Want to know what the Midjourney –creative command is used for?
If you spend a lot of time inside the Midjourney Discord server then you may have come across the --creative parameter more than a few times.
Unfortunately, the official Midjourney documentation offers very little information on what this elusive parameter is used for and how exactly it impacts the “creativity” of the images.
In this guide, we’ll what the Midjourney --creative command is mostly used for and how it actually impacts your images.
Let’s dive right in.
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Explained: Midjourney Creative Command
www.tokenizedhq.com
Here’s the answer. Great article by @ChrisHeidorn right here: https://tokenizedhq.com/midjourney-creative-command/
What is the Midjourney –creative Command?
UPDATE (2 April 2023):
Please note that the –creative command is no longer supported in Midjourney v4 and v5.
Despite what many people think, the Midjourney --creative command isn’t actually a standalone command.
In fact, it’s not even a Midjourney command at all.
“--creative” is what is usually referred to as a parameter or a flag, while the command that it can be used with is /imagine.
We don’t necessarily want to bore you with such details, but it’s actually quite important in order to properly understand what people are talking about.
Anyway, the Midjourney --creative parameter was initially introduced in August 2022 when the --test and --testp parameters were launched.
--test and --testp are 2 distinctly different modes that offer a stronger emphasis on artistic style or photo-realism.
At the same time, the team was also trying to figure out how creative their image-making system should be.
If you try to use the --creative parameter by itself, you’ll get an error that says that it is invalid unless you use it in connection with --test or --testp.
What this is means is that Midjourney’s --creative parameter is used to give your test images a more creative spin.
Some of you may like that and some may not.
Based on the initial response, preference ultimately depends on what sort of image you are trying to create.
Specifically, in cases where users were trying to create photo-realistic images (i.e. photos), there is a strong preference for less creativity.
The Midjourney --creative command definitely adds an element of chaos that produces very unexpected results, although that isn’t always a bad thing.
Key Points (tl;dr)
- The Midjourney
--creativeflag essentially instructs the AI to give the image a more creative spin. - You cannot use
--creativeby itself. It only works in conjunction with--testand--testp. - Midjourney also has a parameter called
--remaster, which is a shorthand for--test --creative.
How Does –creative Change Your Image?
You might be wondering how the --creative flag actually impacts your images.
In our guide about the Midjourney –test parameter we already demonstrated how these test commands produce wildly different results.
Today, we’re going to show you how those images are changed even more by adding --creative to the prompt.
1. Indigo Geisha
Here’s the artistic prompt:
/imagine indigo-colored japanese geisha --seed 1 --test
/imagine indigo-colored japanese geisha --seed 1 --test --creative
Now the photo-realistic prompt:
/imagine indigo-colored japanese geisha --seed 1 --testp
/imagine indigo-colored japanese geisha --seed 1 --testp --creative2. Gandalf the Grey
Here’s the artistic prompt:
/imagine gandalf the grey standing on a mountain --seed 1 --test
/imagine gandalf the grey standing on a mountain --seed 1 --test --creative
Now the photo-realistic prompt:
/imagine gandalf the grey standing on a mountain --seed 1 --testp
/imagine gandalf the grey standing on a mountain --seed 1 --testp --creative3. The End of the World
Here’s the artistic prompt:
/imagine the end of the world --seed 1 --test
/imagine the end of the world --seed 1 --test --creative
Now the photo-realistic prompt:
/imagine the end of the world --seed 1 --testp
/imagine the end of the world --seed 1 --testp --creativeFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Before we close off this guide, let’s quickly address some of the most common questions related to the Midjourney Creative parameter.
-
Can I use the –creative parameter by itself?
No, the
--creativeparameter is not a standalone flag. It is only a valid parameter when used in conjunction with--testor –-testp. -
Is –remaster the same thing as –test –creative?
The
--remasterin Midjourney is a shorthand and is equivalent to used adding--test --creativeto your prompt. It is commonly used to “upgrade” images that were previously created with version 3 of Midjourney’s algorithm.
Conclusion
The spectrum of possibilities with Midjourney is seemingly endless, leaving even the most professional users speechless at times.
Every time a new command or parameter is added to the mix, Midjourney seemingly opens up an entirely new world.
Some of the most iconic images that you’ve seen come out of Midjourney probably include these parameters at one time or the other.
Here at Tokenized, we want to help you learn as much as possible about the AI software industry. We help you navigate the world of tech and the digitalization of our society at large, including the tokenization of assets and services.
