Add composition cues: shot type, angle, distance, framing (rule of thirds/top-down).
Define lighting, mood, style/medium, and color palette to set the vibe.
Finish with output details: aspect ratio/resolution and a short negative list (no text, no watermark, accurate anatomy).
Why Strong Prompts Matter
Clear, specific prompts turn vague ideas into publish-ready visuals. They save credits, reduce retries, and help any text-to-image model (Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, DALL·E-style tools) understand your intent.
The One-Line Prompt Formula
[Subject] + [Action] + [Setting] + [Composition] + [Lighting] + [Mood] + [Style/Medium] + [Color Palette] + [Camera/Lens] + [Aspect Ratio] + [Quality] + [Negative Prompts]
Example: Scarlet macaw mid-flight over jungle canopy, wide establishing shot, sunrise rim light, awe-inspiring mood, cinematic photo realism, vibrant greens and reds, 35mm feel, 16:9, ultra-detailed, no text, no watermark.
Step-by-Step Prompting (Beginners to Pro)
1) Subject & Action
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Use concrete nouns and a single clear verb.
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Add identity cues when needed (age, culture, clothing).
Upgrade: “woman” → “Pakistani entrepreneur, 30s, smart-casual blazer, presenting slides.”
2) Setting
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Place the scene in space and time (location, weather, era).
Upgrade: “office” → “sunlit coworking space, plants, glass walls, afternoon glow.”
3) Composition
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Choose framing: close-up, medium, wide, top-down, isometric.
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Add angle: eye-level, low angle (heroic), high angle (vulnerable), over-the-shoulder.
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Mention layout: rule of thirds, centered, leading lines.
4) Lighting
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Natural: golden hour, overcast softbox sky, window light.
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Artificial: softbox, rim light, neon, studio high-key.
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Atmospherics: fog, rain bokeh, god rays, dust motes.
5) Mood & Color
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Emotion words: calm, tense, whimsical, solemn, hopeful.
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Palettes: teal-orange cinematic, muted pastels, monochrome, warm amber.
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Texture: subtle film grain, matte finish, glossy enamel.
6) Style or Medium
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Photography (editorial, documentary, fashion), illustration (flat vector, watercolor), CGI (Octane render, low-poly), design (minimalist poster).
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For realism: “editorial photo realism, natural skin tones, accurate anatomy.”
7) Camera & Lens (for photo looks)
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Focal vibe: 24mm wide (environment), 35–50mm natural, 85mm portrait compression, macro for detail.
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Extras: long exposure light trails, shallow depth of field.
8) Aspect Ratio & Output
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Website hero: 16:9
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Instagram portrait: 4:5
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Square thumbnail: 1:1
Add “high resolution, crisp edges, clean background.”
9) Negative Prompts
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Minimal but targeted: no text, no watermark, no logo, no extra fingers, no low-res, no distortion.
Copy-Paste Prompt Templates
Cinematic Editorial Photo
A student at a late-night desk with notes and laptop, finger hovering over Enter, over-the-shoulder medium shot, warm desk lamp vs cool monitor rim light, reflective glasses, rain on window bokeh, introspective mood, editorial photo realism, subtle film grain, 50mm lens feel, 16:9, high resolution, no text, no watermark.
Flat Vector Explainer
Split-screen comparison “Coach vs Ghostwriter”, clean geometric shapes, bold outlines, minimal palette of deep green/orange/beige, ample negative space for labels, centered icons, 16:9, SVG-style crisp edges, no gradients, no texture, no photos.
Product Flat-Lay
Ceramic mug, notebook, pen on matte wooden desk, top-down 90° flat-lay, soft north-facing daylight, Scandinavian minimalism, warm neutrals, 4:5, no brand logos, no text.
Watercolor Scene
Old city street in gentle rain, umbrellas, reflections on cobblestone, loose watercolor wash, muted blues and warm lantern glow, peaceful mood, 3:2, no harsh outlines, no digital artifacts.
3D Low-Poly Isometric
Cozy study room with desk, laptop, books, plant, soft lamp, low-poly isometric style, pastel palette, clean grid layout, 1:1, no photoreal textures, no noise.
Authentic Portrait
Head-and-shoulders portrait, Pakistani entrepreneur in smart-casual blazer, soft window light, shallow depth of field, confident approachable mood, editorial realism, accurate anatomy, natural skin texture, 85mm portrait feel, 4:5, no heavy retouching, no plastic skin.
“Convert the Given Image Into…” (Editing)
Convert the given image into a dramatic moment of choice: keep subject and desk, add warm desk lamp vs cool monitor contrast, rain-streaked window bokeh, increase shallow depth of field, cinematic color grade, 16:9, no added text, no watermark.
Minimal Infographic
Two-column infographic: ethical vs unethical AI use, simple icons (shield, check, warning triangle), high contrast, flat vector style, lots of white space, 1920×1080, short labels only, no paragraphs, no logo.
Genre-Specific Tips
People & Portraits
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Specify ethnicity, age range, attire.
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Add “natural skin texture, realistic hands, accurate anatomy.”
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Keep lighting simple (window light, softbox).
Landscapes & Architecture
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Anchor with place + time + weather.
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Add a focal element (red door, lone tree).
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Choose wide or aerial composition for clarity.
Thumbnails & Banners
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Reserve negative space for titles.
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High contrast subject silhouette.
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Bold color palette; clean backdrop.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Vague subjects (“a beautiful scene”) → add nouns, verbs, place, time.
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Style overload (too many art movements) → pick 1–2 strong cues.
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No composition call → add close-up/medium/wide + angle.
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Missing format → always set aspect ratio.
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Skipping negatives → at least “no text, no watermark.”
Fast Workflow for Consistent Results
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Draft a 1–2 sentence prompt using the formula.
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Generate 4 images; shortlist 1–2.
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Refine with 2–3 modifiers (lighting, palette, composition).
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Upscale and clean artifacts.
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For photo edits, keep strength low to preserve layout.
Troubleshooting Cheatsheet
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Weird faces/hands: add accurate anatomy, realistic hands, natural skin texture; simplify lighting.
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Busy backgrounds: add clean background, shallow depth of field or specify backdrop color.
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Off-brand colors: state palette explicitly; reference a mood (muted pastels, warm amber).
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Unwanted text: include no text, no watermark, no labels.
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Too generic: add a narrative action (reading a rubric, pouring coffee, tying apron).
SEO-Ready Keyword Variations
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AI image prompts
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text-to-image prompt guide
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how to write prompts for AI images
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online prompt templates for Midjourney/Stable Diffusion/DALL·E
Conclusion
Strong prompts are precise, visual, and minimal. Lead with a clear subject and action, anchor setting and composition, define lighting, mood, style, lock aspect ratio, and finish with a short negative list. Use the templates above, iterate quickly, and you’ll generate consistent, high-quality images from text—online, with fewer retries.
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