Your Midjourney Moodboards Aren’t Working Hard Enough

Simple tweaks that will transform your MJ moodboard game.

I see most creatives treating Midjourney moodboards like digital scrapbooks.

They collect a few pretty images, slap them into a prompt and… that’s it.

It’s fine. But it’s basic.

You’re leaving serious creative control (and speed) on the table. Moodboards on Midjourney can be so much more.

They’re not just a visual reference. They can actively shape your output, refine your style and streamline your entire workflow, if you know how to use them right.

Here’s how to move beyond the basic.

1️⃣ Ditch Words. Test Pure Style with a “Void Prompt”

Want to see what your moodboard is really doing?

Strip out all descriptive words and use symbols like "" in your prompt.

This isolates the moodboard’s style influence. No distractions.

Result: You’ll know exactly what aesthetic foundation you’re working with.

2️⃣ Take Control with Stylize Values

The default setting (--s 100) keeps your moodboard’s influence mild.

But crank it up to --s 1000? Now your moodboard dominates, dictating color, mood and composition.

Or pull it down to --s 40-60 if you want more control over specific elements like color.

I wanted this image to be an accurate visual translation of a moodboard. Went for a 800 value stylization.

3️⃣ Stop Fighting Dominant Colors

Tired of Midjourney defaulting to colors you didn’t ask for?

Lower your stylize value to weaken unwanted palette influence.

Add negative prompts to block out specific hues (--no parameter).

4️⃣ Add Varied Aspect Ratios (Nobody’s Doing This)

Most people drop square images in.

But by including different aspect ratios upfront, you’re prepping Midjourney to output in multiple formats without breaking style.

Essential when you’re generating assets for multiple platforms.

5️⃣ Want AI-Generated Text in Your Visuals? Feed it text

Most people wonder why Midjourney rarely gives them usable text.

Here’s the fix: build your moodboard with images containing text elements.

It dramatically increases the chances of clean, styled text showing up in your outputs.

6️⃣ Keep Your Style Locked with Remix Strong + Permutations

Tired of inconsistent results? Use Remix Strong to keep your style solid while changing subjects.

Pair it with permutations to auto-generate a batch of variations, all sharing the same visual DNA. Example: {red, blue, green} vintage car, cinematic lighting --style code

Same style, different variations using permutations.

BONUS TIP: Borrow Style Codes

I’m sure you’re ignoring this feature in your personalization page.

Midjourney showcases different images on the top left that might be aligned with your style preferences.

Inject them into your moodboard prompts to instantly diversify or fine-tune your style.

Most people ignore this feature. Use it to your advantage.

Moodboards aren’t just moodboards. They’re precision tools. Style anchors. Creative shortcuts.

Most people treat them like passive reference boards. You should be using them to control the output, save hours and keep your work consistent.

P.S.
I’m currently working on a live, hands-on course. Small group, focused and designed to help you apply AI tools fast and effectively. It will be limited and I’ll share details soon. Stay tuned!