Writing Effective AI Image Prompts

The anatomy of a good prompt

A well-structured prompt helps the AI understand exactly what you want. Think of it as giving instructions to a photographer or illustrator — the more specific you are, the closer the result matches your vision.

A reliable prompt covers four layers:

Subject — what is in the image
Style — how it should look (photo, painting, 3D render, etc.)
Lighting & atmosphere — mood, time of day, weather
Composition — camera angle, framing, depth of field

Example: before and after

Vague:

a coffee mug

Specific:

A matte black ceramic coffee mug on a weathered oak table, steam rising, soft window light from the left, shallow depth of field, 50mm lens, photorealistic, warm color grade

The second prompt gives the model enough detail to produce a polished, intentional image.

Quick reference: style keywords

Category	Keywords
Photorealistic	photorealistic, 8K, sharp focus, professional photography
Illustration	flat illustration, vector art, minimalist, line art
3D render	octane render, cinema 4D, volumetric lighting, subsurface scattering
Painting	oil painting, watercolor, impasto, brush strokes
Editorial	magazine cover, editorial photography, studio lighting

Quick reference: lighting keywords

Mood	Keywords
Bright & airy	soft daylight, overexposed, white background, airy
Dramatic	chiaroscuro, rim lighting, low key, moody shadows
Golden hour	golden hour, warm sunlight, lens flare, sunset glow
Studio	softbox, three-point lighting, seamless backdrop

Using reference images

On the Generate page you can upload a reference image alongside your text prompt. The model will use the reference as a style or composition guide. This is especially useful for:

Keeping a consistent brand style across multiple images
Replicating a specific color palette
Editing an existing image while preserving its layout

Common mistakes to avoid

Too many conflicting styles. Pick one primary style. Mixing "watercolor" and "photorealistic" confuses the model.
Forgetting aspect ratio. Use the size selector to match your target platform (16:9 for banners, 1:1 for social, 9:16 for stories).
Overloading with detail. If the prompt is a paragraph of comma-separated keywords, the model may cherry-pick randomly. Prioritize the 3-4 most important elements.

Explore ready-made prompts

Browse the Prompt Library for hundreds of curated, copy-ready prompts organized by category. Each prompt has been tested and includes the recommended model and settings.