Can Midjourney Edit Photos? Method Introduction
Since April 2025, Midjourney has taken a major leap beyond image generation by introducing a powerful image editor that rivals traditional tools like Photoshop. This marks a transformative moment for creatives who previously had to export Midjourney outputs for external editing. Now, the same tool workflow lives entirely within the Midjourney web interface, along with features like external image uploads, image retexturing, layers, smart selection, and the experimental EXP parameter.
In this article, we explore the capabilities, workflows, practical applications, and limitations of Midjourney’s image editing—offering professional insight into whether you can rely on this system for serious photo manipulation.
Can Midjourney Edit Photos?
Midjourney’s foray into photo editing prompts a fundamental question: can this platform truly rival established photo-editing software? The answer, as of the latest rollout, is an emphatic yes—albeit with certain caveats regarding access and moderation protocols.
What Features Does Midjourney’s Photo Editor Offer?
Midjourney’s Full Editor provides a suite of tools designed to address a wide range of editing needs. Users can pan and zoom within an image to fine-tune details, adjust aspect ratios for different formats (from social media squares to cinematic widescreen), and control brush sizes for both bold strokes and delicate refinements . The erase and restore functions enable non-destructive editing: you can remove unwanted elements and, if needed, restore them to return to the original state .
Beyond these basics, Midjourney introduces real-time prompt tweaking. This feature lets you modify the descriptive text—such as changing “sunset over a lake” to “sunset over a mountain”—without initiating a new project, thus preserving your workflow continuity . Furthermore, the editor supports inpainting (also known as “Vary Region”), allowing region-specific edits where only selected areas of the image are regenerated based on new prompts.
Who Can Access These Tools?
Access to the Full Editor and its advanced capabilities is gated by subscription status. Only users with a yearly subscription, those subscribed continuously for at least 12 months, or members who have generated over 10,000 jobs on Midjourney can use external image editing features . Additionally, these features are currently available only in Midjourney version 6.1, ensuring that early adopters and power users can test and refine the system before a broader release .
To maintain community standards and legal compliance, Midjourney employs both human and AI moderation when processing external images. The next-generation moderation system holistically examines the user’s prompts, image content, and edit history to ensure adherence to guidelines—an important safeguard given the potential for misuse.
What Features Does the New Image Editor Offer?
Smart Selection & Inpainting Tools
The revamped editor features a smart selection brush that generates precise masks over targeted areas. Users can paint positive or negative selections, then apply inpainting—either to erase and regenerate content inside or outside of the selection—preserving the rest of the composition intact.
External Image Upload and Editing
For the first time, you can directly upload an external photo―like a portrait or product image—and apply the same editing tools: expand, crop, repaint, add objects, or retexture within Midjourney itself . This eliminates the need for external editors for many tasks.
Layers for Complex Compositions
The editor also supports layers, enabling more advanced compositions: users can upload or generate multiple assets, reorder layers, mask parts, and then flatten the final output. This allows intricate collages or scene-building .
Image Retexturing / Texture Repainting
A standout feature is retexturing—AI-driven rendering of materials, lighting, and textures. It analyzes scene geometry and reapplies stylized materials (e.g., metal, fabric, wood), enhancing photorealism or stylization while retaining structure .
EXP Parameter for Creative Control
Midjourney’s EXP (experimental aesthetics) parameter is now available in both generation and editing contexts. Ranging 0–100, higher EXP adds dynamic detail and style, at the potential cost of prompt fidelity. It offers nuanced control over creativity—ideal for bi-directional editing .
Revised UI & Workflow Integration
The editor is fully integrated into the web interface. A new “light” editor lets users quickly apply common tools, while a full editor opens via an “Open in Edit” tab. The interface now includes reframe, repaint, pan, zoom, layers, and toolbars in one unified experience.
How Do You Use It? A Step‑by‑Step Workflow
Start in the Web or Discord
- Web: Log in at midjourney.com/create, or navigate to your gallery/organizer.
- Discord: Generate an image using
/imagine, then view it in the web gallery to access the editor.
Launch the Editor
Click the “Editor” button (light mode), or expand with “Open in Edit”. This opens the full interface with layer panes, brush tools, crop functions, etc. .
Edit Using Mask & Prompt
- Smart select an area and choose mode (erase inside/outside).
- Paint your mask precisely.
- Enter a text prompt for inpainting (e.g., “change a head into a cartoon smile”).
- Optionally adjust EXP or stylize.
- Submit the edit.
Use Layers for Composite Scenes
- Add new layers with images or generated assets.
- Adjust order and scale.
- Mask or crop layers individually, then flatten edits into a single composite .
Apply Retexturing
Select retexture mode on a masked area, enter a prompt like “metallic sheen on the chair,” and allow Midjourney to infer geometry, lighting, and material .
Export & Download
Once satisfied, Upscale and Save to Gallery or Download directly. You can export original generation and/or a transparent mask of edits.
What Are the Practical Use Cases?
Portrait & Fashion Adjustments
Change models’ hairstyles, accessories, clothing, or facial expressions by masking and re-generating—ideal for designers, stylists, and social media content creators.
Product & Industrial Design
Upload product photos, mask branding or material, then apply retexturing: transform dull finishes into brushed metal, change packaging colors—an excellent tool for marketers and product designers.
Scene Composition & Marketing Collages
Use layers to build marketing visuals: combine product images, text callouts, backgrounds—all within Midjourney. Streamlines creating banners, ads, or social content.
Artistic Material & Lighting Reinterpretation
Artists can experiment with different lighting/material setups: convert matte surfaces to glossy, simulate plastic or metallic effects, or stylize scenes for mood exploration.
Is It Replacing Photoshop? Not Yet—But It’s an Alternative for Many Tasks
Use Midjourney’s editor when you want:
- Rapid conceptual iterations
- Prompt-based texture or material changes
- Simple masking and inpainting in organic scenes
- A unified AI-driven workflow
Stick with Photoshop when you need:
- Precise retouching (e.g., blemish removal, curves, dodge & burn)
- Fine typography or pixel editing
- Lens correction, raw file management, or professional layer FX
- Exact color grading via histograms or LUTs
Use MidJourney in CometAPI
CometAPI provides access to over 500 AI models, including open-source and specialized multimodal models for chat, images, code, and more. Its primary strength lies in simplifying the traditionally complex process of AI integration.
CometAPI offer a price far lower than the official price to help you integrate Midjourney API, and you will get $1 in your account after registering and logging in! Welcome to register and experience CometAPI.CometAPI pays as you go.
Important Prerequisite: Before using MidJourney V7, you need to Start building on CometAPI today – sign up here for free access. Please visit docs
Getting started with MidJourney V7 is very simple—just add the --v 7 parameter at the end of your prompt. This simple command tells CometAPI to use the latest V7 model to generate your image.
Please refer to Midjourney API for integration details.
Conclusion
Midjourney’s latest image editor boldly answers “Yes, it can edit photos—really well.” With seamless external image uploads, smart selection, layers, retexturing, and EXP-enhanced inpainting—all inside a unified AI workflow—Midjourney is no longer just a text-to-image tool. It’s evolving into a lightweight, prompt-based Photoshop alternative.
While it won’t fully replace professional pixel editors anytime soon, it offers a compelling alternative for quick, creative, concept-driven tasks. As access expands and features improve, we may be watching the rise of a whole new genre of AI-native image editing—an exciting prospect for photo editors, stylists, artists, and marketers alike.
