Different AI Image Generators Optimize For:

DALL-E:        Prompt following + Safety
Stable Diffusion: Customization + Openness
Midjourney:    AESTHETICS + Beauty

Midjourney's core principle:
"Make images that are beautiful by default"

This means:
- Automatic composition improvements
- Flattering lighting and color
- Artistic interpretation over literal rendering
- Professional-quality output with minimal effort

Midjourney Architecture (inferred):

+-----------------------------------------+
|  Text Understanding                     |
|  +---------------------------------+    |
|  |  Custom CLIP-like encoder       |    |
|  |  (Optimized for aesthetics)     |    |
|  |  Understands artistic concepts  |    |
|  +---------------+-----------------+    |
|                  |                       |
|                  v                       |
|  +---------------------------------+    |
|  |  Diffusion Model                |    |
|  |  (Likely Transformer-based,     |    |
|  |   not U-Net like SD)            |    |
|  |                                 |    |
|  |  Trained on:                    |    |
|  |  - Billions of curated images   |    |
|  |  - Professional photography     |    |
|  |  - Fine art                     |    |
|  |  - Design work                  |    |
|  |                                 |    |
|  |  Aesthetic scoring built-in     |    |
|  +---------------+-----------------+    |
|                  |                       |
|                  v                       |
|  +---------------------------------+    |
|  |  Super-Resolution               |    |
|  |  (Upscaling with detail add)    |    |
|  +---------------+-----------------+    |
|                  |                       |
|                  v                       |
|  High-quality output image              |
+-----------------------------------------+

Aesthetic Score Components:

1. Composition (0-10)
   - Rule of thirds
   - Leading lines
   - Visual balance
   - Focal point clarity

2. Color Harmony (0-10)
   - Color palette coherence
   - Contrast balance
   - Saturation levels
   - Temperature consistency

3. Lighting (0-10)
   - Light direction
   - Shadow quality
   - Highlights
   - Atmospheric effects

4. Technical Quality (0-10)
   - Sharpness
   - Noise levels
   - Resolution
   - Detail density

5. Emotional Impact (0-10)
   - Mood conveyance
   - Storytelling
   - Viewer engagement

Total Aesthetic Score: 0-50
Higher score = More visually appealing image

V5 style: "fantasy castle, dramatic lighting, 8k, unreal engine"
V6 style: "A majestic fantasy castle perched on a cliff at sunset,
           with dramatic golden light streaming through the clouds,
           in the style of a Renaissance painting"

Midjourney Prompt Structure:

/imagine [subject] [details] [style] [parameters]

Component breakdown:
1. Subject: Main focus of the image
2. Details: Environment, lighting, mood
3. Style: Artistic style or medium
4. Parameters: Technical settings

Example:
/imagine a cozy coffee shop interior,
warm golden lighting from pendant lamps,
exposed brick walls with climbing plants,
watercolor painting style,
--ar 16:9 --v 6.1 --s 250 --q 2

--s (Stylize) Controls Artistic Interpretation:

--s 0     Minimum stylization
          Most literal interpretation
          Follows prompt exactly
          May look "plain"

--s 100   Default
          Balanced interpretation
          Good for most use cases

--s 250   Moderate stylization
          More artistic flair
          Better composition
          Recommended for art

--s 750   High stylization
          Maximum artistic interpretation
          Beautiful but may deviate from prompt
          Best for creative exploration

--s 1000  Maximum stylization
          Maximum artistic freedom
          May ignore prompt details
          Best for abstract/conceptual art

Recommendation:
- Product photos: --s 50 --style raw
- Portraits: --s 250
- Concept art: --s 750
- Abstract art: --s 1000

Prompt: "Portrait of a woman in natural light,
         shot on Canon EOS R5, 85mm f/1.4,
         shallow depth of field, golden hour"

Parameters: --s 100 --style raw --q 2

Key elements:
- Camera model reference
- Lens specification
- Lighting conditions
- --style raw (removes artistic interpretation)

Prompt: "Ancient temple overgrown with vines,
         mysterious glowing artifacts inside,
         volumetric lighting, cinematic composition,
         in the style of Greg Rutkowski"

Parameters: --s 750 --ar 16:9 --c 20

Key elements:
- Detailed environment
- Atmospheric effects
- Artist style reference
- Higher stylization

Prompt: "Cyberpunk city street at night,
         neon signs reflecting in puddles,
         flying cars overhead, rain,
         in the style of Syd Mead"

Parameters: --s 500 --ar 16:9 --v 6.1

Key elements:
- Genre reference
- Specific artist style
- Mood and atmosphere

Basic plan: $10 / 200 images = $0.05/image
Standard: $30 / unlimited Relax = ~$0.02/image (heavy use)
Pro: $60 / unlimited = ~$0.01/image (very heavy use)

Compare with:
DALL-E 3: $0.04-$0.12/image
Stable Diffusion: $0 (local, but need GPU)

Aesthetic Quality Comparison:

Midjourney V6.1:  #################### 10/10
DALL-E 3:         ################....  8/10
Stable Diffusion: ###############.....  7.5/10 (varies by model)

Prompt Following:
DALL-E 3:         #################### 10/10
Midjourney V6.1:  ###############.....  7.5/10
Stable Diffusion: ##############......  7/10

Customization:
Stable Diffusion: #################### 10/10
Midjourney:       ############........  6/10
DALL-E 3:         ########............  4/10