To be very honest creating coloring pages in Midjourney is a bit more complex than the other ai tools like ideogram, recraft and so on. But once you understand the recipe you can create any kind of coloring pages within your niche in Midjourney.
When I personally tried to create coloring pages in Midjourney I faced the common problem that every beginner faces. That is having shades and gradients in the image.
I was so disturbed by the issue that I was about to de-consider Midjourney for creating coloring pages. But after going through several blog posts and video tutorials I changed my mind and decided to give one more try.
And after many experiments and trials I finally started to realize what actually works for Midjourney in creating coloring pages. If you faced the same problem and want the direct recipe from me then go through the whole article. I believe you will find it helpful.
A Quick Guide to Midjourney Prompting for creating Coloring Pages.
Ok, before going to any complex discussion let me give you a simple prompt generation formula for coloring pages. Just take a look at the formula given below, do not overthink and get scared. Because I am going to explain each and every point of the formula. And if you carefully stay tuned with me then I think you will start understanding the recipe like me.
Prompt Formula = 1. (Subject Overview) + 2. (Subject Description) + 3. (Coloring book terminology) + 4. (Parameters)
1. Subject Overview:
It simply means what end result you are expecting Midjourney to generate. With this point you will clarify Midjourney what will be your end result and what subject it will cover.
As we are dealing with coloring pages here, the subject will definitely be the “Color page of something”. To let Midjourney know that you are expecting a coloring page from it, you can start with the below phrases.
line art of (your subject) for coloring book…….
(your subject) Coloring Sheet……..
(your subject) Coloring page ……
(your subject) vector line art for coloring page…….
Let’s say you are planning to create a baby elephant coloring page. You can start the prompt in this way –
line art of a cute (baby elephant) for coloring book…….
(An adorable baby elephant) Coloring Sheet……..
(A super cute baby elephant) Coloring page ……
(A charming baby elephant) vector line art for coloring page…….
2. Subject Description
This point is to describe the action, posture and the background of your subject. Lest say for the earlier example of baby elephant coloring book, you can describe the elephant like this – .
Line art of a cute baby elephant for coloring book, sitting in a small pool float in water, holding an umbrella above its head, large expressive eyes, small bow on head, playful clouds in background, lotus plants and water elements around…..
Here everything marked as italic is to describe the condition, movement and appearance of the subject and its background.
Coloring book terminology:
In your prompts you need to include some terms that are relevant to coloring books. These terms or keywords are to make Midjourney understand what end result you are expecting from it. Irrespective to any subject you can use the below keywords in your prompts to generate coloring pages in Midjourney.
● thick black outlines only ● thick black ink outlines ● thick bold outlines ● no shading ● no grayscale ● no gradients ● minimal details for easy coloring ● pure black and white drawing ● simple black and white line art ● crisp clean vector style ● clean coloring book style ● clean open areas for coloring ● high contrast ● simple line art ● white background ● white paper background ● kid-friendly illustration ● printable coloring page ● professional coloring book design ● crisp vector linear
Remember, don’t just copy and paste these terms. Pick those terms or keywords that match best with your subject.
4. Parameters
If you started prompting in Midjourney then I believe you experimented many times with its Parameters. But for the beginners let me explain in a short way that in Midjourney Parameters are some extra commands added to your prompt to fine tune or modify your image generation in a specific way. In my experiments and trials, I mostly applied the below Parameters.
▶ Stylize: With this parameter you can command Midjourney how much aesthetics to apply to the result as per your prompt. From the findings of my experiments, I can say that lower stylize values work better in the case of coloring books. I usually prefer 30 to 40. At the end of the prompt add two dashes, then type “s”, then space and type your value. Take a look at the below stylize command for reference.
--s [value], for example --s 40▶ Aspect Ratio: This parameter is to define the image size and dimension. This parameter is generally represented like the below command.
–ar [value]:[value]
whereas the first value before colon represents image width and the second value after colon represents image height. Mostly used aspect ratios are as follows.
Vertical: –ar 3:4, –ar 9:16
Square: –ar 1:1
Landscape: –ar 4:3, –ar 16:9
Which ratio to apply totally depends on your project. For coloring book landscape ratios are mostly used but for this article I will use square for simplicity.
▶ Negative Prompts: This parameter is applied when you want to exclude some elements from your end result. This parameter is represented by the below command-
–no [parameter] , for example –no shading
Please note here that you may not need this parameter if you smartly and carefully use the coloring page terminologies in your prompts.
In my experiments and trials I didn’t use any negative prompting because the use of coloring page terminologies generate the best result for me.
But if you face any situation where Midjourney does not generate your expected result, then you can try this parameter.
Some well optimized Midjourney Prompts for Coloring Books
▶ Animals
Prompt: Cute baby elephant coloring page, sitting in a small pool float in water, holding an umbrella above its head, large expressive eyes, small bow on head, playful clouds in background, lotus plants and water elements around, thick black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book style, high contrast, simple line art, white background, kid-friendly illustration, printable coloring page, 4k, --s 50 --ar 1:1
Prompt: Cute baby rabbit coloring page, sitting and holding a carrot, big sparkling expressive eyes, tiny paws, adorable fluffy ears, joyful face, clean simple background, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, no shadows, pure coloring book line art style, white background, high contrast, printable 4k resolution, child-friendly illustration, --s 35 --ar 1:1
Prompt: Cute puppy coloring page, playing with a ball in an isolated white background, large expressive eyes, thick black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book style, high contrast, simple and easy line art, minimum graphical element , white background, kid-friendly illustration, printable coloring page, 4k, --s 30 --ar 1:1
Prompt: Cute puppy coloring page, playing with a ball in garden, large expressive eyes, Playful clouds in background, little amount of grass elements around, thick black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book style, high contrast, simple line art, white background, kid-friendly illustration, printable coloring page, 4k, --s 50 --ar 1:1
Prompt: Adorable cartoon lion cub line art for coloring book, sitting pose, oversized shiny eyes, rounded paws, soft fluffy details, bold smooth outlines, no gradients, no hatching, no shading, simple black and white drawing with open areas for coloring, crisp white background, high-resolution 4k, --s 50 --ar 1:1
Prompt: An adorable kitten line art for coloring book, playing with an woolen ball in a cat bed, large expressive eyes, thick black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book style, high contrast, simple line art, white background, kid-friendly illustration, printable coloring page, 4k, --s 50 --ar 1:1
Prompt: An adorable kitten line art for coloring book, playing with an woolen ball in a floor mat, large expressive eyes, 1 or 2 toy elements around, thick black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book style, high contrast, simple line art, white background, kid-friendly illustration, printable coloring page, 4k, --s 50 --ar 1:1
Prompt: Charming cartoon monkey coloring sheet, jungle vine with leaves, monkey smiling and swinging, holding a banana, friendly childlike design, thick & clean ink outlines, no shading, no hatching, vector-style coloring book line art, bright white background, print-ready 4k quality, --s 60 --ar 1:1
Prompt: A rhinoceros dinosaur coloring page with minimum detail, standing in a prehistoric landscape, mountains, river, plants, simple scenic background, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book line art, high-contrast black and white, white background, printable 4k resolution, --s 50 --ar 3:2
▶ Fairy Elements
Prompt: Cartoon style illustration of a fairy land, fairy tale elements around, minimum, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Illustration of a simply beautiful fairy tale castle, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Cartoon illustration of a smiling sun, fluffy clouds are around, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Cartoon illustration of a smiling moon, happy stars are around, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Beautiful cartoon fairy coloring page, flying with large delicate wings, long flowing hair, smiling face, graceful dress, surrounded by many stars, child-friendly fantasy style, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book line art, high contrast black and white, white background, printable 4k resolution, --s 50 --ar 3:2
▶ Sea Creatures
Prompt: cute and adorable sea turtle, swimming under water, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, underwater scene with plants and bubbles, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 60 --ar 1:1
Prompt: cute kawaii-style octopus, big round head, simple facial features, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, underwater scene with plants and bubbles, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 60 --ar 1:1
Prompt: Charming cartoon penguin coloring sheet, snowy landscape, penguin wearing scarf and beanie, playful snowballs around, cute smiling expression, minimal winter background, thick & clean ink outlines, no shading, no hatching, clean vector-style coloring book design, bright white background, 4k print-ready quality, --s 50 --ar 1:1
Prompt: A cute and adorable sea horse cartoon, roaming under water, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, two jellyfish cartoons floating behind, underwater scene with sea plants and bubbles, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 60 --ar 1:1
Prompt: A cute kawaii-style jellyfish floating with two cute kawaii-style star fish, simple facial features, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, underwater scene with simple plants and bubbles, two seashells on the sand beneath, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 60 --ar 1:1
Prompt: kawaii ocean gold fish, big eyes, soft curves, thick smooth lines, black-and-white coloring page drawing, coral reef background, seaweed, bubbles, minimalistic and cute style, clear line art, children’s coloring sheet, vector illustration. --s 50 --ar 1:1
Prompt: adorable cartoon gold fish with rounded shapes, bold clean contour lines, empty spaces for coloring, playful underwater environment, coral, sea plants, bubbles, simple kid-friendly design, black outline only, crisp vector lineart, coloring page style. --s 50 --ar 1:1
Prompt: cute kawaii-style octopus with big round head and smiling face, simple black-and-white line art, smooth thick outlines, small fish around it, bubbles, sea plants, kid-friendly coloring book page, minimal details, clean vector illustration, no shading --s 60 --ar 1:1
Prompt: cute and adorable baby shark, swimming under water, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, underwater scene with little amount of plants and bubbles, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 60 --ar 3:2
▶ Space
Prompt: Retro cartoon rocket ship coloring page, blasting off through large fluffy clouds, stars scattered in sky, clean simple space background, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, classic coloring book line art, high contrast black and white, white background, printable 4k resolution, --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Cute cartoon astronaut coloring page, floating in space with stars, planets, comets, and a small rocket ship, simple child-friendly shapes, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book line art, high contrast black and white, white background, printable 4k resolution, --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Retro cartoon coloring page of saturn planet with a moon, stars scattered in sky, clean simple space background, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, classic coloring book line art, high contrast black and white, white background, printable 4k resolution, --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Cartoon astronaut coloring page, floating in space with stars, planets, comets, and a small rocket ship, simple child-friendly shapes, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book line art, high contrast black and white, white background, printable 4k resolution, --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Cute cartoon alien inside a UFO spaceship, surrounded by planets, stars, comets, minimum elements, clean black-and-white line art, thick outlines, no shading, children’s coloring book style, highly simplified shapes, white background, symmetrical and centered composition --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Retro cartoon landscape coloring page of an alien planet with strange plants and canyon like mountains, stars are scattered in sky with a small Jupitar like planet, clean simple space background, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, classic coloring book line art, high contrast black and white, white background, printable 4k resolution, --s 50 --ar 3:2
▶ Vintage & Imaginary Creatures
Prompt: A triceratops dinosaur coloring page with minimum detail, standing in a prehistoric landscape, mountains, rocks, plants, simple scenic background, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book line art, high-contrast black and white, white background, printable 4k resolution, --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: A Tyrannosaurus dinosaur coloring page with minimum detail, standing in a prehistoric landscape, palm trees, mountains, river, plants, simple scenic background, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book line art, high-contrast black and white, white background, printable 4k resolution, --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Cute long-neck dinosaur coloring page, friendly cartoon dinosaur standing in a prehistoric landscape, palm trees, mountains, river, plants, flying pterosaur in the sky, simple scenic background, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book line art, high-contrast black and white, white background, printable 4k resolution, --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Cute unicorn coloring page, magical unicorn standing proudly, flowing mane and tail, small heart details on body, rainbow arch behind, stars scattered around, whimsical fantasy scene, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book line art, high contrast black and white, white background, printable 4k resolution, --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Cute dragon coloring page, magical Chinese dragon flying proudly, flowing wings and tail, whimsical fantasy scene, thick bold black outlines only, no shading, clean coloring book line art, high contrast black and white, white background, printable 4k resolution, --s 50 --ar 3:2
▶ Outdoor
Prompt: Illustration of a busy sheep farm, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Illustration of a simple tree house, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Seascape illustration of a fishing boat with sail on a calm water, cloud and sun in the background, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Landscape illustration of an amusement park with roller coasters, merry go round, ferris wheel in the background, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Landscape illustration of an airport with a plane, 2 travelers are roaming around with luggage, minimum exterior elements. smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Landscape illustration of a modern city, less number of buildings, roads and flyovers, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
▶ Indoor
Prompt: A close shot Interior illustration of a corner of a kid bedroom with a small bed, small cabinet, a small reading table and a small chair, kid's toys, are visible, minimum interior elements. smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Interior illustration of a corner of a kitchen, closets, stove and other kitchen elements are visible, minimum interior elements. smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: A close shot Interior illustration of a coffee table on the corner of a balcony, coffee cup and coffee making elements are visible on the table, smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
Prompt: Interior illustration of a vintage library with bookshelves, lamps and tables, minimum interior elements. smooth thick outlines, clean black-and-white line art, children’s coloring book style, minimal details, high-quality vector illustration, no shading --s 50 --ar 3:2
