5 Best Midjourney Prompts: April 2024 (The Punks)

Five modifiers that end with "-punk" but aren't "cyberpunk" or "steampunk."

Happy Thursday, prank punkers,

I’m back with the monthly Midjourney modifier roundup.

In the last edition, I finally got around to tackling “steampunk” and “cyberpunk”—the two most well-known and used “-punks” of all.

But did you know that punks come in all shapes and sizes?

Because they certainly do.

Right, thanks for the visual, Midjourney.

So let’s explore five entirely new -punk modifiers today.

While there are dozens of -punk aesthetics and genres, I wanted to put together a diverse group of modifiers that create unique results in Midjourney.

Using the same three subjects for all sample images was well received, so I’m doing it again. Today’s showcase subjects are:

• Cat

• Bicycle

• Farm

Remember that I don’t share long-winded prompts. My focus is on the standalone modifiers you can apply to your own prompts. I don’t encourage splatterprompting, which is why this approach appeals to me.

Note: All sample images are Midjourney Version 6.

Prompt #1: “[subject], dieselpunk”

Dieselpunk is a close cousin of steampunk. Both of them are retrofuturistic aesthetics set in an alternate version of history. Here’s how they differ:

• Steampunk = Victorian era + steam-powered tech

• Dieselpunk = World War I to World War II era + diesel-based tech

Compared to steampunk, dieselpunk tends to be less whimsical, more grimy, and features a darker color palette.

Sample images:

Prompt #2: “[subject], solarpunk”

Unlike cyberpunk—which tends to have gritty and dystopian undertones—solarpunk imagines a more optimistic version of the future where humans have learned to coexist with nature, fully harness renewable energy, and rely on sustainable tech. (It’s fiction, okay?)

Solarpunk usually features a bright, shiny, and clean aesthetic that fuses high-tech and natural elements.

Sample images:

Prompt #3: “[subject], silkpunk”

Silkpunk is a niche genre that can be roughly categorized as East Asia’s answer to steampunk.¹ It was coined very recently—only a decade ago—by author Ken Liu. Silkpunk often features mechanical contraptions made of bamboo and an aesthetic inspired by Asian culture and art.

Midjourney doesn’t always quite nail the intended aesthetic, but the resulting images are always fun.

Sample images:

Prompt #4: “[subject], dream punk”

Dream punk seems to have more in common with surrealism and psychedelia than it does with the other punks on our list. In Midjourney, this modifier will often trigger dreamlike, whimsical settings and elements that aren’t directly tied to a specific time period or fashion style.

Sample images:

Prompt #5: “[subject], atompunk”

We’ve now come full circle to yet another retrofuturistic cousin of steampunk and dieselpunk. Atompunk picks up where dieselpunk left off and sees the future as it might’ve been imagined in the 1950s-1960s. Atompunk revolves around nuclear-era tech and often offers a satirical look at a post-apocalyptic world.²

Sample images:³

Over to you…

Hope you enjoy trying out “The Punks.”

Don’t forget to test them in other text-to-image generators to see how they differ.

Want to share your prompts and modifiers?

Leave a comment or shoot me an email at whytryai@substack.com.

You can also message me directly:

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Here’s a list of every modifier I’ve ever covered in one giant visual guide:

1. Although its original creator would likely scoff at that categorization.

2. In the process of writing this, I learned that one of my favorite video game series, Fallout, can be considered quintessential atompunk.

3. What is it with retrofuturistic punks and goggles?