How to Use Stylize in Midjourney: Complete Guide 2025

\n\n## Introduction

Midjourney is a powerful AI art generation tool that allows users to create stunning images from text prompts. One of the key parameters for controlling the aesthetic style of your generated images is the --stylize parameter (or -s for short). This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step explanation of how to effectively use --stylize in Midjourney to achieve diverse and visually appealing results. By the end of this guide, you'll understand how to manipulate this parameter to influence the artistic flair of your AI-generated artwork.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

• A Midjourney Account: You'll need a paid Midjourney subscription to generate images.
• Discord Access: Midjourney operates through a Discord server. Make sure you have a Discord account and are joined to the Midjourney server.
• Basic Midjourney Knowledge: Familiarize yourself with the basic Midjourney commands, such as /imagine for generating images from prompts.
• Understanding of Midjourney Prompts: Understand how to create effective prompts to guide the AI.

Understanding the --stylize Parameter

The --stylize parameter influences how strongly Midjourney's aesthetic style is applied to your image generations. A higher --stylize value results in more artistic, opinionated, and sometimes abstract outputs, while a lower value produces images that closely adhere to your prompt but may lack visual flair. The range for --stylize depends on the Midjourney version you are using.

• Midjourney V5, V5.1, V5.2: --stylize accepts values from 0 to 1000. The default value is 100.
• Midjourney V4 and earlier: --stylize accepts values from 0 to 625. The default value is 100. (Note: using older versions is generally not recommended unless you have specific needs).
• Niji V5: --stylize accepts values from 0 to 125. The default value is 100.

It's important to note that extremely high --stylize values can sometimes lead to unpredictable or undesirable results, especially if your prompt is simple. Experimentation is key to finding the sweet spot for your specific needs.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use --stylize

Here's a detailed walkthrough of how to use the --stylize parameter in Midjourney:

Step 1: Access the Midjourney Discord Server

1. Open Discord and navigate to the Midjourney server.

2. Choose a channel designated for image generation. These are usually named #newbies-1, #newbies-2, etc. or your own private server with the Midjourney bot added.

Step 2: Create an Image Prompt

1. Type /imagine in the chat. This will activate the Midjourney bot and display a prompt box.

2. Enter your text prompt. This is the description of the image you want to create. For example: "a cyberpunk cityscape at night".

Step 3: Add the --stylize Parameter

1. After your prompt, add --stylize followed by a numerical value. For example:

   /imagine a cyberpunk cityscape at night --stylize 250
   

   This command tells Midjourney to generate an image of a cyberpunk cityscape with a stylization level of 250.

2. You can also use the shorthand -s:

   /imagine a cyberpunk cityscape at night -s 250
   

Step 4: Generate and Evaluate the Image

1. Press Enter to submit your prompt. Midjourney will begin generating four variations of your image based on your prompt and the --stylize value.

2. Once the images are generated, carefully examine them. Pay attention to how the --stylize value has affected the overall aesthetic:

   • Color Palette: Are the colors more vibrant or muted?
   • Composition: Is the composition more dynamic or static?
   • Details: Are there more intricate details or a simpler, more minimalist style?
   • Overall "Feel": Does the image feel more artistic or realistic?

Step 5: Experiment with Different --stylize Values

1. This is the most crucial step. Repeat steps 2-4 with different --stylize values to understand their impact. Try a range of values, such as:

   • --stylize 0 (or -s 0): This should produce an image that closely follows your prompt with minimal artistic flair. It may appear more realistic or bland.
   • --stylize 50 (or -s 50): A subtle increase in stylization.
   • --stylize 100 (or -s 100): The default value. A good starting point for most prompts.
   • --stylize 250 (or -s 250): A moderate level of stylization. Expect more artistic interpretation.
   • --stylize 500 (or -s 500): A high level of stylization. The image may become more abstract or stylized.
   • --stylize 750 (or -s 750): Very high stylization. Expect significant artistic liberties.
   • --stylize 1000 (or -s 1000): Maximum stylization. The image may be heavily distorted or abstract.

2. Compare the different variations side-by-side to see the effects of the --stylize parameter.

Step 6: Combine --stylize with Other Parameters

The --stylize parameter works best when combined with other Midjourney parameters to fine-tune your results. Here are a few suggestions:

• --ar <ratio> (Aspect Ratio): Control the aspect ratio of your image. For example, --ar 16:9 for a widescreen image.
• --chaos <value>: Introduce more variation between the four generated images. A higher --chaos value means more diverse results.
• --quality <value>: Determines the rendering quality. Higher values take longer to generate but produce more detailed images. (e.g., --quality 5).
• --version <version number>: Specify the Midjourney version to use. (e.g., --version 5.2 or --v 5.2). Using the latest version is generally recommended.
• --seed <number>: Use a specific seed number to reproduce the same image if you want to iterate on a particular style.

Example: