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Midjourney Unveils Web Editor for Editing Images from Your PC

Midjourney Unveils Web Editor for Editing Images from Your PC

Alicia Shapiro
October 28, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

A digital illustration of a computer screen displaying Midjourney’s new web editor interface, featuring tools for editing images uploaded from a user’s computer. The interface includes options to crop, resize, move, and retexture images, with controls to adjust size, erase sections, scale, and change aspect ratios (such as 1:1, 4:3, and 16:9). The editor’s layout is split, showing the editing tools on the left side and a preview of the edited image on the right. The desktop computer setup has a sleek, modern design, representing a professional, tech-focused editing environment.

Image Source: ChatGPT-4o

Midjourney Unveils Web Editor for Editing Images from Your PC

Midjourney, a popular AI image generation platform, has launched a new web editor that allows users to upload and modify images directly from their computers. Released on Wednesday, the tool offers features for moving, resizing, cropping, and retexturing images, giving users more control over their visual creations.

Screenshot of the Midjourney web editor interface displaying options to edit an uploaded image of people walking in a line. The left panel shows various editing tools, including "Move / Resize," "Erase," "Restore," and "Suggest Prompt," along with sliders for brush size and image scale. The image being edited is a scene with four people dressed in classic styles, walking in an "Abbey Road"-inspired setting, with a white fence and colorful flags in the background.

New Midjourney Editor. Image Source: Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Key Features: Move, Resize, and Retexture

The web editor is split into two main sections—Edit and Retexture—each offering different functionalities:

Edit Section: Here, users can:

Upload an image from their computer or provide a URL to an online image.
Crop, move, or resize the image, adjusting it directly on the canvas.
Erase parts of the image and use prompts to fill in deleted areas with new content.
Scale the image and alter its aspect ratio to presets like 1:1, 4:3, or 16:9.
Generate a descriptive prompt based on the current image content.

Retexture Section: This feature allows users to alter the texture of the image using a prompt. According to Midjourney, this retexturing tool enables changes to elements like lighting, materials, and surfaces in an image. However, users have noted that certain adjustments can be challenging, as some prompts lead to distorted results.

Screenshot of Midjourney’s retexture feature in its web editor, focusing on a photorealistic image of a seagull with a blue sky background. The left sidebar includes guidance for using the retexture feature, which modifies textures like lighting and surfaces. The instructions advise users to avoid incompatible prompts to maintain the integrity of the original structure, enhancing the realism of the seagull image.

Midourney Retexturing Tool. Image Source: Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Limitations and Access Requirements

While the new web editor has exciting potential, it’s currently only available to a select group of users. To use the editor, you must meet one of the following criteria:

Have generated at least 10,000 images on Midjourney.
Hold an annual Midjourney membership.
Be a monthly subscriber for the past 12 months.

Once eligible, users can access the editor by logging into Midjourney's site, selecting the “Edit” option in the sidebar, and choosing either Edit from URL or Edit Uploaded Image to get started.

File Compatibility and Editing Workflow

Midjourney’s editor supports various file formats, including JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIF, PSD, RAW, and WEBP. After uploading, users can:

Move or Resize – Adjust the image’s placement and scale on the canvas.
Crop – Cut down parts of the image to reduce its dimensions.
Erase and Redo – Remove specific areas and add new content using Midjourney’s prompt tools.
Undo Changes – Quickly revert to previous actions or restore the image to its original form.

When editing is complete, images can be downloaded in PNG format, allowing users to further refine them with other editing tools or share the final versions.

Challenges and Limitations

While powerful, the editor is not without limitations. Users have reported that certain edits, like retexturing small areas, can lead to unexpected distortions. For example, adjusting a small head in an image might cause the body’s size to appear inconsistent. The retexture tool also occasionally produces unintended transformations, such as morphing a portrait into an oddly proportioned landscape.

New AI Moderator Enhances Content Review

In addition to the editor, Midjourney has updated its AI moderator, which now has improved capabilities for detecting inappropriate or abusive content. The moderator’s second version is more accurate in interpreting prompts and identifying problematic imagery, reducing false positives.

"We hope you have fun testing these systems and watching the magic of Midjourney spill out into the world," the company said on its update page. "We hope it inspires you to bring beauty to your surroundings, whether it’s remodeling your living room or imagining new kinds of fashion based on your personalized model and styles you love."

What This Means

Midjourney’s new web editor adds another layer of customization for users looking to fine-tune their AI-generated images. Although currently limited to select subscribers, the tool is a significant step toward expanding user control and creativity on the platform. With the new editor and updated moderator, Midjourney is working to create a safer, more flexible experience for its users.