Midjourney: Quick overview of the --exp parameter
My first experience with the --exp parameter
An experimental parameter
The --exp parameter is an experimental image aesthetics parameter that has yet to receive an official name in Midjourney V7.
It is known to help enhance the aesthetics of images. But its actual use cases are unknown.
How does it work?
It works similarly to the --stylize parameter, but Midjourney says it can make images more detailed, dynamic, creative, and tone-mapped.
The --exp parameter has a default value of 0 and can range from 0 to 100. However, the value must be a whole number; it will not accept decimal points such as 0.5.
Recommended --exp values
Midjourney suggested values for the --exp as 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100.
It states that the value will change significantly from 5 to 50, but not as dramatically as from 50 to 100.
Extremely high values (above 25–100): Other parameters in use at the same time, such as --stylize and --p, may be overwhelmed by the --exp effect.
Lower value (25 or less): Midjourney recommends this value when using --exp when combined with other parameters.
Given that Personalization (--p) is critical in V7, I believe the 0-25 value is preferred in most cases.
Although not yet officially documented in the Midjourney Official Documentation Parameter List, the --exp parameter is compatible with the --stylize, --p, --seed parameters, image references or image prompts, --sref, and --oref.
Drawbacks
As the --exp value increases, prompt accuracy decreases and the image becomes more diverse, making it unlike the original.
Some users reported that setting the --exp value up to 100 could resolve the coherency issues, but the images may not look very different from the original. It is also suggested that using other methods, such as the Web Editor or Remix, would be more direct and effective than --exp in fixing coherency issues.
Unresolved questions
How does the --exp parameter interact with the other parameters? Will it make things better or worse? What value should I use as a rule of thumb? Should it be used with or without Personalization? What are its most suitable applications?
To answer the questions raised above, I plan to write a long, in-depth article. So, subscribe to Geeky Curiosity and stay tuned!
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Key takeaways
The --exp parameter in Midjourney is an experimental feature used to improve image aesthetics by increasing detail, dynamism, and creativity. Values range from 0 to 100; higher values amplify these effects but reduce prompt accuracy.Â
The recommended value for --exp is 25 or lower, especially when combined with other parameters such as --stylize and --p, as higher values may overwhelm these and cause images to deviate from the original image; its full interactions and best use cases are still being investigated.
Cover prompt: Cinematic, photo of an instagram model with dark brown bob hair and bangs wearing vintage , red lipstick, cool pose, urban background, --ar 16:9 --seed 3468546108 --exp 10 --profile 5nv9sv3 --v 7
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Thank you for reading and happy creating!