Midjourney V6 vs. V6.1: Step Towards The Right Direction

There’s a motive why Midjourney has been the speak of the city within the AI world. Generally it’s as a result of they’re as soon as once more roped into discussions about deepfakes. However immediately, it’s for one thing good: they lastly launched an replace to their V6 mannequin known as, properly, what else however Midjourney V6.1.

And belief me, it’s a game-changer.

So, what’s new with Midjourney V6.1? Effectively, the crew has targeted on bettering the mannequin’s creativity and making the pictures much more coherent and lifelike. I’ve been utilizing it for weeks, and let me let you know, it may be a delicate change, but it surely makes an entire world of distinction within the output high quality.

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Oh and yeah, additionally they added a fairly nifty function that customers have been begging for for the longest time.

However do not simply take my phrase for it. Let’s dive in and see how Midjourney V6.1 stacks up in opposition to its predecessor throughout totally different picture classes.

What’s Midjourney?

Let’s be sincere — if you happen to’re even remotely aware of AI, then you definitely’ve most likely heard of Midjourney. That is an AI picture technology mannequin that may create any picture starting from art work to actual (properly, one thing that appears like one, at the very least) pictures. Launched in 2021, Midjourney’s newest mannequin is V6.1, which we’re reviewing immediately and evaluating to V6.

For a extra full overview, right here’s our evaluation of Midjourney from a 12 months again. It’s an ideal starter information if you happen to’re seeking to familiarize your self with the applying.

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What’s New With Midjourney V6.1?

Because it’s not likely a brand new mannequin however reasonably an replace to V6, this new model targeted on bettering the pre-existing mannequin’s creativity and picture coherence. This implies much less lacking (or additional) fingers, extra life like pictures, higher creativity, and sooner turnaround time. The crew additionally put an emphasis on bettering textual content technology, which we’re going to evaluation in a bit.

Right here’s a whole rundown of all of the enhancements they’ve completed:

Since its launch three weeks in the past, Midjourney additionally launched a brand new function on their net app for V6.1 — a greater editor. So, what precisely makes it higher?

Again when Midjourney didn’t have an internet app and may solely be accessed on Discord, they already had a function known as area variation. This lets you choose an space of a generated picture and Midjourney creates a brand new model of it. Take this picture for instance:

Let’s say I’m not likely an enormous fan of the lake. Right here’s how I’d change it utilizing Midjourney’s Discord bot.

From there, you may choose the area that you really want modified.

Then, you get 4 new variations of your unique picture with the chosen area modified.

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So, what’s the issue?

The problem with that is that you just don’t actually have any management over the brand new pictures. You possibly can’t change the immediate, so that you’re caught with the unique immediate and Midjourney’s simply going to maintain producing new variations of the chosen space utilizing no matter immediate it already has.

With V6.1 and Midjourney’s net app, that is modified. Now you may choose the world AND change the unique immediate. So, for instance, right here’s a cute frog:

Let’s use the final one. While you click on the picture, a toolbar will seem on the fitting aspect. Choose the button labeled “Editor.”

Let’s say I wish to see its tongue. Bizarre request, I do know. However what I can do now could be press the “Erase” button above and choose the mouth space. From there, I’ll simply change the immediate from “A cute frog” to “A cute frog along with his tongue protruding.”

And now you don’t must marvel anymore if Midjourney can edit pictures. Right here’s the ultimate product:

Midjourney V6 vs. V6.1 In contrast: Output High quality

Let’s examine Midjourney V6.1 to its earlier model utilizing the identical prompts throughout totally different classes.

Portrait (Individuals, Medium to Lengthy Photographs)

Each nonetheless give me a slight uncanny valley feeling, however V6.1’s model is much more coherent (as they promised). The older mannequin nonetheless feels actual if you happen to don’t zoom in, however when you do, you may see slight points with the person’s eye.

Portrait (Individuals, Shut-up Photographs)

The face of the girl in Midjourney V6’s output is slightly too clean and brushed up for my liking. It additionally ignored the a part of my immediate the place I specified “chook’s eye view” angle.

The newer model did neither — displaying higher realism and immediate understanding.

Portrait (Non-Human)

I believe these are each good pictures, but when I have been to nitpick, I’d say that the lighting on V6 went slightly too overboard and it didn’t actually generate a lot leaves in comparison with flowers.

Panorama

Whereas the colours of each pictures are muted to an extent, the previous’s model is slightly too muted for my liking. V6.1 has extra balanced colour grading.

Stay Motion Movie Nonetheless

Past creativity, what I can say is that V6.1 follows the immediate extra carefully since their outputs are nearer to the administrators I discussed. And what the hell is happening with these three toes from the primary picture?

Animated Movie Nonetheless

This one’s a matter of desire actually — each pictures are ok in my e-book. I do have to present the slight edge to Midjourney V6.1 as a result of it feels extra whimsy. However once more, that’s simply my opinion.

Digital Artworks

The primary one exhibits decrease structural coherence in Midjourney V6 as a result of, let’s be sincere, who’s going to place a library outdoors their residence? V6.1’s output additionally has extra constant pixel tiling in comparison with its older model’s inconsistent pixel sizes.

The second comparability exhibits extra creativity within the a part of Midjourney V6.1, for my part. It didn’t simply take polygons and formed them to appear to be a metropolis — it’s far more intentional and makes use of colour contrasts properly.

And as for the third one, take your decide. Each are wonderful.

Summary Ideas

If I’m an artwork pupil, I’d really feel like V6.1’s output is much more interpretable than V6 — which is only a bunch of glitter with bokeh for my part. I can’t see the way it’s presupposed to symbolize the idea of hope.

Emblem (With out Textual content)

Whereas each are good, I believe Midjourney V6’s outputs are slightly too “loud” to be a emblem. There’s simply too many issues occurring.

Emblem (With Textual content)

It’s the identical concern because the one above: Midjourney V6’s output does an excessive amount of for use as a emblem. As for textual content technology, each did rather well to put in writing “Austen’s” however the former model wrote it off-center — so I’ve to present the sting to V6.1.

Can You Use Midjourney For Free?

Sadly, no. If you wish to use Midjourney, you want to avail of any considered one of their plans, which begins at $10 per thirty days. When you do, and let’s say you ran out of generations, you may charge pictures on their web site and so they’ll provide you with a free hour of technology in change for it.

What Else?

Midjourney is on a roll, and V6.1 is proof of this. Their newest replace is a testomony to the crew’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is doable in AI-generated artwork. And boy, I can’t wait to see what else is in retailer for the remainder of 2024 since they promised V6.2 later this 12 months.

The enhancements in realism, coherence, and artistic expression are flat-out spectacular. Midjourney V6.1 is taking the visible storytelling sport to an entire new degree.

Because the world of AI artwork continues to evolve at breakneck velocity, it’s not DALL-E 3 or Firefly that’s main the change, however Midjourney. With every iteration, they’re charming and provoking creatives in every single place, leaving us hungry for extra.