Midjourney-Specific Prompt Parameters (--ar, --v, --style, --chaos)

Midjourney's secret weapon is its parameter system — a small library of flags appended to the end of any prompt that fine-tune everything from aspect ratio to artistic variance. This tutorial is a complete reference and a recipe book. Bookmark it.

1. Introduction

Parameters in Midjourney start with two dashes and live at the end of your prompt. Used well, they give you reproducible, precise control. Used carelessly, they will quietly sabotage otherwise excellent prompts (a wrong --style or an unintended --stylize 1000 can flip the aesthetic completely). We will go through each parameter, explain what it does, and show realistic combinations you can copy.

Note: Midjourney evolves quickly. Always check the official Midjourney documentation if a parameter behaves unexpectedly — but the parameters below have been stable across recent versions and are unlikely to change soon.

2. The Concept Explained

Think of your prompt as the script and parameters as the production settings. The script tells the model what to make. The parameters tell it how to make it — at what aspect ratio, in which model version, with how much creative variance, and how strongly stylised.

--ar (aspect ratio)

Sets the width:height of the output. Defaults to 1:1. Common useful values:

• --ar 1:1 — square, perfect for Instagram posts, app icons, logo concepts.
• --ar 3:2 — classic photography ratio, good for general use.
• --ar 4:5 — Instagram portrait, fashion, lifestyle product shots.
• --ar 16:9 — widescreen landscape, hero banners, YouTube thumbnails.
• --ar 21:9 — ultra-wide cinematic, great for dramatic scenes.
• --ar 9:16 — vertical, for Reels, Shorts, TikTok and stories.

--v (version)

Selects the Midjourney model version. --v 6 is currently the dominant default for photographic and detailed work. --v 6.1 further sharpens detail. --niji 6 swaps in the Niji model, which is purpose-built for anime and stylised illustration. Always lock a version explicitly in production prompts so updates do not silently shift your aesthetic.

--style

Modifies the version's default behaviour.

• --style raw — reduces Midjourney's automatic aesthetic boost. Best for photorealism, product photography, and any time you want literal interpretation.
• --style expressive / --style cute / --style scenic — only available on Niji, each anchors a different illustration mood.

--stylize (or --s)

How strongly Midjourney applies its house aesthetic. Range: 0–1000, default 100.

• --s 0 — almost no Midjourney "look"; closely follows the prompt literally.
• --s 100 — default; balanced artistic interpretation.
• --s 500–750 — high stylisation; richer, more painterly, more creative liberties.
• --s 1000 — maximum Midjourney aesthetic; gorgeous but sometimes loose with prompt details.

--chaos (or --c)

How varied the 4-image grid is. Range: 0–100, default 0.

• --c 0 — four tightly similar variations.
• --c 25–50 — meaningful variety, useful for exploration phase.
• --c 75–100 — wildly different interpretations of the same prompt. Great for brainstorming, dangerous in final production.

--weird (or --w)

Pushes the model to make unusual aesthetic choices. Range: 0–3000, default 0. Use sparingly — --w 250 is already noticeable. Excellent for concept art, terrible for product photography.

--quality (or --q)

How much render time is spent. Range: 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 (defaults to 1). Lower values cost less but produce coarser images; higher values cost more and add detail. --q 0.5 is great for fast exploration; --q 2 is overkill for most cases.

--no, --sref, --cref

Covered in Topics 11 and 12. Quick reminder: --no excludes elements; --sref imports a style reference; --cref imports a character reference.

3. The Problem Without Parameters

cinematic portrait of a samurai in the rain

4. The Solution

Cinematic portrait of a weathered samurai in a torrential
downpour, slow-motion raindrops mid-air, a katana resting
on his shoulder, dramatic chiaroscuro side-lighting from
a lantern off-frame.

Style: photorealistic, shot on Arri Alexa cinema camera,
anamorphic 50mm lens, shallow depth of field, A24 film grade.

--ar 21:9 --v 6 --style raw --s 150 --c 0 --no extra fingers,
deformed hands, watermark, text

5. Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Pick the aspect ratio. Match it to the channel: Instagram post (4:5), YouTube thumbnail (16:9), Reel (9:16), cinematic banner (21:9), square logo (1:1).
2. Lock the model version. Always include --v 6 (or whatever you are using). Production prompts should never rely on the default.
3. Choose style mode. Use --style raw for photography and product work. Skip it for editorial illustration or fantasy.
4. Tune stylisation. Default --s 100 is balanced. Lower for literal prompts, higher for artistic interpretations.
5. Decide on chaos. --c 0 for production runs, --c 25–50 when you are still exploring directions.
6. Add negatives and references. Append --no for exclusions, --sref or --cref for image references.

Tip: Build a "parameter footer" template you paste at the end of almost every prompt — something like --ar 16:9 --v 6 --style raw --s 150 --no text, watermark, deformed hands. Override only what the specific brief needs.

6. Practice Exercises

7. Key Takeaways