AI Illustrating with Midjourney Illustration Prompts

Last article we had talked about Midjourney graphic design prompts for commercial usage, here we will introduce expert tips for mastering Midjourney illustration prompts for fine art.

As is known, an illustration serves as a visual enhancement, interpretation, or clarification of a written content or procedure in flyers, magazines, books, teaching materials, animations, etc. So, it is a good way to bring ideas and stories to life. Now, with the help of AI tools like Midjourney, the speed to create creative and unique illustrations is even faster.

To save time, this in-depth Midjourney illustration prompts guide empowers anyone, from seasoned illustrators to curious artists, to craft inspiring illustration pictures beyond the brush by utilizing descriptive text prompts and generating pictures with Midjourney.

FYI: Midjourney can produce images with a maximum resolution of 2048px. If you want to upscale Midjourney images to 4K/8K/16K or higher for print or display, you can try Aiarty Image Enhancer.

Upscale Midjourney Images Free Download

How to Quickly Create High-res Illustrations with Midjourney?

It is a no brainer for Midjourney to generate stunning and captivating illustration pictures, but Midjourney can only produce images with a maximum resolution of 2048px. For high-resolution print or display purpose, this part is a quick guide to help further upscale Midjourney illustration images to 4K, 8K, 16K, or higher.

Step 1. Input illustration prompts into Midjourney and generate images.

After accessing to Midjourney, just type "/" in the Midjourney Message box to bring up the "/imagine prompt" option. Then, input your Midjourney illustration prompt and hit "Enter" to start generating images.

Example prompt: Detailed illustration of a gorgeous woman by Martin Ansin+Frank Frazetta+Alphonse Mucha+Rorianai. Pose in contrapposto of a gorgeous woman. Flowers. Natural colors. --v 6.0 --s 750 --ar 3:2

Tip: You can refer to Parts 2 and 3 to get some inspiring ideas to write illustration prompts for desired pictures.

Step 2. Upscale Midjourney illustration pictures to 4K or higher.

When the image generation is done, there will be 4 images for you to choose from. You can click on the U1, U2, U3, or U4 button located below the image grid to upscale the image to a maximum resolution of 2048px.

For higher image resolution, you are suggested to use Aiarty Image Enhancer to convert image to high resolution like 4K, 8K, 16K, or 32K, and enhance image quality by automatically removing blur, noise, and pixelation, as well as sharpening edges and refining details.

Aiarty Image Enhancer - Increase Midjourney Image Resolution & Refine Quality

• Upscale Midjourney images from 1024/2048px to 4K/8K/16K/32K.
• Automatically denoise, deblur, & depixelated images in a click.
• Automatically remove artifacts, sharpen edges, & refine details.
• 3 AI models, 6.78 million images trained, optimized for GPU/CPU processing.
• Only 2 minutes to complete 100 images enhancement (from 1K to 2K).

Upscale Midjourney Images Free Download

Create Different Illustrations with Midjourney Illustration Prompts

Traditional illustrations refer to hand-drawn artworks using mediums like pencil, watercolor, and charcoal. These illustrations are created without the use of digital tools. On the other hand, modern illustrations are produced using graphic tablets, which offer convenience and accessibility. One advantage of modern illustrations is their ability to replicate various effects and techniques found in traditional drawing tools, such as brushes, pencils, and more.

Whatever, traditional techniques or modern styles, Midjourney can achieve different types of illustrations based on specific Midjourney illustration prompts.

Charcoal Illustration

Capture the raw energy and texture of charcoal.

• Example prompt: "A charcoal portrait of a wise old woman with piercing blue eyes, detailed wrinkles, and a hint of a smile."
• Example prompt: "A monochromatic charcoal illustration of an old man with a weathered face, deep shadows, and intricate details."

Pen-and-Ink Illustration

Achieve the intricate details and elegance of pen-and-ink.

• Example prompt: "A detailed pen-and-ink illustration of a bustling city market, with vendors selling colorful fruits and vegetables, and people interacting in the background."
• Example prompt: "A detailed pen-and-ink drawing of a vintage pocket watch, emphasizing fine lines and hatching for shading."

Woodcutting Illustration

Create a bold and graphic style reminiscent of woodcuts.

Also learn: how to generate illustration with Midjourney niji modes

• Example prompt: "A woodcut illustration of a fierce dragon soaring through a stormy sky, lightning illuminating its scales."
• Example prompt: "A woodcut-style illustration of a medieval village, with bold lines and high contrast."

Watercolor Illustration

Evoke the soft washes and gentle textures of watercolors.

• Example prompt: "A dreamy watercolor illustration of a lavender field in full bloom, with a small cottage nestled in the distance."
• Example prompt: "A soft watercolor painting of a spring garden, featuring pastel colors and fluid brushstrokes."

Pencil Illustration

Achieve the delicate lines and subtle shading of pencil drawings.

• Example prompt: "A photorealistic pencil illustration of a majestic lion roaring, its mane flowing wildly."
• Example prompt: "A realistic pencil sketch of a young woman’s portrait, highlighting fine details and shading."

Collage Illustration

Assemble a vibrant and playful scene.

• Example prompt: "A collage illustration of a fantastical underwater city, built from colorful coral, shells, and sunken ships."
• Example prompt: "A vibrant collage of various textures and materials forming a surreal landscape."

Acrylics Illustration

Capture the bold colors and expressive brushstrokes of acrylics.

• Example prompt: "A dynamic acrylics illustration of a skateboarding competition, with teenagers performing daring tricks in mid-air."
• Example prompt: "A bold acrylic painting of a sunset over the ocean, with rich, vivid colors and thick brushstrokes."

Metal Etching Illustration

Achieve the intricate details and sharp lines of metal etchings.

• Example prompt: "A detailed metal etching illustration of a steampunk airship, with gears, pistons, and rivets creating a sense of mechanical wonder."
• Example prompt: "An intricate metal etching of a gothic cathedral, showcasing detailed architecture and textures."

Lithography Illustration

Create a vintage and flat aesthetic reminiscent of lithographs.

• Example prompt: "A vintage lithography illustration of a travel poster advertising a tropical beach paradise with palm trees, crystal-clear water, and a vibrant sunset."
• Example prompt: "A lithograph-style illustration of a bustling 19th-century cityscape, with a vintage feel."

Gouache Illustration

Capture the vibrant colors and smooth textures of gouache.

• Example prompt: "A whimsical gouache illustration of a group of children playing in a magical forest, surrounded by fantastical creatures."
• Example prompt: "A gouache painting of a dense forest in autumn, with opaque colors and a matte finish."

Freehand Digital Illustration

Achieve the flexibility and expressiveness of freehand digital painting.

• Example prompt: "A vibrant digital illustration of a cyberpunk city skyline, with neon lights illuminating towering skyscrapers and flying vehicles."
• Example prompt: "A freehand digital drawing of a futuristic city, featuring clean lines and vibrant colors."

Vector Graphics Illustration

Generate clean lines and scalability.

• Example prompt: "A minimalist vector illustration of a cat sitting on a windowsill, gazing out at a cityscape bathed in moonlight."
• Example prompt: "A vector graphic of a modern logo design, with geometric shapes and flat colors."

Tips for Writing Midjourney Illustration Prompts

Creating effective Midjourney illustration prompts requires an understanding of various illustration types and the ability to articulate your vision clearly. Here are some tips to help you acquire knowledge about illustrations and acquire the fundamental abilities to compose distinctive illustration prompts to produce images with Midjourney.

1. Learn about illustration types

Understanding the vast world of illustration styles is crucial for crafting specific prompts. Here's a glimpse into various illustration categories:

• Advertising Illustration: Illustrations used in marketing and advertising to attract attention and convey messages.
• Architectural Illustration: Detailed drawings of buildings and structures.
• Archaeological Illustration: Illustrations used in the documentation and study of archaeological finds.
• Artistic Illustration: Creative and expressive illustrations that convey artistic concepts.
• Book Illustration: Illustrations created to accompany and enhance the text in books.
• Botanical Illustration: Detailed and accurate representations of plants.
• Cartoon and Comic Illustration: Illustrations used in cartoons and comic books, often characterized by exaggerated features and vibrant colors.
• Caricature Illustration: The art of exaggerating physical features for comic effect, adds a playful twist to illustration.
• Charcoal Illustration: Illustrations created using charcoal, known for their rich, deep blacks and expressive marks.
• Children’s Illustration: Illustrations designed to appeal to children, often colorful and playful.
• Commercial Illustration: Illustrations used for commercial purposes, such as product packaging or advertisements.
• Concept Illustration: Illustrations that convey ideas or concepts, often used in pre-production for films and games.
• Editorial Illustration: Illustrations used in magazines, newspapers, and online articles to complement the text.
• Fashion Illustration: Illustrations showcasing clothing and accessories, often used in the fashion industry.
• Flat Illustration (Big and Bold Illustration): Simple and bold illustrations using flat colors and minimal shading.
• Geometric Illustration: Illustrations that use geometric shapes and patterns to create visual interest.
• Information Graphics Illustration: Illustrations that convey data and information through visual elements.
• Line Art Illustration: Illustrations created using lines without shading or gradients.
• Minimalist Illustration: Illustrations that use minimal elements to convey a concept or image.
• Packaging Illustration: Illustrations designed for product packaging to attract consumers and convey product information.
• People Illustration: Illustrations that focus on human figures and portraits.
• Poster Illustration: Illustrations created for posters, often intended to catch attention and convey a message quickly.
• Technical Illustration: Detailed and accurate illustrations used to explain technical concepts or machinery.
• Typography Illustration: Illustrations that incorporate text as a primary element, often creatively integrating letters with images.
• Medical Illustration: Illustrations used in the medical field to explain anatomy, procedures, and medical concepts.
• Narrative Illustration: Illustrations that tell a story or depict a scene from a narrative.
• Picture Books Illustration: Illustrations for picture books, often geared towards young readers with engaging visuals.
• Scientific Illustration: Accurate and detailed illustrations used to explain scientific concepts and discoveries.
• Vector Illustration: Illustrations created using vector graphics, characterized by clean lines and scalability.
• 3D Illustration: Illustrations that incorporate three-dimensional elements, giving depth and realism.

2. Master Midjourney Illustration Prompts Formula

Once you choose an illustration style, use the following formula to craft powerful Midjourney prompts for desired illustration pictures.

• Subject/Illustration Type: What is the main focus of your illustration? (e.g., a cat, a cityscape, an organ, etc.)
• Style: Choose the desired artistic style (e.g., watercolor, pen-and-ink, vintage and retro, realism, fantasy, caricature, etc.). Or you can refer to styles from some of the best-known illustrators including Beatrix Potter, Maurice Sendak, and Hayao Miyazaki.
• Details: Add specific details to bring your vision to life (e.g., a cat wearing a hat, or a cityscape at night). Use adjectives to describe the appearance, mood, and texture of your illustration. Also, include specific elements or features you want in your illustration.
• Material: Retouch your mockup with materials like ceramics, concrete, glass, leather, marble, stone, or wood.
• Details: If necessary, add details to describe your mockup as accurately as possible (e.g., gold label, candlelit dinner, living room, outdoor, coffee shop).
• Midjourney Parameters: These can further refine your prompt (e.g., --ar, --s, --sref), and then influence the final images.

Sum up:

By following these steps and utilizing the provided examples, you can craft detailed and effective Midjourney prompts to create high-res illustrations that capture your vision. Experiment with different styles and keywords to discover the full potential of Midjourney in your artistic endeavors.

For professional usage like print, you can upscale the illustration images to 4K, 8K, 16K, or higher with AI image enhancer - Aiarty Image Enhancer. It is a tool powered by generative AI that enhances image quality through 1-click deblurring, denoising, sharpening, and generating lifelike details using three AI models dedicated to Super Resolution.