This could also be read as:
/imagine prompt white wolf, in a mysterious forest, under a full moon
Let’s change the prompt to make the wolf more prominent.
A white wolf in a mysterious forest — AI image using Midjourney
We will do this by adding ::5 to white wolf. (Shown in the prompt box below.)
You will notice by doing this, the wolf has become the main focal point in the above set of images.
The mysterious forest and full moon are still present but having a value of 1 with the wolf at 5, they are more subdued in the image.
/imagine prompt white wolf::5 in a mysterious forest under a full moon
For the above image, let’s make the mysterious forest more pronounced by adding ::5.
A white wolf in a mysterious forest — AI image using Midjourney
The glow of the moon and the wolf are still evident but the mysterious forest takes precedence.
With the wolf being listed first in the prompt, it is given priority over the moon since both are listed with a value of 1. (Remember — no value listed is equal to 1.)
/imagine prompt white wolf in a mysterious forest::5 under a full moon
Let’s see what happens if we put the most emphasis on the moon with some on the mysterious forest.
A white wolf in a mysterious forest — AI image using Midjourney
You’ll notice with the prompt weight of the moon set to 5, it is very large — becoming a main part of the image.
With the forest set at 3, there are many trees in the image as well.
I received varying degrees of the wolf being more prominent with this prompt, as you can see.
(The water was a beautiful bonus!)
/imagine prompt white wolf in a mysterious forest::3 under a full moon::5
Now let’s try applying values to the wolf, the forest, and the moon and see what happens.
A white wolf in a mysterious forest — AI image using Midjourney
For the above image, we have the wolf valued at 3, the forest valued at 3, and the moon at 5.
The wolf and the forest (fog is often present in the mysterious forest) are beautifully equal in the images.
With the moon being valued at 5, it is very visible and the image is illuminated by a lot of moonlight.
(Think the images seem a little — off? Upscaling them will fix the defects.)
/imagine prompt white wolf::3 in a mysterious forest::3 under a full moon::5
Let’s change the prompt again, putting less emphasis on the moon, and more on the forest.
A white wolf in a mysterious forest — AI image using Midjourney
For this image, we have reduced the value of the wolf to 2, increased the forest to 5, and decreased the moon to 3.
The mysteriousness of the forest is the main focal point. It is still illuminated by moonlight but with less light — thus adding to the mysteriousness.
/imagine prompt white wolf::2 in a mysterious forest::5 under a full moon::3
Applying the value of .5 to a specific part of the image is equivalent to using the — — no parameter.
For instance, on occasion, I had a person in the image. I could have put ::.5 people at the end of the prompt or — — no people to eliminate this.
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