midjourney-prompting

# Midjourney prompting guide > **Version note, last verified September 2026.** The current default is V8.2, and this guide covers V7, V8.1, V8.2, and Niji 7. Midjourney ships new versions a few times a year, so if the user names a newer one, or a parameter behaves unexpectedly, check https://docs.midjourney.com with WebSearch before relying on a version-specific claim here. ## Quick reference: prompt structure A Midjourney prompt has up to four parts: ``` /imagine [description] [image URLs] [parameters] ``` **Key Principle**: Short, specific prompts work best. Describe what you want to see, not abstract concepts. --- ## The 7-element framework Build complete prompts systematically: | Element | Question | Examples | |---------|----------|----------| | **Subject** | Who/what is in the image? | A weathered fisherman, a cyberpunk samurai | | **Medium** | What art form? | Oil painting, photograph, 3D render | | **Environment** | Where is this? | Stormy harbor, neon-lit alley, misty forest | | **Lighting** | How is it lit? | Golden hour, dramatic backlighting, soft diffused | | **Color** | What palette? | Muted blues, warm earth tones, high contrast | | **Mood** | What feeling? | Melancholic, triumphant, eerie | | **Composition** | How is it framed? | Rule of thirds, centered, wide shot | **Example**: ``` A weathered fisherman, oil painting, stormy harbor at dawn, dramatic backlighting, muted blues and grays, melancholic, rule of thirds composition --ar 3:2 ``` --- ## E...