Thread by @aliejules

Prompt Cycling

This is one method I use to study prompts. (I totally made up the name for this technique)

The other two methods: Prompt Buildup and Prompt Stripping. (also made these names up, but they fit so well)

Thread + Prompts.

#midjourney #midjourneyv51

The technique:
Keep one element constant while systematically changing another element to observe the effects on the output.

For this example of prompt cycling, I used:
Enigma - as the constant

Here's my starting point👉 Enigma

It's like a baseline.

Then I start playing with the variable.

(and running out of my fast hours...😭)

So each prompt will be

Enigma, [variable] --ar 16:9

You can use any --ar = the aspect ratio for your image or leave it out for a square image.

16:9 (wide screen)

Digital

You could use a variable that stays within particular parameters (style, aesthetic, etc.) or just go where your imagination takes you.

Enigma, techno noir --ar a16:9

I run each one at least two times because I'm aware of the possibility of remnants from previously unrelated images.

Enigma, futuristic --ar 16:9 (first run)

Enigma, futuristic --ar 16:9

Second run.

If, after the two runs, I'm not happy with what I'm getting, I move on. (some things just don't work well together)

Enigma, ancient Egypt --ar 16:9

If I like what I see, I can rerun the prompt many, many - many times! Like a lot, lot.

enigma, alien --ar 16:9

And I keep going.

While I do this, I'm just observing what I see.

Do I see:
Flying fish and birds, MJ likes to put into images?
Do I see clutter, distortion, artifacts, etc?
Do I see a person or landscape or something else?
And so on.
Observing - and storing it all for later.

I know I'm not giving MJ a lot to work with.
More generic, less detailed prompts can give widely varying images.

I just observe.

I can tighten things up later if needed. This is really just for fun - although I'm using a somewhat scientific approach)

Enigma, clitch --ar 16:9

Observation 1.
Simply using "enigma" MJ most of the time interprets it as a female person.

So, for example, if I wanted to create a "male" enigma, I would have to specify it in my prompt.

Enigma, whimsical --ar 16:9

Observation 2.

MJ like to add fish, birds.. the usual - also into these ones, and if I didn't want that to happen, I probably would need to add more elements to the prompt.

Now, these things could also be because of the variable.

Observation 3.

Most of the images are illustrations. Some of the styles are, of course, illustration types, but it's interesting to note that anyway.

So, if I wanted to get a photograph of Enigma. I would need to add "photo" or some other element to specify it as such.

I'm certainly not this systematic all the time - not at all. But I find it helpful in figuring MJ out.

I'd love to see what you come up with!

Use:
Enigma [variable] --ar 16:9

Together we can learn so much more!

Enigma, photograph --ar 16:9

I just realized I forgot to put the variable to this one. It's duotone.