Colors that Speak: How To Elevate Your Midjourney Prompts with Color Theory

When it comes to Midjourney prompts, possessing more than just a basic grasp of color is a powerful tool capable of transforming common generated images into extraordinary works of AI art. Color theory is like the secret sauce that adds that “wow” factor to your visuals. It’s the science we all learned in grammar school, and technique behind how the interplay of colors can evoke different emotions. Think of it as a painter’s palette for your own Midjorney canvas.

In this blog, I will dig into the intricate world of color theory, how it’s used in photography and cinema and how you can use it to elevate your Midjourney prompts and outputs.

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The Triad of Color: Harmony, Contrast, and Meaning

At the heart of color theory lies a triumvirate: harmony, contrast, and meaning. 

Picture color harmony as a band playing in perfect sync. It’s about choosing colors that create a pleasing balance together. You have a spectrum of choices, from analogous colors (neighbors on the color wheel) to complementary colors (opposites), and even monochromatic schemes (varying shades of a single color). The result? A sense of harmony in your work.

Color contrast, on the other hand, adds that “pop” to your images. A burst of energy. The juxtaposition of light and dark, or vibrant and muted colors side by side. This helps draw your viewer’s attention and gives depth to your visuals.

Color meaning is where the magic happens. Every color possesses an emotional resonance. Just as blue signifies calmness and red ignites passion, your color choices communicate directly with your audience’s feelings, even without words.

Think about some of the big blockbuster movies of the last couple of decades and you’ll be able to find plenty of examples of how color theory and color grading is used to impact our viewing experience. For instance, Mad Max: Fury Road features a unique color grading that includes vibrant oranges, blues, and greens, which contribute to its post-apocalyptic feel. Similarly, Blade Runner 2049 features different colors to convey key messages throughout the film; whenever the main protagonist (K, played by Ryan Gosling) passes through a key plot point or twist, the color grade is overwhelmingly yellow, conveying information and enlightenment.

Midjourney Prompts: Crafting Cinematic Compositions

With all of that in mind, it’s time to experiment. 

I’ve been looking for a good excuse to explore my fascination with all things WWII on this blog. And while I generally prefer to emote the style and camera equipment used at wartime (generally black & white photography with a 35mm film camera), this will obviously have to be a little bit different. For the purpose of this article, I’m going to take a more cinematographic approach: period drama rather than wartime photojournalism, if you will.

Two questions may be running through your mind right now: 1. why would I use a predominantly muted subject to explore the uses of color theory and 2. why WWII to begin with?

I’ll start with the second why first: I’ve been a history nerd since I can remember. While my fascination tends to lean toward ancient civilizations, Viking-era adventures (I’ll be getting to those Midjourney prompts eventually), and the constant strife of pre-industrial Europe, there’s a little reserved spot in my heart for the European theater of both World Wars–leaning more heavily on the latter. I’m not an artist in the traditional sense–you wouldn’t even want to see my stick figures. My creative outlet is photography and because time travel is not yet a perfected science, I have no way of bringing to life all of the ideas and images I would like to create in a historical period. Not without a movie set, at the very least. (Although, I was ready to join a reenactment group as a wartime photographer right before the 2020 pandemic put an end to all that.)

Enter Midjourney. 

Which also brings me to the first part of the question. Admittedly, I decided to use WWII era as a subject for this experiment because I wanted the excuse to see what Midjourney was capable of. I’ve been fairly successful with Midjourney prompts in the past and thought it would be a fun exercise that would bring some of my own cinematic ideas of the era to life. That was the expectation. The reality is that there was some struggling, some cursing, and a lot of Remix prompts to get Midjourney to output what I was trying to showcase. 

For the most part, my prompts looked like this:

If you read my previous Midjourney articles, you’ll notice that this is a rather stripped down prompt format to my usual ones. I figured since I was experimenting with specific colors, I would attempt to not confuse the bot by bogging it down with too many specifics. This tactic was both good and bad.

Unlike an artist with complete control over our creation, as promptographers, we’re faced with having to manipulate language and an ever-evolving understanding of what Midjourney understands and is capable of. Sometimes it understood the assignment without much struggle, but other times the colors weren’t quite there as you’ll see below.

Using Complimentary Colors in Midjourney Prompts

The strategic use of complementary colors becomes a potent approach to AI-generated imagery. Complementary colors are colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel. When used in conjunction with each other in a piece, they create high-contrast effects that can be very striking. This makes complementary colors a popular choice for photographers, cinematographers and in our case, Midjourney prompt engineers who want to create visually arresting images.

These complementary color pairings give rise to a range of distinct and captivating outcomes like the following:

• High-contrast images: The stark contrast between opposing hues generates a compelling tension that draws the eye, culminating in visuals that exude both confidence and impact. This effects is often achieved when one color emphasizes the main subject of the image and the complementary color acts as an accent color. With Midjourney prompts, this can often come down to chance, but you should seek to call out the colors themselves in your prompt.
• Dramatic images: Complementary colors inject an innate dramatic quality into AI-generated images. This interplay creates a sense of conflict and intrigue, crafting narratives that evoke emotions and curiosity in the viewer. As a result, AI-generated scenes transform into platforms for emotive storytelling, enriched by the calculated use of these colors. Complementary colors can also be used to create dramatic images that evoke strong emotions. This is often done by using complementary colors to create a sense of tension or conflict in the image.
• Surreal images: By employing these opposing hues in unconventional ways, AI-generated visuals can attain an ethereal quality that challenges perceptions and gives rise to captivating optical illusions, pushing the boundaries of the commonplace. Complementary colors can also be used to create surreal images that are visually arresting. This is often done by using complementary colors in unexpected ways or by using them to create optical illusions.

In the example above, Midjourney had zero issues delivering cyan and red-orange, but the street scene lent itself to to the effect pretty easily. I had previously prompted it using a battle scene with little success:

This was the first prompt I started with for this blog, and it was one of the ones I had the toughest time with. I experimented a bit with the red, attributing it to the blood on the ground and flares or smoke before settling on this image that combined a little bit of the two without being too graphic. This was one of those times that a simple “color and color” prompt, did not quite work out, but I think with another subject, it might be much easier to get usable results.

Below are some examples of complementary colors for you to try in your prompts:

• Red and Green
• Blue and Orange
• Yellow and Purple
• Cyan and Red-Orange
• Magenta and Green-Yellow
• Violet and Yellow-Green

This one felt like a little bit of a cheat, using the Africa campaign (predominantly tan) and combining it with a color prompt for intense orange. Midjourney delivered several incredible images from this set without me even needing to prompt its details.

This was another less gritty attempt at the red & green prompt. While I love the composition and saturation of the red, I wasn’t satisfied with the green as an example for that particular prompt.

Using Tonal Colors in Midjourney Prompts

Tonal colors in the realm of AI-generated images involve the manipulation of a single color’s lightness or darkness to produce a spectrum of shades and tints. This technique significantly broadens the color palette’s scope and adds depth without introducing entirely new hues. In the context of AI-generated visuals, the process resembles prompting the AI with phrases like “shades of x” or “tint of x.”

There are two main concepts within tonal colors: shades and tints. 

Shades: When black is added to a color, it creates what is known as a shade. Shades are darker and more subdued versions of the original color. The addition of black reduces the color’s brightness and can result in a more sophisticated and moody appearance. For example, adding black to blue would produce various shades of blue, ranging from deep navy to midnight blue. 

I went through a couple of iterations of results before landing on something I was happy with. In the end, the winter element helped bring it together.

Tints: When white is added to a color, it results in a tint. Tints are lighter and softer versions of the original color. The addition of white increases the color’s brightness and gives it a pastel-like quality. For instance, adding white to red would create tints of pink, ranging from light pink to pale rose.

I got this result on the first try, which is stunning for two reasons: the colors are exactly what I was going for, and also look at those hands. Good job Midjourney!

Tonal colors can be used to create a variety of effects, including:

• Subtle images: Tonal colors can be used to create subtle images that are calming and relaxing. Achieving this often involves employing a limited spectrum of tonal colors in the composition.
• Elegant images: Tonal colors can also be used to create elegant images that are sophisticated and refined. This is often achieved by prompting a variety of tonal colors in the image, but in a way that creates a harmonious and cohesive look.
• Moody images: Tonal colors can be used to craft images that evoke a mood of nostalgia or melancholy. This is frequently accomplished by utilizing dark tonal colors to imbue the image with a sense of depth and emotional resonance.

The above wasn’t an entirely successful result for shades of blue, but it definitely captured the cinematographic look and feel of a war movie (Fury, Dunkirk and Saving Private Ryan all have that tonality) so I had to include it.

Sometimes Midjourney prompts needs a little push in the right direction, in this case by prompting it specifically with gray and blue tones to get a more uniform look.

Using Analogous Colors in Midjourney Prompts

Analogous colors are groups of colors that are situated adjacently on the color wheel. These colors share a fundamental base hue, resulting in a harmonious visual cohesion when employed collectively.

These color combinations can be used to create a variety of effects, including:

• Natural images: Analogous colors lend themselves to generating serene and tranquil visuals reminiscent of the natural world. This is frequently achieved by prompting colors found abundantly in nature, such as shades of green, blue, and brown.
• Organic images: Analogous colors can also be used to create organic images that are earthy and natural. This is often done by prompting colors present in botanical elements like plants and flowers, encompassing shades of green, yellow, and orange.
• Moody images: Analogous colors prove effective in generating visuals that convey a mood of reminiscence or melancholy. This is skillfully accomplished by incorporating darker analogous hues into the composition, evoking depth and emotional resonance within the image.

Part of the challenge of getting harmonious images with the color scheme I was trying to showcase, was starting with a setting that could lend itself more easily to the intended colors. Midjourney did well on this particular prompt, without any need for variants or remixes.

This color combination is perhaps one of my favorites. The early morning light prompt worked seamlessly well with the analogous purple hues, creating a hauntingly moody scene.

Below are some examples of analogous color groupings worth giving a try:

• Red-Orange, Orange, Yellow-Orange
• Blue, Blue-Green, Green
• Purple, Violet, Blue-Violet
• Yellow, Yellow-Green, Green
• Orange, Red-Orange, Red

This one could have likely benefited from additional prompting as the colors are still a bit muted and on the olive end of green. A tropical scene would have definitely work a lot better with this color combination.

The keyword here was the inclusion of “fire” along the orange and red-orange prompts. No tweaking required.

Using Tetradic Colors in Midjourney Prompts

Tetradic colors, often referred to as double complementary or rectangular color schemes, involve the artful arrangement of four distinct hues, structured into pairs of complementary colors. This meticulous configuration cultivates a sense of equilibrium and vibrancy, harmonizing both contrast and unity in a subtle dance.

Although prompting for tetradic colors might not seamlessly align within the nuances of Midjourney prompts, the possibilities they present span a cinematic spectrum:

• Dynamic images: Tetradic colors can be used to create dynamic images that are visually striking and attention-grabbing. Achieving this impression hinges on the strategic use of deeply saturated, brilliantly luminous color selections.
• Balanced images: Tetradic colors can also be used to create balanced images that are visually appealing and harmonious. This often involves the employment of colors that either resonate as complements or flow as analogs.
• Emotional images: Tetradic colors can also be used to create emotional images that evoke strong feelings in the viewer. This is often done by using colors that are associated with certain emotions, such as red for passion or blue for sadness.

I found tetradic colors incredibly difficult to prompt with accurate results. The above was the closest, but as you can see the image is predominantly red with only a bit of green in the stems of the tulips. The balance between the yellow flowers and blue sky is a little better. Overall, it’s a great cinematic scene, even if the color balance isn’t exactly textbook.

Here are some examples of tetradic color groupings for you to experiment with:

• Red, Green, Blue, Yellow
• Purple, Yellow, Green, Red
• Cyan, Red-Orange, Violet, Yellow-Green

The simple inclusion of “tones of black” turned into this incredibly dynamic image.

There’s something undeniably elegant about black and gold being used together.

Another way to prompt a heavy usage of black, and an overall dark and moody vibe is to use “dark mode” as part of your prompt. (It’ll work amazing for Pink Horn’s upcoming focus on Spooky Season.)

Using Triadic Colors in Midjourney

Triadic colors are a color scheme that involves three colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel. These colors form an equilateral triangle when connected on the color wheel. Triadic color schemes are known for their balance and vibrancy, as they include colors that are both visually distinct and harmonious.

The following are examples of triadic colors you can experiment with in your prompts:

• Red, Blue, Yellow
• Green, Orange, Purple
• Cyan, Magenta, Yellow

This is a color combination that would be easier to achieve in traditional art, but I think Midjourney did a decent job with all aspects of this image. Not quite a dogfight, but the colors are accurate.

There’s just something about black and white photography that will never go out of style. For this prompt, I referenced famous wartime photographer Robert Cappa. For higher realism, I could have also prompted Midjourney to use a 1940’s Leica 35mm, but the modern Nikon z7 was used for all of the prompts on this article.

Using Monochromatic Colors

Monochromatic colors are colors that are all from the same hue. This means that they all have the same base color, but they can vary in terms of saturation and brightness. Monochromatic color schemes can be simple or complex, depending on the range of saturation and brightness that you use. This can create a harmonious and cohesive look in your images, while offering subtle variations in lightness and darkness.

In photography, monochromatic colors can be used to create a variety of effects, including:

• Subtle images: Monochromatic color schemes excel in crafting nuanced visuals that exude serenity and calm. Achieving this essence often involves navigating a restrained spectrum of saturation and brightness levels across the frame.
• Elegant images: Monochromatic colors have the potential to infuse imagery with an aura of refinement and sophistication. Artfully blending diverse degrees of saturation and brightness with the sort of harmonious cohesion that promotes an overall elegance.
• Moody images: The canvas of monochromatic color lends itself to evoking moods drenched in reminiscence, obscurity and introspection, fostering an evocative interplay of depth and emotional resonance within the image.

While “black and white” and “grayscale” look very similar, the biggest difference is that black & white will have brighter highlights, while grayscale won’t quite give you white in the highlights, thus making it a slightly more muted image with less contrast than its b&w counterpart.

By specifying the tones of black in the background, Midjourney added a bit of faded color to the subject–the couple in this case, while muting the background into blurred shades, creating a sense of depth and intimacy.

Bringing It All Together

In Midjourney, colors aren’t just pixels on a screen; they’re the heartbeat of your creations. Pick colors that resonate with your message and audience. Remember, color theory isn’t just for the pros—it’s for anyone who wants to add that extra “oomph” to their visuals. As you embark on your Midjourney prompts adventure, let color theory be your trusty guide. With harmony, contrast, and meaning by your side, you’re bound to create visuals that not only look stunning but also tell emotive stories.

I had to include one more result from this batch because these results are truly dynamic.

It is possible that Midjourney interpreted my reference to Dunkirk as not only the place, but the movie, aiding its colorization. Which, by the way, is also a solid method to prompt a particular look and feel in your images. Happy prompting!