How to Create Vector Art Using Midjourney
I’ve been playing around with Midjourney lately, and I’ve fallen in love with creating vector-style art. It’s so fun and satisfying! Today, I want to share what I’ve learned about making these cool, clean illustrations using AI.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – isn’t vector art supposed to be scalable? Well, yes, traditionally it is. But here’s the thing: we’re not making true vector graphics. Instead, we’re using Midjourney to create images that look like vector art. The output is a PNG file, which isn’t scalable like real vector art, but it has that same crisp, clean style we all love.
In this post, I’ll walk you through my process for creating vector-style art in Midjourney. I’ll break down the prompts I use, share some examples, and give you tips I’ve picked up along the way.
Here’s the section on “Understanding Vector Art Style Illustrations”:
Vector Art Style Illustrations
When I first started creating vector-style art in Midjourney, I had to wrap my head around what makes this style unique. Here’s what I’ve learned:
Vector-style art is all about clean lines, flat colors, and simple shapes. It’s the kind of art you might see in logos, icons, or modern illustrations. The look is crisp and often minimalist, with a focus on bold, eye-catching designs.
Key features of this style include:
- Sharp, defined edges
- Solid, flat colors (no gradients or shading)
- Simple, geometric shapes
- Minimalist details
- Bold, striking compositions
Now, it’s important to note that what we’re creating in Midjourney isn’t true vector art. Real vector graphics are made up of mathematical equations, which allow them to be scaled infinitely without losing quality. What we’re doing is creating raster images (PNGs) that mimic the vector look.
The advantage? We get to use AI to quickly generate illustrations that have that sleek, professional vector style. It’s perfect for when you want that clean, modern look but don’t have the time or skills to create true vector graphics from scratch.
Here’s the section on “Creating a Base Prompt for Midjourney”:
Base Prompt for Vector Art
After lots of trial and error, I’ve come up with a base prompt that consistently gives me great vector-style results in Midjourney. Here it is:
Vector art of [subject], in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background
Let’s break this down:
- “Vector art of [subject]“: This tells Midjourney we want vector-style art and specifies what we’re illustrating.
- “in a flat cartoon style“: This pushes the AI towards a simplified, 2D look without shading or depth.
- “with bold lines and vibrant colors“: This asks for strong outlines and bright, eye-catching colors.
- “on a plain background“: This keeps the focus on the main subject and maintains that clean vector look.
I’ve found this base prompt to be super versatile. You can swap out the subject for almost anything – objects, people, animals, scenes – and get consistent vector-style results.
For example, if I wanted to create a vector-style illustration of a cat, I’d use:
“Vector art of a playful cat, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background”
This base prompt is just a starting point. Feel free to tweak it based on what you’re looking for. Want pastel colors instead of vibrant ones? Just change that part of the prompt. The key is to keep the overall structure that signals to Midjourney that you want that clean, vector-inspired look.
Example Prompts for Vector Art Illustrations
Happy Schoolboy
Vector art of a happy schoolboy with a backpack, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
This prompt creates a cheerful, cartoon-style illustration of a student. The backpack adds context, while the flat style and vibrant colors give it a playful, vector-art feel.
Beach Scene
Vector art of a beach with palm trees, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
Here, we get a simplified beach scene. The palm trees provide a tropical touch, while the flat style keeps the image clean and iconic.
Red Sports Car
Vector art of a red sports car, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
This prompt generates a stylized sports car image. The bold lines emphasize the car’s sleek shape, while vibrant colors make it pop against the plain background.
Panda Eating Bamboo
Vector art of a cute panda eating bamboo, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
The result is an adorable panda illustration. The bamboo adds a nice detail without cluttering the clean, vector-inspired style.
Cozy Cottage
Vector art of a cozy cottage, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
This prompt creates a charming house illustration. The flat style simplifies the cottage’s features, resulting in a clean, poster-like image.
Majestic Lion
Vector art of a majestic lion, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
This prompt creates a striking lion illustration. The flat style and bold lines capture the lion’s regal appearance while maintaining a simple, iconic look.
Cheerful Chef
Vector art of a cheerful chef holding a spatula, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
The result is a friendly, cartoon-style chef. The spatula adds a profession-specific detail without overcomplicating the clean vector style.
Serene Lake
Vector art of a serene lake with lily pads, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
This prompt generates a peaceful lake scene. The lily pads add interest to the water surface while keeping the overall design simple and bold.
Superhero Girl
Vector art of a superhero girl with a cape, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
The outcome is a dynamic superhero illustration. The cape adds movement to the image while maintaining the flat, vector-inspired look.
Vintage Bicycle
Vector art of a vintage bicycle, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
This prompt creates a stylized bicycle illustration. The vintage style comes through in the bike’s shape, while the flat colors and bold lines give it a modern, vector art feel.
Classic Alarm Clock
Vector art of a classic alarm clock, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
This prompt results in a retro-style alarm clock illustration. The bold lines highlight the clock’s distinctive features, while the flat colors give it a fun, pop-art vibe.
Skateboarder in Action
Vector art of a skateboarder performing a trick, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
The outcome is a dynamic skateboarding scene. Despite the flat style, the image conveys motion and excitement through the skateboarder’s pose.
Forest with Stream
Vector art of a forest with a stream, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
This prompt creates a simplified nature scene. The combination of trees and water offers visual interest while maintaining the clean, vector-inspired look.
Colorful Fruit Salad
Vector art of a bowl of colorful fruit salad, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background –ar 3:4
The result is a vibrant still life illustration. The various fruits provide a mix of shapes and colors, showcasing how the vector style can handle multiple elements.
Yellow School Bus
Vector art of a yellow school bus, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
This prompt generates an iconic school bus image. The bold yellow color and distinctive shape of the bus are perfectly suited to this flat, vector-inspired style.
Quaint Coffee Shop
Vector art of a quaint coffee shop, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
This prompt creates a charming cafe scene. The flat style simplifies the building’s details, resulting in a cozy, inviting illustration that could work well for a logo or signage.
Birthday Cake
Vector art of a birthday cake with candles, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
The outcome is a festive cake illustration. The candles and decorations add celebratory flair while maintaining the clean, vector-inspired look.
Soccer Player
Vector art of a soccer player kicking a ball, in a flat cartoon style, with bold lines and vibrant colors, on a plain background. –ar 3:4
This prompt generates a dynamic sports illustration. The player’s pose conveys action, while the flat style keeps the image bold and easily readable.
These examples show how versatile the base prompt can be. From people and animals to objects and scenes, this approach works for a wide range of subjects. The key is maintaining the flat style, bold lines, and vibrant colors that characterize vector-inspired art.
Remember, you can adjust the aspect ratio (the “–ar 3:4” part) to suit your needs. For example, you might use –ar 1:1 for a square image or –ar 16:9 for a wider, landscape-style illustration.
Creating vector-style art with Midjourney has become one of my favorite ways to make eye-catching illustrations. It’s quick, fun, and the results can be pretty impressive.
The key is in the prompt. By using our base structure and tweaking it to fit your needs, you can create a wide range of vector-inspired images. From cute animals to sleek logos, the possibilities are vast.
I hope this guide helps you in your AI art journey. Whether you’re a designer looking for quick mockups, a content creator in need of unique graphics, or just someone who loves this style, Midjourney’s vector art capabilities are a great tool to have in your creative arsenal.
So go ahead, give it a try. Start with our base prompt, mix in your own ideas, and see what amazing vector-style art you can create.
