As a small business owner, you need visuals that impress clients and drive engagement, but you’re strapped for time. AI art for commercial use offers a fast path to polished graphics. With Midjourney, you can generate custom images that align with your brand aesthetic in just a few clicks. Good news, you’ll reclaim hours formerly spent on manual design tasks. Here’s how to streamline your workflow using AI art so you can focus on growth.
Verify usage rights
Before you use AI-generated images in client work, confirm you have proper commercial rights. Midjourney offers several subscription tiers, each with different licensing terms. If you skip this step you could face copyright issues.
- Review the latest Midjourney terms of service (ToS)
- Check whether your plan includes full commercial usage
- Retain proof of subscription and license grants for your records
Once you confirm your rights, you can move on to creating art with confidence.
Set up your Midjourney account
You’ll generate your first images on Discord, where the Midjourney bot lives. If you haven’t yet, join the Midjourney server and connect your account. Then choose a plan that fits your design needs and budget.
Join the Midjourney Discord
Head to the Midjourney website and click “Join the beta” (you get a free trial with about 25 images). Follow the invite link and accept the server rules. You’ll see the bot channels in moments.
Pick the right subscription
Free trials are great for testing, but a paid plan unlocks full commercial rights. Standard and Pro options offer higher daily limits and priority rendering. Select the tier that matches your expected volume and project scope.
Craft effective prompts
Well-crafted prompts help you get useful results on the first try. A good prompt balances detail and simplicity.
Use descriptive keywords
Name your subject, style, and mood—for example, “modern product mockup, soft shadows, minimalist layout.”
Leverage style references
Reference artists or art movements to guide the look—for instance, “in the style of Bauhaus poster art.”
Don’t pile on too many tags or the bot might get confused. Start simple, then refine in the next steps.
Refine and edit art
After you generate drafts, pick the version you like and upscale it for higher resolution. The upscale function doubles or quadruples pixel dimensions so your images remain sharp in print or on screen.
- Click the “U1–U4” button under your favorite variant to upscale
- Try the “light variation” option to tweak small details without redoing the entire prompt
Polish in your design tool
Import the upscaled image into your preferred editor (like Photoshop or Affinity Photo). Adjust colors, remove minor artifacts, and add text or logos so visuals match your brand identity.
Incorporate visuals seamlessly
Your AI-generated images should align with your overall brand. Consistency builds trust and recognition. Here’s how to integrate them into your marketing mix:
- Match color schemes to your brand palette
- Use consistent typography when adding overlays
- Plan image releases alongside social posts in your content calendar
For more design pointers, see commercial graphics design tips.
Quick recap and next step
- Verify your commercial license
- Set up your Midjourney account
- Craft clear, concise prompts
- Refine and edit your chosen images
- Align AI art with your brand style
Choose one step to start today, and watch how AI art can transform your visual workflow. You’ve got this.
