Midjourney is an exciting new AI art generator that produces stunning images from text prompts. However, many beginners struggle with getting consistent results from their prompts due to the random nature of Midjourney’s image generation process.
In this comprehensive tutorial, we’ll walk through how to use seeds in Midjourney to achieve more predictable and reliable outcomes from your prompts. We’ll cover:
- What seeds are and how they work in Midjourney
- Step-by-step instructions for using seeds
- Tips for finding and reusing seeds from past images
- How seeds function differently across Midjourney model versions
- Leveraging the “sameseed” parameter for fine-tuning images
Whether you’re new to Midjourney or looking to take your prompt engineering to the next level, this guide will equip you with the seed knowledge you need to master consistent image generation. Let’s get started!
What Are Seeds and Why Do They Matter?
Seeds are random number values that Midjourney utilizes during image generation to introduce variation into the process.
By default, Midjourney selects a new random seed for each image you create. This injects “noise” into the system and results in different outputs even when you use the exact same prompt multiple times.
For example, the prompt “a red rose in a vase” could produce very distinct images with each new seed:
- A red rose in a short, round vase on a wooden table
- A red rose in a tall cylindrical vase in a garden
- A single red rose in a crystal vase against a white background
The seed values themselves are meaningless – they simply provide a starting point of randomness that cascades through the generative process. But the key takeaway is that seeds allow you to control the randomness.
By fixing the seed value in your prompt, you can achieve more predictable, consistent results across generations. This becomes incredibly useful when you are trying to hone in on a specific composition or aesthetic.
Now let’s look at how to actually implement seeds in Midjourney.
Step-by-Step: Using Seeds in Midjourney
Using seeds in Midjourney is straightforward once you understand the basic process:
1. Choose a Seed Value
First, you need to select a seed value to use in your prompt. This can be any random whole number from 0 to 4,294,967,295.
Some tips for picking a seed:
- Start with a simpler number like 8888 or 2022 before going into longer digits
- You can find seeds from past images and reuse or modify them (more on this later)
- The specific number doesn’t matter, as long as you’re consistent
2. Add the –seed Parameter
Next, attach your chosen seed using the --seed parameter at the end of your prompt:
/imagine a red rose in a vase --seed 8888This links the seed value to that specific prompt.
3. Run the Same Prompt with the Same Seed
Now when you generate images using the same prompt and seed, you will get consistent results:
/imagine a red rose in a vase --seed 8888
/imagine a red rose in a vase --seed 8888The images will share general stylistic similarities in terms of composition, color palette, etc. Try experimenting with different seeds and prompts to see the impact!
And that’s the basic gist of utilizing seeds for consistency in Midjourney! But there are some additional tips and functionality we should cover…
Seeds Across Model Versions
It’s important to note that Midjourney handles seeds differently across its “model versions”, which are essentially updates to the underlying AI system.
For model versions 1, 2, 3, test, and testp, the same seed will yield images with similar composition and details.
However, in model versions 4 and above, reusing the exact same seed will generate nearly identical images!
So keep in mind that a seed used in version 3 may produce noticeably different results compared to version 4. But consistency within a version is still achievable by sticking to the same seed.
Finding and Reusing Seeds from Past Images
If you created an image you really like but don’t have the original seed, there’s an easy way to recover it:
- In Discord, locate the image and copy its unique job ID (the string of numbers underneath)
- Use the
/showcommand along with the job ID to pull up the image again
/show 123456789123456789 - Click the emoji icon and select the envelope to reveal the seed used for that image
- Note down the seed and use it in future prompts to achieve a similar look and feel!
This enables you to essentially reverse engineer the seed from any past image in your Discord history.
Fine-Tuning Images with the “sameseed” Parameter
Let’s say you have a seed that produces an image you like, but you want to tweak small details without drastically altering the overall composition.
This is where Midjourney’s --sameseed parameter comes in handy!
Sameseed forces the AI to use a singlenoise value across all 4 image grids generated. The effect is that you get variations on a theme with minor differences:
/imagine a large dragon flying over a lake --sameseed 1234The dragon and landscape will look nearly identical in each image grid, allowing you to select the variation you prefer.
Note that sameseed currently only works for model versions 1-3. But it can still be invaluable for minor prompt tweaking and tuning.
Key Takeaways
To recap, here are the core seed concepts for consistent results in Midjourney:
- Seeds control the randomness via fixed noise values
- Reuse the same seed with identical prompts for consistency
- Seeds work slightly differently across model versions
- Retrieve old seeds by showing the image and reacting with the emoji envelope
- Use “sameseed” to fine-tune details while preserving composition
Learning to leverage seeds strategically takes your Midjourney prompting abilities to the next level. You can reduce unwanted variation and hone in on your desired aesthetic with greater precision.
So start experimenting with seeds today, and share your discoveries with the Midjourney community! Consistent, high-quality AI art is at your fingertips.
Example Seed Workflow
To see seeds in action, let’s walk through a typical workflow from start to finish:
1. Pick a prompt
I want to generate an image of a wizard casting a spell, so I’ll start with:
/imagine a wizard casting a spell2. Run it without a seed
The first set of images without a seed provide a wide range of styles and interpretations:
- A bearded wizard shooting fire from his staff
- A robed sorcerer levitating a rock
- An old mage reading from a glowing tome
- A young female spellcaster creating an orb of light
3. Choose a seed
I want to go with the orb of light spellcaster, so I’ll grab that image’s seed: 587292
4. Add the seed parameter
Now I’ll rerun the prompt using the seed:
/imagine a wizard casting a spell --seed 5872925. Iterate with same seed
The new images give me variations on the original female orb caster. I like the one with glowing tattoos best.
6. Fine-tune with sameseed
I want to adjust the spell effect slightly so I’ll use sameseed:
/imagine a wizard casting a light spell --sameseed 587292Now the composition stays nearly identical so I can perfect the orb shape and light rays.
7. Final polished image
After a few rounds of fine-tuning with sameseed, I have my final image: a badass sorceress conjuring an orb of mystical energy and light!
The ability to guide Midjourney’s randomness was the key to creating this tailored result.
Closing Thoughts
That concludes our deep dive into utilizing seeds for consistent image generation with Midjourney. The core ideas to remember are:
- Seeds control randomness by fixing noise values
- Reuse seeds exactly to get similar compositions and styles
- Model versions handle seeds somewhat differently
- Retrieve old seeds from images via Discord reactions
- Tweak images with “sameseed” without drastically altering composition
With practice, you’ll get a feel for how to leverage seeds for your creative needs. They provide a powerful way to reduce unwanted variation in your Midjourney images.
I hope this guide cleared up any confusion around how seeds work and gave you some new prompting strategies to try. Let me know if you have any other questions!
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