visual-creation

AI Visual Creation

Decision frameworks for AI image and video generation. Not tutorials — corrections, gotchas, and "which tool for which job."

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Midjourney: Version Gotchas

V7 Breaking Changes (Critical)

Feature	V6	V7
Multi-prompt :: weighting	✅ Works	⚠️ CHANGED (different behavior)
Negative weights ::-0.5	✅ Works	⚠️ Less predictable
--cref (Character Ref)	✅	❌ DEPRECATED (use --oref)
--stylize scale	0-1000	0-1000 (different results!)
--no parameter	✅	✅
--iw range	0-2	0-3
--oref (Omni Reference)	❌	✅ New (2x GPU cost)
--draft mode	❌	✅ New (10x faster, half cost)
--exp parameter	❌	✅ New (0-100)

Stylize Scale Migration: V6 --s 100 ≈ V7 --s 300-400 | V6 --s 250 ≈ V7 --s 600-700

V7 workarounds for changed weighting:

• Word order matters (early = more weight)
• Use natural language emphasis
• --no for exclusion
• Repetition for emphasis

V6 prompt: cyberpunk::2 nature::1 dystopian::-0.5 V7 equivalent: cyberpunk city with nature elements, NOT dystopian --no dystopian, grim, dark

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Midjourney: Reference Type Decision

Quick Selector

I want...	Use	Parameter	Version
Composition inspiration + text	Image Prompt	--iw 1-2	All
Same aesthetic, different subject	--sref	--sw 100-300	All
Same character, new pose/outfit	--cref	--cw 0-50	V6 only
Same character, keep everything	--cref	--cw 100	V6 only
Exact object/character preservation	--oref	--ow 100-400	V7 only

⚠️ V7 Migration: --cref deprecated in V7. Use --oref instead (works for characters AND objects).

Reference Type Deep Dive

Image Prompt (--iw)

• Mental model: Addition (image + text = result)
• Preserves: Composition, layout
• Changes: Details, style via text
• Range: 0-3 (V7), 0-2 (V6)

Style Reference (--sref)

• Mental model: Multiplication (style × subject = result)
• Preserves: Color palette, mood, rendering
• Changes: Subject, composition entirely
• Range: --sw 0-1000

Character Reference (--cref) — V6 ONLY

• ⚠️ Deprecated in V7 — use --oref instead
• CRITICAL: Works best with Midjourney-generated images, NOT real photos
• --cw 0 = face only (max outfit flexibility)
• --cw 100 = everything (face, hair, clothing)
• Cannot preserve: fine freckles, small logos, detailed tattoos

Omni Reference (--oref) — V7 ONLY

• 2x GPU cost
• Only ONE reference allowed
• NOT compatible with inpainting/outpainting or Draft mode
• Competing params: high --stylize needs higher --ow to balance

Common Failures

Problem	Cause	Fix
Reference ignored	--iw too low	Increase to 2.0+
Shape lost, got mandala	Symmetry bias	Add "asymmetrical", use --no symmetric, mandala
Character looks different	Using real photo	Use Midjourney-generated source
Style overwhelms shape	High --sw, low --iw	Lower --sw OR increase --iw
--oref not working	V6 or Draft mode	Switch to V7 standard mode

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Model Selection: Images

Decision Matrix

Need	Best Choice	Why	Backup
Photorealism	Flux 2 / Imagen 4	Best benchmark quality	Midjourney V7
Artistic/stylized	Midjourney V7	Color harmony, mood, abstract	Leonardo.ai
Text in images	Ideogram 3.0	85-90% accuracy (best)	GPT Image 1.5
Character consistency	Leonardo.ai	Custom LoRA training	Flux Kontext
Technical diagrams	Flux 2	Text + spatial control	Recraft V3
Speed priority	SDXL / SD4 Turbo	13 sec/image	Ideogram Turbo
Quality priority	Flux 2 Pro	Best 2026 benchmarks	GPT Image 1.5
Commercial safety	Adobe Firefly	Licensed training only	DALL-E 3
Budget (API)	Flux Schnell	$0.003/image	SDXL
Open source	Stable Diffusion	80% market share	HunyuanImage

Text Rendering Hierarchy

Best → Worst: Ideogram 3.0 (85-90%) >> GPT Image 1.5 >> Recraft V3 >> Flux 2 (~60%) >> Imagen 4 >> DALL-E 3 >> Midjourney V7 (~15% better than V6, still poor)

Rule: If you need readable text, don't use Midjourney. Use Ideogram, GPT Image, or Flux 2.

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Model Selection: Video

Decision Matrix

Need	Best Choice	Why	Backup
Highest quality	Runway Gen-4.5	Benchmark leader (1,247 ELO)	Veo 3.1
With audio sync	Kling 2.6	Only simultaneous audio-visual	—
Longest duration	Kling 2.6	3 minutes native	Runway
Character consistency	Kling O1	Unified multimodal	Kling 2.6
Professional color	Luma Ray3	Only native HDR, 16-bit EXR	Runway
Budget	Hailuo 2.3	Best cost-effectiveness	Kling 2.3
Free/open source	HunyuanVideo	Beats Gen-3 quality	Stable Video

Key Insight

Audio-visual sync is now a competitive differentiator. Only Kling 2.6 generates video + voiceover + sound effects + ambient audio in a single pass.

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Troubleshooting Patterns

"It won't preserve the shape"

1. Use Image Prompt with high --iw (2.0+)
2. Match aspect ratio (input 1:1 → output --ar 1:1)
3. Add --style raw for tighter adherence
4. Lower --stylize (30-50) for more literal interpretation
5. If still failing: Try Imagen 4 or Flux 2 — they preserve shapes more literally than Midjourney

"It keeps making it symmetric"

Midjourney defaults to symmetry. Fight it:

1. Add "asymmetrical" keyword explicitly
2. Use --no symmetric, mandala, radial, mirrored, balanced, centered
3. Add --chaos 6-10
4. Use directional language ("positioned to the left", "stepping diagonally")
5. Material words help ("weathered metal", "carved stone" resist perfect symmetry)

"Style overwhelms subject"

Balance the competing forces:

• Lower --sw (style weight)
• Increase --iw (image weight) if using reference
• Use --style raw
• Simplify text prompt

"Character keeps changing"

V7 (recommended):

1. Use --oref with Midjourney-generated source (2x GPU cost)
2. Start at --ow 100, increase to 200-400 for facial accuracy
3. For many images: Leonardo.ai with custom LoRA

V6 (legacy):

1. Use --cref with Midjourney-generated source (not real photos)
2. --cw 0 for face only, --cw 100 for everything

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References

Need	Load
Midjourney reference types detail	midjourney/reference-types.md
Midjourney V7 full guide	midjourney/v7-guide.md
Midjourney parameters	midjourney/parameters.md
Midjourney animation/video	midjourney/animation.md
Image model comparison	image-models.md
Video model comparison	video-models.md

Sources: All claims cite official documentation (docs.midjourney.com, vendor APIs) and benchmarks (Artificial Analysis, LM Arena). Full URLs in reference files.