Midjourney v5 is the latest version of the Midjourney commercial AI image-synthesis service [0]. This version is an improvement over the previous versions, with a much higher image quality, more diverse outputs, wider stylistic range, support for seamless textures, wider aspect ratios, better image prompting, wider dynamic range, and more [1]. It was released on March 15, 2023, and is currently available as an alpha test for Midjourney subscribers [0].

Midjourney works similarly to image synthesizers like Stable Diffusion and DALL-E in that it generates images based on text descriptions called "prompts" using an AI model trained on millions of works of human-made art [0]. The Midjourney V5 model is the newest and most advanced model. It has very high coherency, excels at interpreting natural language prompts, is higher resolution, and supports advanced features like repeating patterns with --tile [2].

One of the most obvious changes in Midjourney v5 is the level of realism. The Midjourney team calls this “unopinionated”, which basically means that it’s less artistic out of the box [4]. This version produces some of the most life-like images we have ever seen. It generates images at 2x the resolution and also supports higher quality settings [4]. However, reproducing similar results as in v4 may prove challenging for some people [4].

Midjourney v5 responds with a "much wider stylistic range" than version 4, while also being more sensitive to prompting, generating less unwanted text, and offering a 2x increase in image resolution [0]. It has a wider dynamic range and offers better image prompts, landscapes, and architecture [4]. Aspect ratios are now free of any limits, and both the --iw and --tile parameters have finally made a comeback [4].

To use Midjourney v5, add the --v 5 parameter to the end of a prompt, or use the /settings command and select [2]. Currently, Midjourney's default neural network version is v4. You have two options for activating the fifth: type /settings in Discord, choose the MJ option, and hit the enter key to apply the changes. Choose MJ 5 in the menu that appears, and then click Apply [1].

If you prefer stylized images and digital art, then v4 might generate more appealing images out-of-the-box. While v5 is far more powerful than v4, it is currently also more difficult to use [4]. The realism is even more obvious when you describe a real-life scene [4]. The more realism and less opinionated results also mean that you’ll have far more control over the final image [4].

In conclusion, Midjourney v5 is a massive step forward. It has a much higher image quality, more diverse outputs, wider stylistic range, support for seamless textures, wider aspect ratios, better image prompting, and wider dynamic range [1]. This version produces some of the most life-like images we have ever seen, and the realism is even more obvious when you describe a real-life scene [4]. While it is currently still in “pro mode” and prompting might feel more difficult than before, Midjourney has stated that they are working on a more opinionated version. This will likely become the new default styling once it is finalized, however, you will be able to turn this off and return to the more professional mode [4].