Introduction to Image Prompts

Image prompts are textual descriptions used to guide AI image generators for creating visual content. A well-crafted prompt can significantly improve the quality, relevance, and creativity of the generated image. The key is to be descriptive, specific, and structured while leveraging the AI's understanding of language. Poor prompts often lead to vague or unintended results, so mastering prompt engineering is essential for consistent outcomes.

Example prompts

• Be Specific and Detailed: 

 

• "Ancient enchanted forest with towering oak trees covered in moss, a gentle stream winding through, fireflies glowing in the twilight, mystical fog rolling in, in the style of Studio Ghibli animation, highly detailed, vibrant greens and blues, 16:9 aspect ratio --no humans, no modern elements"
  
  

  Why It Works: Adds details for composition (stream, fireflies), mood (mystical), style reference, colors, and technical parameters. Negative prompt avoids unwanted additions.

• "Sleek interstellar spaceship blasting through a nebula, engines glowing blue, stars and colorful gas clouds in space, dynamic motion blur, in the cyberpunk style of Syd Mead, ultra-high resolution, dramatic volumetric lighting --v 5 --no debris, no planets"
  
  

  Why It Works: Specifies ethnicity for inclusivity, clothing, environment, lighting, artist influence, and weights emphasis on eyes. Aspect ratio and negatives ensure quality.

•  "Portrait of a young Asian woman with long flowing hair, wearing traditional hanbok, serene expression, cherry blossoms in the background, soft natural lighting, photorealistic style inspired by Alphonse Mucha, intricate details on fabric, close-up shot (eyes:1.3) --ar 1:1 --no distortions, no blurry face"
  
  

  Why It Works: Specifies ethnicity for inclusivity, clothing, environment, lighting, artist influence, and weights emphasis on eyes. Aspect ratio and negatives ensure quality.

• "Abstract swirling vortex of crimson red, gold, and indigo blues, evoking chaos and energy, fractal patterns emerging, digital art in the style of Jackson Pollock meets Mandelbrot sets, high contrast, 4K resolution --stylize 750 --no figures, no text"

  Why It Works: Uses descriptive language for mood and patterns, blends artist/math references, adds contrast and resolution. Parameters like --stylize enhance artistic flair in tools like Midjourney.

• "Medieval knight in ornate silver armor riding a white stallion through a misty castle courtyard, sword raised triumphantly, dramatic sunrise casting golden rays, epic fantasy illustration by Frank Frazetta, detailed textures on metal and fur, wide-angle view --q 2 --no anachronisms, no cartoonish elements"

  Why It Works: Includes action, environment, lighting, artist style, textures, and composition. Quality flag (--q) and negatives maintain historical accuracy.

• "Steaming cup of black coffee on a wooden table beside fresh croissants, morning sunlight filtering through a window, cozy cafe vibe, hyper-realistic photography style, sharp focus on steam and textures, bokeh background --ar 4:3 --no logos, no people"

  Why It Works: Details props, lighting, mood, style (photography), focus techniques, and aspect ratio. Negatives prevent branding or distractions.

 

These examples demonstrate how layering elements (subject + details + style + tech) leads to better results.

 

 

 

 

• Start with the Most Important Elements: 

• Use Descriptive Language: Incorporate adjectives, adverbs, and action verbs for vividness (e.g., "a warrior fiercely battling a dragon" instead of "warrior and dragon").shopify.com
• Specify Styles, Artists, and Mediums: Reference real artists or art movements (e.g., "in the style of Picasso's cubism" or "oil painting on canvas"). Keep a list of styles like "photorealistic," "cartoon," "surreal," or "steampunk" for quick reference.appypiedesign.ai
• Include Lighting, Composition, and Mood: Details like "golden hour lighting," "close-up shot," or "serene atmosphere" enhance realism and emotion.zapier.com
• Add Technical Parameters: Use tool-specific flags, such as "--ar 16:9" for aspect ratio in Midjourney or "high resolution" for quality.shopify.com
• Incorporate Inclusivity: For diverse representations, specify attributes like age, ethnicity, or abilities (e.g., "a group of friends from various ethnic backgrounds hiking"). Tools exist to generate inclusive prompts automatically.linkedin.com
• Use English for Best Results: Most AI models perform optimally in English, even if multilingual support exists.re-thought.com
• Focus on Keywords Over Connecting Words: Prioritize nouns, adjectives, and verbs; avoid filler like "the" or "a" if using tag-style prompts (e.g., "fluffy cat, windowsill, sunlight").appypiedesign.ai
• Tricks and Advanced Techniques
• Negative Prompts: Specify what to avoid (e.g., "no blurry edges, no text" in Stable Diffusion) to refine outputs and eliminate unwanted elements.shopify.com
• Multi-Prompt Blending: In Midjourney, use "::" to separate prompts for hybrid results (e.g., "a cat::2 in space::1" weights the cat higher).plus.sydney.edu.au
• Tag vs. Natural Language Prompting: For consistency in tools like Stable Diffusion, use comma-separated tags (e.g., "cyberpunk, neon, rain, detailed"). Natural language works for broader ideas but can be chaotic.reddit.com
• Leverage AI to Generate Prompts: Use tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm or expand ideas (e.g., input "expand this prompt: a forest scene" for detailed versions).medium.com
• Handle Text in Images: Keep any required text short and bold for legibility (e.g., "sign saying 'Welcome' in sans-serif font").foundationinc.co
• Experiment with Weights and Categories: In some tools, add weights like "(detailed eyes:1.2)" to emphasize features. Categorize keywords: subject, style, lighting, quality.fotor.com
• Study Example Prompts: Explore community-shared lists for inspiration, such as those for Stable Diffusion, to see what works.reddit.com
• Iterate with Variations: Generate multiple images from one prompt and upscale favorites. Tools like Midjourney have remix features for tweaks.

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