HUGE Midjourney V6 Update | NEW Character Ref (--cref), Style Ref (--sref), & Image-to-Text Updates!

Woollyfern
26 Mar 202408:25

TLDRThe video discusses recent updates to Mid Journey, highlighting four versions of style reference for artistic image styling, an improved image to text model called 'describe', and a new character reference feature for consistent character portrayal across images. These updates aim to enhance performance, provide more accurate styling, and offer better character representation, though acknowledging that the character reference feature is in its initial stages and will improve over time.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 Mid Journey now offers four versions of Style Reference (SR) for applying artistic styles to generated images.
  • 🔄 The latest SR version (version 4) is currently the default and provides improved performance and more linear style weight effects compared to previous versions.
  • 💡 The versioning of SR is targeted to address performance issues and provide a more streamlined experience in future releases like the V7 model.
  • 🖼️ The 'Describe' feature has been updated and optimized for the V6 model, aiding users in finding the right words to describe an image for better prompts.
  • 📝 Using 'Describe' generates four text descriptions that can serve as starter prompts, highlighting potentially powerful descriptors for Mid Journey's image generation.
  • 🌟 Character Reference is a new feature that allows for maintaining character similarity across multiple image generations, beneficial for storytelling and character consistency.
  • 👤 The character weight parameter (--CW) controls the strength of the character reference, with options to lock onto facial features or allow changes in clothing style.
  • 🔧 Workarounds may be necessary for imperfections in character reference, such as adjusting the text prompt to correct unnatural angles or details.
  • 📸 Character Reference works best with images made by Mid Journey and characters with distinct features, and can be used with both human and non-human characters.
  • 🚀 The character reference feature is in its initial version, and improvements are expected over time based on user feedback and testing.

Q & A

  • What is the primary function of the Style Reference feature in Mid Journey?

    -The Style Reference feature allows users to apply the artistic style of a reference image to their Mid Journey results. This includes elements like colors, medium, and overall visual aesthetics.

  • How many versions of Style Reference are currently available in Mid Journey?

    -There are four versions of Style Reference available in Mid Journey.

  • What is the default version of Style Reference as of the latest update?

    -Version 4 is the current default version of Style Reference in Mid Journey.

  • How can users select which version of Style Reference to use in their prompts?

    -Users can select a specific version of Style Reference by including the new parameter '--SV' followed by the desired version number in their prompt.

  • What are the two main issues that the newer versions of Style Reference aim to address?

    -The newer versions of Style Reference aim to address improved performance, reducing the inadvertent inclusion of people or objects from the reference image, and a more linear performance at lower style weight values.

  • What is the 'Describe' feature in Mid Journey and how can it be used?

    -The 'Describe' feature is an image-to-text model that generates text descriptions of an image. It can be useful for finding the right words to describe an image or for inspiring new prompts. Users can type 'slash describe', followed by a link or image, and Mid Journey will generate four text descriptions.

  • How does the 'Character Reference' feature differ from 'Style Reference'?

    -While 'Style Reference' focuses on matching the visual aesthetics of a reference image, 'Character Reference' aims to match the character or person within the image, allowing for consistency in character appearance across multiple image generations.

  • How can users control the strength of the Character Reference?

    -Users can control the strength of the Character Reference with the 'Character Weight' parameter (--CW). The range is from 0 to 100, with 100 being the default value that locks onto the face and clothing of the reference character.

  • What are some potential workarounds for issues encountered with Character Reference?

    -Workarounds for issues with Character Reference may involve adjusting the text prompt to avoid certain undesirable outcomes, such as changing the action or specifying details like clothing to ensure they are retained or altered as desired.

  • How can users provide feedback or request specific topics for upcoming deep dive videos on Mid Journey features?

    -Users can provide feedback or suggest topics for deep dive videos by commenting on the relevant videos or engaging with the creator through other available communication channels.

  • What is the significance of the latest updates in Mid Journey for users who want to create visual stories with consistent characters?

    -The latest updates, particularly the introduction of the Character Reference feature, are significant for users aiming to create visual stories because they allow for maintaining character similarity across multiple image generations, enhancing the continuity and recognition of characters within a narrative.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Mid Journey's Style Reference Updates

This paragraph discusses the recent updates to Mid Journey's style reference feature. It mentions the introduction of four versions of style reference, with the latest being version 4, which is now the default. Each version aims to improve performance and the application of artistic style from reference images to Mid Journey's results. The versioning system is expected to become more streamlined in the upcoming V7 release. The paragraph also explains how to select a specific version using the --SV parameter in the prompt and highlights the improvements in style weight parameter --s SW, making the performance at lower style weight values more linear.

05:01

💡 Utilizing the Image to Text Model 'Describe'

This section introduces the 'describe' feature of Mid Journey, an image to text model designed to assist users in finding the right words to describe an image or to inspire prompt creation. Initially optimized for the V5 model, the feature has been updated to work seamlessly with the V6 model. Users can input an image URL or upload an image file, and Mid Journey will generate four text descriptions, providing potential starting prompts. The 'describe' feature can help users understand how Mid Journey interprets images and identify powerful descriptors for their prompts.

🌟 Introducing Character Reference Feature

The paragraph introduces a new feature called character reference, which is designed to maintain character similarity across multiple image generations. This feature is particularly useful for creating visuals of the same character in different scenes or outfits. While it does not replicate exact details like clothing or accessories, it captures the overall visual characteristics of the character. The character reference works best with images made by Mid Journey and characters with distinct features. The paragraph also explains how to use character reference by including a prompt and a character reference URL, and it discusses the character weight parameter --CW, which controls the strength of the character reference.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Mid Journey

Mid Journey is a platform that has been updated with various features to enhance its image generation capabilities. It is the central subject of the video, with updates being the main focus. The platform allows users to generate images by applying different styles and references, and it has been improved to better capture the desired artistic outcomes.

💡Style Reference

Style Reference is a feature within Mid Journey that enables users to apply the artistic style of a reference image to their generated results. This includes elements like colors, medium, and overall visual aesthetics. The video script mentions four versions of this feature, with each version aiming to improve performance and accuracy in capturing the style from the reference image.

💡Versioning

Versioning in the context of the video refers to the different iterations of the style reference feature in Mid Journey. Each version aims to address specific issues and enhance the platform's performance. The video explains that versioning is likely to be streamlined in future releases, such as the upcoming V7 model.

💡Style Weight Parameter (-SW)

The Style Weight Parameter (-SW) is a setting within Mid Journey's style reference feature that allows users to control the intensity of the style application from the reference image. The video discusses how newer versions of style reference have made the impact of the style weight more linear, especially at lower values.

💡Describe Feature

The Describe feature is an image-to-text model within Mid Journey that generates text descriptions of an input image. This tool is designed to assist users in finding the right words to describe an image or to provide inspiration for prompts. The feature has been optimized for the V6 model, offering more effective text results.

💡Character Reference

Character Reference is a newly introduced feature in Mid Journey that allows users to maintain character similarity across multiple image generations. This feature is particularly useful for creating visuals where the same character appears in different scenes or outfits. It attempts to replicate the overall visual characteristics of the reference character, though it may not capture exact details.

💡Character Weight Parameter (--CW)

The Character Weight Parameter (--CW) is a control within the Character Reference feature that adjusts the strength of the character similarity in the generated images. It ranges from 0 to 100, with higher values locking onto more features of the reference character. The parameter primarily affects the character's clothing, while the facial features are consistently retained.

💡Prompting

Prompting in the context of the video refers to the process of inputting specific text commands or descriptions into Mid Journey to generate desired images. The video discusses the importance of crafting effective prompts, using the Describe feature and Character Reference to inspire and shape the prompts for better image generation outcomes.

💡Image Generation

Image Generation is the primary function of Mid Journey, where users generate images based on their inputs, style references, and other parameters. The video highlights the platform's advancements in image generation, particularly in capturing styles and characters more accurately and consistently.

💡Updates and Improvements

Updates and Improvements are a significant theme of the video, focusing on the enhancements made to Mid Journey's features. These updates aim to provide better performance, more accurate style and character replication, and an overall enhanced user experience.

Highlights

Mid Journey has released four versions of Style Reference, enhancing the artistic style application to results.

The latest default version for Style Reference is version 4, which improves upon version 2 with better performance.

The new parameter --SV allows users to select the desired version of Style Reference for their prompts.

Versioning of Style Reference aims to address improved performance and a more linear style weight parameter effect.

The Describe feature, initially for V5, has been optimized for V6, providing text results for image inspiration.

Describe generates four text descriptions, offering starter prompts that capture effective words or phrases for Mid Journey.

The Character Reference feature allows maintaining character similarity across multiple image generations.

Character Reference works best with images made by Mid Journey and characters with distinct features.

The character weight parameter --CW controls the strength of the character reference, with 0 focusing only on the face and 100 locking onto face and clothing.

Character Reference can be used with both human and non-human characters, expanding creative possibilities.

Workarounds through prompting can fix issues with Character Reference, such as unnatural angles or details.

The video provides insights into the practical use and potential of the new Mid Journey updates.

These updates are designed to assist users in the prompting process, offering more creative and accurate results.

The video encourages user feedback and experiences with the new features for future deep dive videos.

The video serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding and utilizing the latest Mid Journey updates.