Midjourney Raw mode reduces the model’s automatic styling so the description in your prompt has more influence on the result. Add --raw at the end of the prompt, or enable Raw in your creation settings. It is a style control, not a camera RAW file format or a promise of photographic accuracy.
Midjourney says simple prompts in Raw often produce more photo-like images, while detailed style descriptions offer more control. That is the vendor’s description of the feature, not a measured quality comparison in this guide.
On this page
Enable Raw for one prompt
Put the parameter after the visual description:
a plain ceramic bowl on a linen cloth, side view,
soft window light, neutral background --raw
This is an original prompt template, not a tested output. Change the subject, materials and lighting to suit the image you need.
Midjourney’s parameter rules place parameters at the end, with a space before the dashes. Keep ordinary description text before them and avoid trailing punctuation inside the parameter section.
The parameter cheat sheet provides the wider syntax reference.
Set a default deliberately
On the website, Midjourney’s Raw instructions say to open the settings beside the Imagine bar and select Raw in the Model section. That setting applies to future prompts.
In Discord, add --raw to an individual prompt, or use the settings command and select RAW Mode for a default.
Check the default before a later session. A persistent setting can explain why a short prompt looks different from what you expected. If you want a one-off experiment, an explicit parameter makes the intended choice easier to see in the saved prompt.
The current Raw documentation lists compatibility with versions 5.1 and later. Check the documentation for the version actually selected rather than assuming every other parameter has the same compatibility.
Describe the look you want
Raw gives the written brief more work to do. Replace a vague request with visible properties: subject, materials, composition, lighting and the kind of image.
For a product-style still life:
a fictional unbranded amber glass bottle on a matte cream surface,
close side view, soft shadow to the right, diffused studio light,
plain background, restrained product photograph --raw
For a drawn image rather than a photograph:
a small greenhouse surrounded by herbs,
black ink line drawing on warm ivory paper,
simple front view, sparse hatching, generous blank margin --raw
These templates show two different written style briefs. They do not establish that Raw will reproduce either style reliably. Review the actual generations against the description.
Avoid adding several incompatible style directions merely to make the prompt longer. Decide which visual property matters before changing the wording.
Separate Raw from other controls
Raw and Stylize are separate parameters. Midjourney’s parameter list describes Raw as a way to gain more control and Stylize as a control over artistic flair.
The Stylize guide covers that parameter. Image shape is another choice, handled in the aspect-ratio guide.
When comparing Raw with the ordinary mode for your task, keep the description and other relevant settings as consistent as practical. Record the model and selected controls. Then review more than one result before deciding which setup suits the brief.
That is a suggested comparison method, not a test performed for this article or proof that one mode is universally better.
Inspect the result rather than the label
A photo-like result can still contain inaccurate object details. Check the parts the image will be used to communicate: a product’s shape, the number of objects, material, text and framing.
Raw does not supply rights to a reference image or consent for using a person’s likeness. Use subjects and source material you are allowed to use. The examples here use an unbranded object and a generic illustrated scene.
If the result misses the brief, change the description of the specific mismatch. Switching modes alone is not a substitute for a clear subject or composition.
