What does the Midjourney Stop (--stop) parameter do?

The Midjourney Stop (--stop) parameter tells the AI to halt the image generation process at a specified percentage of completion, ranging from 10 to 100. A lower value results in a less finished, more abstract, or painterly image, while a higher value produces an image closer to a full render.

How do I use stop (--stop) Midjourney in my prompt?

To use the --stop parameter, simply add it to the end of your Midjourney prompt, followed by a number between 10 and 100. For example: `a blooming rose in soft morning light --stop 50 --v 6 --q 2 --ar 7:4`.

What's the difference between --stop 100 and not using --stop at all?

By default, Midjourney aims for a full render, which is equivalent to --stop 100. Explicitly using --stop 100 ensures the image completes its full generation cycle. While often redundant, it can sometimes be useful for clarity or if you're systematically testing parameters. For most intents and purposes, omitting --stop implies --stop 100.

Can I combine --stop with other Midjourney parameters?

Yes, absolutely! The --stop parameter is designed to work in conjunction with other Midjourney parameters like --stylize, --chaos, --weird, and aspect ratios (--ar). Combining them allows for highly nuanced and unique image generations, giving you even greater creative control over the final output.

Parameter GuideMidjourney

Midjourney Stop (--stop) Guide: Control Your Image Generation

This guide explains how the Midjourney --stop parameter works, letting you halt image generation at any percentage between 10 and 100. By stopping early, you can produce softer, more abstract results or quickly preview compositions before committing to a full render. Learn the syntax, explore practical use cases, and discover how different stop values affect your final output.

Values & Usage

--stop 10-30--stop 25

Use for extreme abstraction, very painterly, blurry, or highly conceptual results. Details will be minimal, focusing on color fields and vague shapes. Ideal for pure artistic expression or background elements.

--stop 30-50--stop 40

Creates a dreamlike, ethereal, or heavily impressionistic effect. Some discernible forms will emerge, but details remain soft and undefined. Excellent for mood pieces or artistic interpretations.

--stop 50-70--stop 65

Offers a balance between abstraction and emerging detail. Images will have a distinct 'unfinished' or 'sketchy' quality, but main subjects are recognizable. Good for stylistic choices where you want to avoid photorealism.

--stop 70-90--stop 85

Produces images that are nearly complete but retain a subtle artistic looseness or a slightly less polished finish than a full render. Useful for adding a unique artistic touch without sacrificing too much detail.

--stop 90-99--stop 95

Results in images that are almost fully rendered, with only minor imperfections or a very slight softness compared to --stop 100. Use when you want a highly detailed image but with a tiny hint of AI-generated 'flair' or to subtly reduce over-rendering.

Example Prompts

An ethereal forest scene, stopped early to create a painterly, atmospheric mood with soft edges.

intermediate

VISUAL STYLE: Impressionistic, GENRE: Fantasy Landscape, SUBJECT(S): Ancient forest, glowing moss, mystical creatures, TIME PERIOD: Ethereal, COLOR: Emerald green, deep violet, soft gold, ASPECT RATIO: 7:4, FORMAT: Digital painting, FRAME SIZE: Wide shot, LENS SIZE: 50mm, COMPOSITION: Rule of thirds, leading lines, LIGHTING: Volumetric, LIGHTING TYPE: Mystical glow, TIME OF DAY: Dusk, ENVIRONMENT: Enchanted forest, LOCATION TYPE: Ancient woodland, SET: Natural, overgrown, CAMERA: Canon EOS R5, LENS: Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM, FILM STOCK / RESOLUTION: High-resolution digital, TAGS: fantasy, nature, mystical, dreamlike --stop 40 --v 6 --q 2 --ar 7:4

A surreal portrait, stopped at a medium value to blur features and create an intriguing, unfinished look.

intermediate

VISUAL STYLE: Surrealism, GENRE: Portraiture, SUBJECT(S): Androgynous figure, melting clock, floating orbs, TIME PERIOD: Contemporary, COLOR: Muted blues, grays, silver, ASPECT RATIO: 7:4, FORMAT: Mixed media art, FRAME SIZE: Medium close-up, LENS SIZE: 85mm, COMPOSITION: Central subject, symbolic elements, LIGHTING: Softbox, LIGHTING TYPE: Diffused, TIME OF DAY: Studio, ENVIRONMENT: Abstract, LOCATION TYPE: Dreamscape, SET: Minimalist, surreal, CAMERA: Fujifilm GFX 100S, LENS: GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR, FILM STOCK / RESOLUTION: Fine art print, TAGS: surreal, portrait, abstract, dream --stop 65 --v 6 --q 2 --ar 7:4

An architectural concept, stopped near completion to retain some artistic looseness while showing clear structure.

advanced

VISUAL STYLE: Conceptual Art, GENRE: Architecture, SUBJECT(S): Futuristic building, bio-luminescent elements, TIME PERIOD: Future, COLOR: Teal, chrome, soft white, ASPECT RATIO: 7:4, FORMAT: Architectural rendering, FRAME SIZE: Establishing shot, LENS SIZE: 24mm, COMPOSITION: Dynamic angles, leading lines, LIGHTING: Ambient, LIGHTING TYPE: Glow from within, TIME OF DAY: Night, ENVIRONMENT: Urban cityscape, LOCATION TYPE: Metropolis, SET: High-tech, clean, CAMERA: Phase One XF IQ4, LENS: Schneider Kreuznach 28mm LS f/4.5, FILM STOCK / RESOLUTION: 8K digital, TAGS: architecture, futuristic, concept, urban --stop 85 --v 6 --q 2 --ar 7:4

A vibrant still life, stopped at a very low value to create an abstract, impressionistic interpretation, focusing on color and form.

beginner

VISUAL STYLE: Abstract Impressionism, GENRE: Still Life, SUBJECT(S): Bowl of fruit, wine bottle, draped fabric, TIME PERIOD: Modern, COLOR: Warm reds, yellows, deep blues, ASPECT RATIO: 7:4, FORMAT: Oil painting, FRAME SIZE: Close-up, LENS SIZE: 100mm, COMPOSITION: Asymmetrical balance, strong diagonals, LIGHTING: Window light, LIGHTING TYPE: Soft, TIME OF DAY: Morning, ENVIRONMENT: Studio, LOCATION TYPE: Artist's workspace, SET: Arranged, simple, CAMERA: Nikon Z7 II, LENS: Nikkor Z 100mm f/2.8 S Macro, FILM STOCK / RESOLUTION: Canvas texture, TAGS: still life, abstract, impressionist, vibrant --stop 25 --v 6 --q 2 --ar 7:4

Pro Tips

1Experiment with small increments: Instead of jumping from --stop 20 to --stop 80, try --stop 30, --stop 40, etc., to understand the subtle shifts in image generation.
2Pair with different styles: The --stop parameter works exceptionally well with 'painterly,' 'sketch,' 'watercolor,' or 'abstract' styles to enhance the desired artistic effect.
3Use for background elements: For prompts with a complex main subject, try applying --stop to create a softer, less distracting background, making the foreground pop.
4Generate multiple variations: Run the same prompt with different --stop values (e.g., --stop 40, --stop 60, --stop 80) to compare and select the ideal level of detail.
5Consider the subject: Highly detailed subjects like intricate machinery might lose too much information with very low --stop values, while landscapes or abstract concepts often thrive with them.

Common Mistakes

✕Using too low a --stop value for a prompt requiring high detail, leading to unrecognizable or overly abstract outputs.

✕Not using --stop at all when a softer, less 'finished' look would enhance the artistic intent.

✕Expecting consistent results across different prompts with the same --stop value, as the base prompt significantly influences the outcome.

✕Confusing --stop with --stylize; while both affect image appearance, --stop specifically controls the generation completion while --stylize influences artistic flair and adherence to the prompt.

Frequently Asked Questions

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