The chaos parameter in Midjourney isn't used as often as stylization or some of the other popular parameters, but it's still an excellent option that can provide you with a lot of variety in the initial image grids.
The default chaos value is zero, which means that you have to specify a certain value to see the effects of this parameter. In this article, I will show you why you should set a chaos value in your prompts from time to time.
I feel like the best way to learn about the different options available in Midjourney is through prompt examples. That's why I'll share several examples of how the chaos parameter affects the generated results.
Before I share these prompt examples, it's important to take a minute to learn exactly what this parameter is.
What Is the Chaos Parameter in Midjourney?
The chaos parameter in Midjourney represents an option that influences how varied the initial image grids are. The value range for the chaos parameter is 0-100, which means that even setting a value of 5 can have a lot of impact on the generated images.
When you use a low chaos value, it will give you more reliable and repeatable results. On the other hand, a high value will lead to more unexpected and unusual images.
It's difficult for me to say what are some of the best values to set for the chaos parameter because it varies a lot depending on the prompt. In most cases, I set a value between 10 and 25 when I'm using the chaos parameter.
How to Use the Chaos Parameter in Midjourney (Prompt Examples)
Even though I wrote that I usually set the chaos parameter value to be a number between 10 and 25, I'm going to be using higher values in today's article as well to show you the effects this parameter produces.
You can use the chaos parameter by writing either --c or --chaos at the end of your prompt, including a number between 1 and 100.
When I decided to start writing this article, I was wondering what type of examples I should include. I ultimately decided that I was going to do one base prompt and set five different chaos parameter values for it, as that might be the best way to demonstrate what this option does.
I also decided to write a very simple prompt. But that's not enough to display the power of this parameter, so I'll also be including a few more advanced prompts that feature a chaos value to show you how to use this option to your advantage.
Let's start with a simple prompt.
/imagine close-up shot of an eagle looking directly at the camera
Since the default value for the chaos parameter is zero, this is what an initial image grid looks like without the influence of this option. As you can see, each of the four images is consistent with one another. Now let's see what happens when you use a very low chaos parameter value.
/imagine close-up shot of an eagle looking directly at the camera --chaos 10
The difference between this image grid and the previous one is not too significant. The bottom left image can be considered more varied from the previous selection, but it's not too noticeable. But let's crank it up a notch and observe the results.
/imagine close-up shot of an eagle looking directly at the camera --c 25
You can easily spot how the chaos parameter is affecting the results with this image grid. Even though the value set in this prompt is still relatively low, it makes a lot of difference. That's why I usually say that it's best to use a number between 10 and 25 when you're using the chaos parameter to keep your results somewhat consistent (if that's what you're looking for).
/imagine close-up shot of an eagle looking directly at the camera --c 50
Now we're starting to get a lot of variety in the generated results, and we are only halfway through the chaos parameter value range. To be honest, I'm quite fond of the image in the upper left corner. I would have to heavily refine the base prompt to get a result like that without using the chaos parameter.
/imagine close-up shot of an eagle looking directly at the camera --c 75
All four of these images are awesome. Sometimes, it pays off to use a high chaos value and just let the AI model work its magic. When you find an image you really like, you can make different variations of it.
/imagine close-up shot of an eagle looking directly at the camera --chaos 100
The image in the upper right corner is insanely creepy. It looks like something out of a horror movie. The crazy part is that the prompt doesn't contain any mention of anything scary or creepy, yet the AI model still produced this image. It just goes to show you that you can never know what to expect when you use a high chaos value.
You've seen how different chaos parameter values can affect initial image grids for the same base prompt. However, this was a really simple prompt. Now, I'm going to show you some more advanced examples.
/imagine abstract art, the magic of the quantum world, mysterious particles that set the rules of the universe, venturing into the unknown, undiscovered truths --c 75
One of the cases in which I use a high chaos parameter value is when I'm making abstract art. It often helps me get great results. I never know what to expect when I write an abstract prompt anyway, so the fact that I can increase the unpredictability even more is amazing.
/imagine the skeleton king, the one who has lived for eternity, the one who can never die, the lord of the undead --s 250 --niji 5 --c 10
I like to use a combination of the stylize and the chaos parameters. I feel like this combination can produce outstanding images from time to time. I have to say that these images look amazing. I tried to use a chaos value of 25 with the same prompt, but it produced results that were simply too weird and not really connected to the prompt.
As you can see from this prompt, you can use the chaos parameter even when you're making images with the Niji model. If you want to know more about this model, I suggest you read my article on Midjourney prompts for anime. It's a great piece where I break down how to effectively use the Niji model.
/imagine photorealistic image taken with polaroid camera, 70s aesthetic, woman standing in front of an old abandoned motel, nostalgic --c 25
There is definitely a lot of variety in this image grid. This is a great example of how using the chaos parameter can create images that are connected to the prompt but still offer a lot of variety so you can choose exactly which style you prefer and make variations from it.
/imagine ancient treasure map that contains clues to where the biggest treasure of all time is hidden, manuscript aesthetic, old and forgotten, ancient relic --c 35
This is considered a relatively low chaos value, but it produced highly varied results. If I hadn't used the chaos parameter in this prompt, all four images would look similar to the one in the upper left corner.
Final Thoughts
If you're an experienced prompter in Midjourney, you usually already know what type of images to expect when you write a prompt. But when you're using the chaos parameter, you likely won't have a clue what to expect.
Although the value range for the chaos parameter is there for a reason, I recommend that you stick to a relatively low chaos value for most of your prompts. You should set a high value only when you want to experiment a lot and get unpredictable results.
The chaos parameter in Midjourney is not as popular as some of the other available parameters, but it's a useful option when you want to create something different from the usual images.
