AI-powered image generation has revolutionized the creative industry, enabling artists, designers, and hobbyists to bring their imaginations to life with unprecedented ease.
After the release of Midjourney 6.1 on July 30, 2024, the highly anticipated open-source images have finally arrived! Robin Rombach, a former core member of Stability AI, established a new company securing $32 million in funding and launched a series of image generation models on August 1, 2024. These models are named FLUX.1 Schnell, FLUX.1 Pro, and FLUX.1 Dev.
In this article, we'll introduce and compare three leading AI image generation tools: Midjourney 6.1, and FLUX.1 Schnell, and FLUX.1 Pro. Each of these tools offers unique capabilities and features, catering to different user needs and preferences. Let's start!
Overview of Midjourney 6.1 and the FLUX.1 Series
The latest version, V6.1, of Midjourney, significantly enhances image quality, coherence, and text handling, and includes a range of new upgrades and personalized models. It is smarter, faster, clearer, and delivers more aesthetically pleasing results.
- FLUX.1 Schnell
As the fastest model in the series, FLUX.1 Schnell is tailored for local development and personal use. Publicly accessible under the Apache 2.0 license, it is also compatible with ComfyUI, allowing for immediate integration and use.
- FLUX.1 Pro
FLUX.1 Pro represents the highest-performing version within the FLUX.1 lineup. It offers state-of-the-art image generation capabilities, excelling in cue following, visual quality, image detail, and versatility of output.
- FLUX.1 Dev
Designed for non-commercial applications, FLUX.1 Dev is an open-weight guided distillation model derived directly from FLUX.1 Pro. It maintains similar quality and prompt compliance capabilities while being more efficient than standard models of equivalent size. It is available for non-commercial use.
Midjourney 6.1 vs. FLUX.1 Schnell vs. FLUX.1 Pro
With a general understanding of these three AI image-generation tools, let's compare the image effects they produced from various perspectives.
Midjourney (v6.1) https://discord.gg/midjourney
FLUX.1 schnell (output_quality 90) https://replicate.com/black-forest-labs/flux-schnell
FLUX.1 pro(steps 25,guidance 3,interval 2,safety_tolerance 2) https://replicate.com/black-forest-labs/flux-pro
Prompt 1
A whimsical candy house from Grimm's fairy tales deep in a lush forest. The house is made of bread with a cookie roof and sparkling candy windows. Two little girls in medieval European attire hold hands, standing in front of the house. Illustrated in a vibrant anime style with magical forest details. Enchanting lighting and dreamy atmosphere.
(Midjourney 6.1)
(FLUX.1 Schnell)
(FLUX.1 Pro)
Prompt 2
Three little girls smiling down at the camera, set against a bright blue sky. The photograph is in HD quality, showcasing clear details and vibrant colors.
(Midjourney 6.1)
(FLUX.1 Schnell)
(FLUX.1 Pro)
Prompt 3
A serene lake nestled beneath snow-capped mountains during autumn, showcasing vibrant fall colors. The scene is captured in a stunning landscape photograph, with clear details and bright colors.
(Midjourney 6.1)
(FLUX.1 Schnell)
(FLUX.1 Pro)
Prompt 4
Pikachu battling Spider-Man in a vibrant city street, both characters in dynamic poses. The scene is cinematic, showcasing high-definition details with bright colors and an action-packed atmosphere.
(Midjourney 6.1)
(FLUX.1 Schnell)
(FLUX.1 Pro)
Prompt 5
Watercolor style, the girl holds a long sword and fights the evil dragon, highlighting the details of the battle. Delicate brushstrokes and dreamy illustration style.
(Midjourney 6.1)
(FLUX.1 Schnell)
(FLUX.1 Pro)
Prompt 6
A Samoyed dog wearing a festive Christmas hat, set against a simple background. The photograph captures the dog's fluffy fur and joyful expression with clear details and vibrant colors.
(Midjourney 6.1)
(FLUX.1 Schnell)
(FLUX.1 Pro)
Prompt 7
A close-up macro shot of wildflowers growing by the roadside, showcasing intricate details and vibrant colors. The image captures the delicate textures and natural beauty of the flowers with clear focus.
(Midjourney 6.1)
(FLUX.1 Schnell)
(FLUX.1 Pro)
Prompt 8
Two hands shaking together in a professional setting, symbolizing agreement and collaboration. The photograph is in high definition, with clear details and a polished, workplace aesthetic.
(Midjourney 6.1)
(FLUX.1 Schnell)
(FLUX.1 Pro)
Which one is the Best?
| Aspect | Best Choice | Comment |
| Command Comprehension Ability | Midjourney 6.1 | Midjourney 6.1 demonstrates superior understanding of prompts compared to FLUX.1 Pro and FLUX.1 Schnell. For instance, in the images generated from Prompt 1, only the candies illustrated by Midjourney 6.1 accurately align with the description provided in the instructions. |
| Image Generation Quality | Midjourney 6.1 / FLUX.1 Pro | The images rendered by Midjourney 6.1 and FLUX.1 Pro exhibit superior overall aesthetics, composition, and color harmony compared to those produced by FLUX.1 Schnell. Specifically, FLUX.1 Schnell fails to effectively capture the ink painting style required by Prompt 5. |
| Complex Image Generation | Midjourney 6.1 | When generating intricate images, Midjourney 6.1 outperforms FLUX.1 Pro and FLUX.1 Schnell due to its better comprehension of prompts. From Prompt 4, it is evident that Midjourney 6.1 accurately reflects the combat posture and atmosphere described in the instructions. |
| Image Detail Processing | Midjourney 6.1 / FLUX.1 Pro | Midjourney 6.1 and FLUX.1 Pro excel in detail processing in the generated images, while FLUX.1 Schnell is notably lacking. For instance, images from Prompt 8 generated by FLUX.1 Schnell display clearly awkward hand positions. |
| Image Generation Speed | FLUX.1 Schnell | FLUX.1 Schnell stands out as the fastest in the FLUX series, surpassing FLUX.1 Pro and Midjourney 6.1 in terms of image generation speed. |
| Accessibility | FLUX.1 Schnell / FLUX.1 Pro / Midjourney 6.1 | At present, FLUX.1 Schnell and FLUX.1 Pro are accessible via a browser, whereas Midjourney 6.1 can be accessed through the official Midjourney Discord. |
Alternatives to Midjourney 6.1, FLUX.1 schnell, and FLUX pro
While Midjourney 6.1, FLUX.1 schnell, and FLUX pro are powerful AI image generation tools, there are other alternatives worth considering:
- DALL-E 2: Known for its creative interpretations and ability to generate unique concepts.
- Stable Diffusion: An open-source alternative that offers high-quality image generation with local installation options.
- Adobe Firefly: Integrated with Adobe's Creative Suite, ideal for users already in the Adobe ecosystem.
- Canva's Text to Image: A user-friendly option integrated into the popular design platform Canva.
The world of AI image generation is rapidly evolving, with new tools and features emerging regularly. To stay updated on the latest AI tools and find the perfect solution for your needs, visit AIPURE (https://aipure.ai/). AIPURE offers comprehensive reviews, comparisons, and insights into a wide range of AI tools, helping you make informed decisions about which AI image generation tool best suits your creative projects and workflow requirements.
