Elevate Your Featured Images Effortlessly with Midjourney
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Chapter 1: The Importance of a Compelling Featured Image
In the realm of writing, a captivating featured image is crucial for attracting readers. With Midjourney, you don't need advanced prompting skills to create stunning visuals that stand out.
This piece is part of the "Midjourney Mini Tutorials" series, which aims to guide newcomers through specific tasks with straightforward instructions.
No advanced skills are necessary. A simple approach can yield remarkable results with minimal effort. (All images, except one from Pexels, were crafted by the author via Midjourney. Attribution: Reference image by Anna Shvets from Pexels, rendering by Midjourney.)
Section 1.1: Why First Impressions Matter
The saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover," yet in today's fast-paced digital landscape, an eye-catching featured image is essential for grabbing attention. This image serves as the visual gateway to your article or story and must be exceptional.
If you often use free stock photos from sites like Pexels, Pixabay, or Unsplash, you might find it challenging to locate unique images that haven't become overly generic and unappealing. Ideally, the image should relate to your content, either by reflecting its core message or symbolizing the theme. It should be distinct, clear, and possess a commercial-use license.
That's quite a tall order for a free image, isn't it? Consequently, you may find yourself settling for something less than ideal, simply because it "suffices."
However, what if I told you there's a remarkably simple method to enhance your selected image, making it both unique and visually appealing, while also ensuring you have the right to use it commercially? And the best part? You won’t need any prompting skills. Intrigued?
Let's envision crafting a featured image.
Section 1.2: Crafting Your Image
Here are the requirements: A picture of a young black woman celebrating a year of success on Medium by sharing stories about baking cupcakes. The image should include both the subject and a cupcake, with the subject dressed in a yellow shirt to symbolize joy. The overall vibe of the photo should exude positivity.
You’ve searched on Pexels and found what seems to be the best option:
Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels
Two Scenarios
Scenario A: As a writer, you wish to enhance the image's brightness and clarity. You want to credit the photographer who provided this fantastic free stock image but lack the time to learn Midjourney’s prompting techniques.
Scenario B: As an experienced Midjourney user, you encounter a creative block after typing /imagine. Although you know how to generate an image that meets the criteria, today is just not your day, and you're unable to formulate the right keywords.
Solution
Simply type /describe and upload your chosen Pexels image to Midjourney. Click on any of the numbers (1–4) to create a corresponding photo. You can also opt for the "Imagine all" button to generate all four images at once, consuming your "fast hours." Afterward, select one image to upscale from the 16 generated options.
If you didn't modify the prompt:
Attribution: Reference image by [stock-photo-author-and-platform], rendering by Midjourney.
If you did modify the prompt:
Attribution: Reference image by [stock-photo-author-and-platform], prompt by [your-name], rendering by Midjourney.
In this instance, the credit would read:
Attribution: Reference image by Anna Shvets from Pexels, rendering by Midjourney.
Chapter 2: Generating New Images with Midjourney
This video, titled "Master Image Prompting with These Techniques – Midjourney Tutorial," provides an overview of effective techniques for image creation in Midjourney.
The second video, "Reimagine / Edit Your Own Images With Midjourney," showcases how to upload and edit images seamlessly within the platform.
Results
The /describe command generates four starter prompts. To create an image, simply click the number associated with the desired prompt. Alternatively, you can select "Imagine all" to produce all four images simultaneously.
You would likely agree that the resulting images are sharper and far more engaging than the original. It's as if the visual has undergone a significant aesthetic upgrade.
Final Thoughts
Don't settle for a mediocre featured image if you aspire to succeed as a writer. Midjourney can be an invaluable tool to enhance your photos effortlessly.
The /describe command allows novice users to craft extraordinary and unique images without needing to write prompts. For seasoned Midjourney users, consider using /describe as a starting point for your artistic exploration.
Feel free to share your thoughts and preferences in the comments section below!
Attribution: Reference image by Anna Shvets from Pexels, rendering by Midjourney.