Skip to main content

Scenario 4: Illustrations

Let's summarize what we've learned​

Through the previous lessons, you should have imitated some images by now. If not, I recommend practicing more - there's no substitute for hands-on experience.

Let's quickly summarize what we've learned:

  • The core of writing prompts is to "describe the image you want clearly and in detail". The more detailed, the closer the output will match your requirements.
  • The best way to improve prompt writing skills is to imitate others' work, then try writing yourself, and finally look at others' prompts.
  • To describe images clearly, you can break it down from these aspects:
Stock ImageLogo
What type?stock photo ofgraphic logo of
What's the subject?two Asian men in suits shaking handscat
What's the background?in front of the main entrance of the office buildingnull(not needed for this scene)
How's the composition?focus on two handsnull(not needed for this scene)
What style?background bokehvector simple minimal
  • For style, there are two useful techniques - adding art movements and artist names.

Watercolor​

Starting this chapter, we'll look at some more complex designs. Watercolor illustrations are probably more appealing to kids.

Let's follow the template we learned:

PromptExplanation
What type?light watercolorwatercolor
What's the subject?a sleeping cata sleeping cat
What's the background?white backgroundwatercolors are usually on white paper, so white background
How's the composition?nullnot too important, let AI improvise
What style?Studio GhibliI like the Ghibli style

Let's try one with a scene:

PromptExplanation
What type?light watercolorwatercolor
What's the subject?children playing on the beachchildren playing on the beach
What's the background?white backgroundwatercolors are usually on white paper, so white background
How's the composition?nullnot too important, let AI improvise
What style?Jon KlassenI like this illustrator, e.g. This Is Not My Hat

Generated images:

MJ042.png

Botanical Illustration​

In addition to watercolor, I also like botanical illustrations. Let's draw some roses:

PromptExplanation
What type?botanical illustrationbotanical illustration
What's the subject?types of roseI want to draw roses for illustration
What's the background?white backgroundusually on white paper
How's the composition?nullnot too important, let AI improvise
What style?Pierre-Joseph Redoutefamous botanical artist

Let's also draw some dinosaurs:

PromptExplanation
What type?dinosaur scientific illustrationdinosaur scientific illustration
What's the subject?TyrannosaurusTyrannosaurus
What's the background?white backgroundusually on white paper
How's the composition?nullnot too important, let AI improvise
What style?Andrey Atuchinfamous Russian paleoartist, biologist, scientific illustrator

Here are the results. Midjourney doesn't seem to know T. rex only had two legs! But the first resembles Andrey Atuchin's style a lot:

MJ043.png

Children's Book Illustration​

I feel that just using Tip 5 - adding artist names can produce decent children's book illustrations. I haven't read that many, but many know Peter Rabbit. Let's try a cat in a similar style:

PromptExplanation
What type?illustrationillustration
What's the subject?A cat standing and running on two legs in a denim jacketI want to draw a cat standing and running on two legs
What's the background?nullnot too important, let AI improvise
How's the composition?nullnot too important, let AI improvise
What style?Beatrix PotterShe wrote Peter Rabbit

Let's also try the style of E.H. Shepard, Winnie the Pooh's illustrator (the 4 on the right). To make it resemble his style more, I didn't include much background:

MJ045.png

Behance Tech Illustration Style​

Honestly this isn't a real illustration style, but as someone in tech I think it's pretty useful. Note that just adding "tech illustration" gives a similar style but lower quality. Adding "behance style" (Behance being a site where designers share work, often tech-related like app designs) makes the output more polished and aesthetically pleasing:

PromptExplanation
What type?tech illustrationtech illustration
What's the subject?man jogging by the waterfronta man jogging by the waterfront
What's the background?nullnot too important, let AI improvise
How's the composition?nullnot too important, let AI improvise
What style?style of behanceadding this makes the style more Behance-like

I also tried a coffeeshop scene that many are familiar with:

PromptExplanation
What's the subject?a lady drinking coffee at the computer in a cafea lady drinking coffee on her computer at a cafe

Results:

MJ044.png

Finally, there's a mysterious parameter - adding some company names like "by Microsoft" seems to produce subtle differences, though I'm not sure how Midjourney interprets this. The 4 on the left use Microsoft, the 4 on the right use Apple. Aside from the Apple logo in #4, I can't really tell the difference - maybe it uses the brand colors?

If interested, please explore and share your findings(πŸ†˜ Collecting examples)

MJ046.png

Coloring Book Illustrations​

Finally, this may not count as an illustration style, but many have likely seen coloring books you can fill in with crayons or markers. I think it's great for kids to generate these, print them out, and color them in. Here's an example prompt for a T. rex:

PromptExplanation
What type?clean coloring book pagecoloring book
What's the subject?TyrannosaurusTyrannosaurus
What's the background?nullnot too important, let AI improvise
How's the composition?nullnot too important, let AI improvise
What style?black and whiteblack and white style

Just change the subject to "Snow White" for that version. Results:

MJ049.png