Combining Midjourney with other design tools creates a powerful workflow that leverages AI-generated visuals alongside traditional editing, animation, and prototyping software. Midjourney excels at producing high-quality images, logos, and concept art from text prompts, but its output often requires refinement, compositing, or integration into broader design projects. The most effective combinations involve using Midjourney for initial asset generation, then exporting those assets into tools like Photoshop, After Effects, Relume, or mobile apps (Snapseed, PicsArt) for further manipulation. This hybrid approach allows designers to maintain creative control while benefiting from AI’s speed and versatility.

Key takeaways from the sources:

• Midjourney’s native tools (like /blend, upscalers, and Vary Region) enable basic image modification before exporting ^{[1][7][8][10]}
• Photoshop and After Effects are the most cited software for advanced editing, layering, and animation of Midjourney outputs ^[2][9]
• Mobile apps (Snapseed, PicsArt, Lightroom) offer accessible options for color correction, compositing, and quick adjustments ^[3]
• AI design ecosystems (e.g., Relume for wireframes, AI Colors for palettes) can integrate Midjourney assets into full workflows, such as website or branding projects ^[2]

Combining Midjourney with Design Tools: Workflows and Techniques

Generating and Refining Assets in Midjourney

Midjourney provides built-in features to generate and modify images before they’re exported to other software. The platform’s tools—such as /blend, Vary Region, and upscalers—allow users to iterate on designs without leaving the interface, reducing the need for external edits. The /blend command, for example, merges 2–5 images into a single composition directly in Discord, with options to adjust aspect ratios (1:1, 2:3, or 3:2) ^[8][10]. This is particularly useful for:

• Creating hybrid visuals (e.g., combining a product photo with an AI-generated background)
• Experimenting with style transfers by blending images with different aesthetics
• Generating variations of a logo or icon by merging multiple drafts

For more granular control, Midjourney’s editor tools let users:

• Pan or Zoom Out to expand the canvas around an existing image ^[7]
• Vary Region to edit specific sections of an image while preserving the rest ^[7]
• Upscale images to higher resolutions (e.g., 2x or 4x) for print or large-format use ^[7]
• Animate static images into short video clips, which can later be refined in After Effects ^[1][7]

These features ensure that assets are production-ready before export. For instance, a designer could:

1. Generate a hero image for a website in Midjourney using a prompt like "minimalist surfboard shop, ocean sunset, cinematic lighting".
2. Use Vary Region to adjust the surfboard’s position or the wave’s shape.
3. Upscale the final version to 4K and export it as a PNG for further editing in Photoshop ^[1][7].

Integrating Midjourney with External Software

Once assets are generated in Midjourney, they can be enhanced or composited using external tools. The most documented workflows involve:

Photoshop and After Effects for Advanced Editing and Animation

Midjourney’s outputs often serve as a foundation for complex designs. In Photoshop, designers can:

• Separate elements (e.g., isolating a Midjourney-generated character from its background using the Object Selection Tool) ^[9]
• Adjust colors and lighting with Curves, Levels, or Color Balance to match brand guidelines
• Add text or graphics to create marketing materials (e.g., overlays for social media posts)
• Batch-process multiple assets (e.g., resizing a set of Midjourney icons for a mobile app)

For animation, After Effects is the preferred tool to:

• Import layered PSDs from Photoshop to animate individual elements (e.g., making waves move in a Midjourney ocean scene) ^[9]
• Apply motion graphics (e.g., adding a kinetic typography effect to a Midjourney-generated poster)
• Composite 3D elements with AI-generated backdrops for immersive visuals

A practical example from the sources describes creating a web design animation:

1. Generate a website mockup in Midjourney with a prompt like "futuristic e-commerce homepage, neon glow, dark theme".
2. Export the image to Photoshop to: - Clean up edges with the Clone Stamp tool - Separate UI elements (buttons, navigation bars) into individual layers - Adjust colors to match a brand palette generated by AI Colors ^[2]
3. Import the layered PSD into After Effects to: - Animate button hover states - Add a parallax scrolling effect to the background - Export as an MP4 or GIF for web use ^[9]

Mobile Apps for Quick Adjustments and Compositing

For designers working on mobile devices or seeking lightweight solutions, apps like Snapseed, PicsArt, and Lightroom offer efficient ways to refine Midjourney images. A Facebook user detailed their process:

• Snapseed for:
• Cropping and straightening images
• Applying selective adjustments (e.g., brightening only the subject) ^[3]
• PicsArt for:
• Combining multiple Midjourney images into collages
• Adding stickers or text overlays
• Lightroom Mobile for:
• Fine-tuning exposure and contrast
• Applying presets to maintain consistency across a series of images ^[3]

This approach is ideal for social media content or rapid prototyping, where desktop software may be overkill. For example:

1. Generate 3–4 product photos in Midjourney using variations of the prompt "vintage camera, wooden table, soft natural light".
2. Use PicsArt to arrange them into a carousel post.
3. Apply a cohesive filter in Lightroom to unify the color tone ^[3].

AI Design Ecosystems for Full Workflows

Beyond single tools, Midjourney can be part of a multi-AI pipeline for end-to-end design projects. The YouTube tutorial "Combining 6 AI Tools to Design a Website" demonstrates this by integrating:

• Relume AI for generating wireframes based on a surfboard company’s needs ^[2]
• Midjourney for creating the logo and hero images (prompt: "surfboard logo, wave motif, bold typography")
• AI Colors to extract a complementary palette from the Midjourney images
• Vectorizer AI to convert the logo into scalable vector formats (SVG, EPS)
• ChatGPT to brainstorm company names and taglines
• Photoshop AI for final touch-ups (e.g., removing artifacts, sharpening edges) ^[2]

This workflow highlights how Midjourney fits into a modular design process, where each tool handles a specific task:

• AI generates the raw assets (Midjourney, Vectorizer)
• AI assists with structural decisions (Relume, AI Colors)
• Human refinement ensures polish and coherence (Photoshop, manual adjustments)

Key Considerations for Combining Tools

• File Formats: Midjourney exports PNGs by default; convert to SVG/PSD for vector editing or layered compositing ^[9].
• Aspect Ratios: Use consistent ratios (e.g., 16:9 for web) when blending images to avoid distortion ^[8][10].
• Style Consistency: Apply the same Midjourney style reference (SREF) codes across multiple generations to maintain visual cohesion ^[5].
• Iteration Speed: Tools like permutation prompts in Midjourney allow rapid testing of variations before committing to external edits ^[5].