How to Write Better AI Image Prompts: 10 Tips

Why Prompts Matter

The difference between a mediocre AI image and a stunning one often comes down to one thing: the prompt. A well-crafted prompt acts as precise instructions for the AI, guiding it to produce exactly what you envision.

Whether you're using Nano Banana 2, Flux 2 Pro, or any other model, these 10 tips will dramatically improve your results.

Tip 1: Be Specific About Your Subject

Vague prompts produce vague results. Instead of describing what you want in general terms, paint a clear picture.

Before: "a cat"

After: "a fluffy orange tabby cat curled up on a vintage leather armchair, soft afternoon sunlight streaming through a window"

The more details you provide about the subject, the closer the output will match your vision.

Tip 2: Define the Art Style

AI models can produce a wide range of styles, but you need to tell them which one you want.

Popular style keywords:

Photorealistic — looks like a real photograph
Digital art — clean, modern illustration style
Oil painting — textured, classical look
Watercolor — soft, flowing aesthetic
Anime/Manga — Japanese animation style
3D render — CGI-quality output
Pixel art — retro game aesthetic (try our Pixel Art Generator)

Tip 3: Specify Lighting and Mood

Lighting transforms everything. Include lighting details to set the mood of your image.

Lighting keywords:

Golden hour, sunset lighting
Studio lighting, soft box
Dramatic side lighting, chiaroscuro
Neon glow, cyberpunk lighting
Overcast, diffused natural light
Backlit, silhouette

Example: "portrait of a woman, dramatic Rembrandt lighting, warm tones, moody atmosphere"

Tip 4: Include Camera and Composition Details

Think like a photographer. Camera terms help the AI understand framing and perspective.

Useful terms:

Close-up / macro — tight framing on details
Wide angle — expansive view
Bird's eye view — looking down from above
Low angle — looking up, makes subjects imposing
Bokeh background — blurred background, sharp subject
Rule of thirds — balanced composition

Tip 5: Use Negative Prompting

Many models support negative prompts — telling the AI what you don't want. This is surprisingly effective.

Common negative prompts:

"no text, no watermark" — for clean images
"no blurry, no distorted" — for sharp results
"no extra fingers, no deformed hands" — for accurate anatomy

Tip 6: Leverage Reference Images

Text-to-image is powerful, but image-to-image gives you even more control. Upload a reference image to guide composition, color palette, or style, then refine with your prompt.

This is especially useful for:

Maintaining consistency across multiple images
Applying a specific style to your existing content
Iterating on a concept with small adjustments

Try Image-to-Image Mode

Upload a reference image and let AI transform it based on your prompt.

Open Image Generator

Tip 7: Master Text in Images

Generating accurate text within AI images used to be nearly impossible. With models like Nano Banana 2, text rendering has become remarkably reliable.

Tips for text generation:

Put the text in quotation marks: a poster with the text "HELLO WORLD"
Keep text short — single words or short phrases work best
Specify the font style: "bold sans-serif", "elegant script", "handwritten"
Mention placement: "centered text at the top"

Tip 8: Control Color Palettes

Don't leave colors to chance. Specify the palette you want.

Examples:

"pastel color palette, soft pinks and blues"
"monochrome, black and white with high contrast"
"earth tones, warm browns and greens"
"vibrant neon colors on dark background"
"muted desaturated tones, vintage feel"

Tip 9: Build Prompts in Layers

Structure your prompt in logical layers for best results:

Subject — what's in the image
Action/Pose — what the subject is doing
Setting/Background — where it takes place
Style — art style and medium
Lighting — mood and atmosphere
Technical — camera, quality, aspect ratio

Template: "[Subject] [action] in [setting], [style], [lighting], [technical details]"

Example: "a samurai warrior standing on a cliff overlooking a misty valley, digital art, golden hour lighting, cinematic composition, 4K detailed"