How to Transfer Midjourney Prompt Library to Ideogram

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Transfer your Midjourney prompt library to Ideogram by stripping Midjourney-specific parameters (--ar, --stylize, --v), mapping aspect ratios to Ideogram’s preset options, and converting style values into natural language descriptions. Use the Python converter scripts below to batch-process your entire prompt collection from a CSV export. Text-heavy prompts for logos and typography will often produce better results on Ideogram without additional modification.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following ready:

A computer running macOS, Linux, or Windows
Terminal or command-line access
Administrator or sudo privileges (for system-level changes)
A stable internet connection for downloading tools

Step 1: Understand the Platform Differences

Midjourney and Ideogram take fundamentally different approaches to image generation. Midjourney uses a Discord-based command system with parameters like --ar for aspect ratio, --stylize for artistic strength, and --v for model version. Prompts are space-separated with double-dash parameters appended at the end.

Ideogram operates through a web interface and API, accepting natural language prompts without special parameter syntax. It handles aspect ratios and style through separate dropdown selections rather than prompt modifications. This means your Midjourney prompts require structural changes before Ideogram can produce comparable results.

The most significant difference lies in text rendering. If your Midjourney prompts contain text elements for logos, signage, or typography-focused designs, Ideogram will likely produce superior results without additional prompting tricks. Ideogram was specifically designed with text generation as a core capability, whereas Midjourney treats text as an afterthought. This alone makes prompt migration valuable for many use cases.

Additionally, Ideogram supports a magic_prompt API parameter that automatically enhances your prompts with additional detail. Setting magic_prompt: "ON" acts similarly to Midjourney’s higher --stylize values — it gives the model creative latitude to interpret your prompt rather than producing a literal rendering.

Step 2: Converting Midjourney Parameters to Ideogram Format

Aspect Ratio Conversion

Midjourney uses the --ar parameter followed by width:height values. Ideogram uses preset aspect ratio options. Here’s a conversion function:

def convert_aspect_ratio(mj_param):
    """Convert Midjourney aspect ratio to Ideogram format."""
    ratio_map = {
        "1:1": "square",
        "3:2": "landscape_3_2",
        "2:3": "portrait_3_2",
        "16:9": "landscape_16_9",
        "9:16": "portrait_16_9",
        "4:3": "landscape_4_3",
        "3:4": "portrait_4_3",
        "21:9": "landscape_21_9",
        "9:21": "portrait_21_9",
    }
    return ratio_map.get(mj_param.lower(), "square")

Style Parameter Mapping

Midjourney’s --stylize parameter (0-1000) controls artistic interpretation. Ideogram handles this differently through prompt language. Higher stylize values in Midjourney mean more artistic freedom. For Ideogram, you express this through descriptive adjectives and through the style_type API parameter:

def convert_stylize_to_prompt(stylize_value):
    """Convert Midjourney stylize value to descriptive prompt additions."""
    if stylize_value < 100:
        return "realistic, photographic, accurate details"
    elif stylize_value < 500:
        return "artistic, creative interpretation"
    else:
        return "highly stylized, expressive, artistic freedom"

def convert_stylize_to_ideogram_style(stylize_value):
    """Map stylize values to Ideogram style_type API parameter."""
    # Ideogram style_type options: GENERAL, REALISTIC, DESIGN, ANIME
    if stylize_value < 200:
        return "REALISTIC"
    elif stylize_value < 600:
        return "GENERAL"
    else:
        return "DESIGN"

Version Parameter Handling

Midjourney uses --v or --version to select model versions. Ideogram automatically uses its latest model. Remove version parameters when converting:

def strip_mj_version_params(prompt):
    """Remove Midjourney version parameters from prompt."""
    import re
    # Remove --v, --version, --niji and their values
    cleaned = re.sub(r'--v\s*\d+', '', prompt)
    cleaned = re.sub(r'--version\s*\d+', '', cleaned)
    cleaned = re.sub(r'--niji\s*\d*', '', cleaned)
    return cleaned.strip()

Step 3: Build a Complete Prompt Converter

Here’s a Python script that converts Midjourney prompts to Ideogram format:

import re
import json

class MidjourneyToIdeogramConverter:
    def __init__(self):
        self.aspect_ratio_map = {
            "1:1": "square",
            "3:2": "landscape_3_2",
            "2:3": "portrait_3_2",
            "16:9": "landscape_16_9",
            "9:16": "portrait_16_9",
        }

    def extract_parameters(self, prompt):
        """Extract Midjourney parameters from prompt."""
        params = {
            "prompt": "",
            "aspect_ratio": "square",
            "style_additions": "",
            "negative_prompt": ""
        }

        # Extract --ar parameter
        ar_match = re.search(r'--ar\s*(\d+:\d+)', prompt)
        if ar_match:
            ar = ar_match.group(1)
            params["aspect_ratio"] = self.aspect_ratio_map.get(ar, "square")

        # Extract --no parameter (negative prompting)
        no_match = re.search(r'--no\s*([\w,\s]+)', prompt)
        if no_match:
            negative_terms = no_match.group(1).replace(',', ', ')
            params["negative_prompt"] = f"Avoid: {negative_terms}"

        # Extract --stylize parameter
        stylize_match = re.search(r'--s\s*(\d+)', prompt)
        if stylize_match:
            stylize = int(stylize_match.group(1))
            if stylize > 700:
                params["style_additions"] = "Highly artistic, expressive style. "
            elif stylize > 300:
                params["style_additions"] = "Artistic interpretation. "

        # Extract --iw parameter (image weight)
        iw_match = re.search(r'--iw\s*([\d.]+)', prompt)
        if iw_match:
            params["prompt"] += f"[Reference image weight: {iw_match.group(1)}] "

        # Clean the main prompt
        clean_prompt = re.sub(r'--\w+\s*[\w.]*', '', prompt).strip()
        params["prompt"] += clean_prompt

        return params

    def convert(self, midjourney_prompt):
        """Convert a single Midjourney prompt to Ideogram format."""
        params = self.extract_parameters(midjourney_prompt)

        # Build the Ideogram prompt
        ideogram_parts = [params["prompt"]]

        if params["style_additions"]:
            ideogram_parts.append(params["style_additions"])

        if params["negative_prompt"]:
            ideogram_parts.append(params["negative_prompt"])

        return {
            "prompt": " ".join(ideogram_parts),
            "aspect_ratio": params["aspect_ratio"]
        }

# Example usage
converter = MidjourneyToIdeogramConverter()

mj_prompt = "a futuristic cityscape at sunset, neon lights, cyberpunk aesthetic --ar 16:9 --stylize 750 --v 6"
result = converter.convert(mj_prompt)

print(json.dumps(result, indent=2))

This produces:

{
  "prompt": "a futuristic cityscape at sunset, neon lights, cyberpunk aesthetic Highly artistic, expressive style.",
  "aspect_ratio": "landscape_16_9"
}

Step 4: Handling Complex Prompt Patterns

Multi-Prompt Segments

Midjourney allows weighted prompts using :: syntax. Ideogram doesn’t support this directly. You need to decide how to handle weighted elements:

def handle_weighted_segments(prompt):
    """Convert Midjourney weighted prompts to single prompt."""
    # Split by :: and take the first segment as primary
    # Adjust based on your priority logic
    segments = prompt.split("::")
    if len(segments) > 1:
        # Use the highest weighted segment
        weights = []
        for seg in segments:
            match = re.search(r'(\d*\.?\d+)$', seg.strip())
            weight = float(match.group(1)) if match else 1.0
            weights.append((seg.strip(), weight))

        # Return the segment with highest weight
        weights.sort(key=lambda x: x[1], reverse=True)
        return weights[0][0]
    return prompt

Seed and Chaos Parameters

Midjourney’s --seed and --chaos parameters have no direct Ideogram equivalents. The converter should simply strip these:

def strip_non_transferable_params(prompt):
    """Remove parameters that don't transfer to Ideogram."""
    params_to_remove = [
        r'--seed\s*\d+',
        r'--chaos\s*\d+',
        r'--c\s*\d+',
        r'--tile',
        r'--no\s*[\w,\s]+',
        r'--uplight',
        r'--upbeta',
        r'--creative',
    ]

    for param in params_to_remove:
        prompt = re.sub(param, '', prompt)

    return prompt.strip()

Step 5: Batch Processing Your Prompt Library

For large prompt collections, process them in batches:

import csv
from pathlib import Path

def batch_convert_library(input_file, output_file):
    """Convert a CSV file of Midjourney prompts to Ideogram format."""
    converter = MidjourneyToIdeogramConverter()

    results = []

    with open(input_file, 'r') as f:
        reader = csv.DictReader(f)
        for row in reader:
            mj_prompt = row['prompt']
            converted = converter.convert(mj_prompt)
            results.append({
                'original': mj_prompt,
                'ideogram_prompt': converted['prompt'],
                'ideogram_aspect_ratio': converted['aspect_ratio']
            })

    with open(output_file, 'w', newline='') as f:
        writer = csv.DictWriter(f, fieldnames=results[0].keys())
        writer.writeheader()
        writer.writerows(results)

    return len(results)

# Usage
count = batch_convert_library('midjourney_prompts.csv', 'ideogram_prompts.csv')
print(f"Converted {count} prompts")

Step 6: Use the Ideogram API After Conversion

Once your prompts are converted, you can submit them programmatically using Ideogram’s REST API:

import requests

def generate_ideogram_image(prompt, aspect_ratio="square", style_type="GENERAL"):
    """Submit a converted prompt to the Ideogram API."""
    headers = {
        "Api-Key": "YOUR_IDEOGRAM_API_KEY",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }

    payload = {
        "image_request": {
            "prompt": prompt,
            "aspect_ratio": aspect_ratio,
            "model": "V_2_TURBO",
            "style_type": style_type,
            "magic_prompt_option": "AUTO"
        }
    }

    response = requests.post(
        "https://api.ideogram.ai/generate",
        headers=headers,
        json=payload
    )

    return response.json()

# Example with a converted prompt
result = generate_ideogram_image(
    prompt="a futuristic cityscape at sunset, neon lights, cyberpunk aesthetic. Highly artistic, expressive style.",
    aspect_ratio="landscape_16_9",
    style_type="DESIGN"
)
print(result["data"][0]["url"])

Ideogram V_2_TURBO is the recommended model for batch processing due to its speed. Use V_2 for highest quality when processing curated prompts. API keys are available from ideogram.ai — pricing starts at $0.04 per image for Turbo and $0.08 for standard quality.

Step 7: Style Type Mapping Reference

Ideogram’s style_type parameter has no direct Midjourney equivalent, but this mapping works well in practice:

Midjourney Use Case	Midjourney Params	Ideogram Style Type
Photography	`--v 6 --s 0`	REALISTIC
General illustration	`--v 6`	GENERAL
Logos, branding	`--v 6 --s 1000`	DESIGN
Anime/manga	`--niji 6`	ANIME
3D render	`--v 6 --style raw`	GENERAL + descriptive

Step 8: Limitations and Manual Review

Automated conversion handles approximately 80% of prompts effectively. However, certain Midjourney features require manual intervention:

Style references (--sref): These cannot be automatically converted. Describe the referenced style in natural language instead.
Image prompts (--iw with URLs): Ideogram handles image references through its image-to-image endpoint, which requires a separate workflow from text-to-image.
Complex weighted prompts: May need manual consolidation. When Midjourney uses subject1::2 background::0.5, translate to priority-ordered natural language: “a [subject1] with [background] in the distance”.

After running your conversion, review prompts containing these elements manually to ensure the converted version maintains your intended output.

Troubleshooting

Configuration changes not taking effect

Restart the relevant service or application after making changes. Some settings require a full system reboot. Verify the configuration file path is correct and the syntax is valid.

Permission denied errors

Run the command with sudo for system-level operations, or check that your user account has the necessary permissions. On macOS, you may need to grant terminal access in System Settings > Privacy & Security.

Connection or network-related failures

Check your internet connection and firewall settings. If using a VPN, try disconnecting temporarily to isolate the issue. Verify that the target server or service is accessible from your network.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to transfer midjourney prompt library to ideogram?

For a straightforward setup, expect 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on your familiarity with the tools involved. Complex configurations with custom requirements may take longer. Having your credentials and environment ready before starting saves significant time.

What are the most common mistakes to avoid?

The most frequent issues are skipping prerequisite steps, using outdated package versions, and not reading error messages carefully. Follow the steps in order, verify each one works before moving on, and check the official documentation if something behaves unexpectedly.

Do I need prior experience to follow this guide?

Basic familiarity with the relevant tools and command line is helpful but not strictly required. Each step is explained with context. If you get stuck, the official documentation for each tool covers fundamentals that may fill in knowledge gaps.

Can I adapt this for a different tech stack?

Yes, the underlying concepts transfer to other stacks, though the specific implementation details will differ. Look for equivalent libraries and patterns in your target stack. The architecture and workflow design remain similar even when the syntax changes.

Where can I get help if I run into issues?

Start with the official documentation for each tool mentioned. Stack Overflow and GitHub Issues are good next steps for specific error messages. Community forums and Discord servers for the relevant tools often have active members who can help with setup problems.

Built by theluckystrike — More at zovo.one