Crafting Crisp AI Images: Simple Prompting Strategies That Work

Getting great images from AI tools like Midjourney or Leonardo AI starts with writing good prompts. Sometimes you get amazing results right away. Other times, the image isn't quite what you pictured, or it has weird flaws like strange hands or body parts.

This post covers simple ways to write better prompts. We'll look at different approaches, from basic descriptions to using AI tools to help you write more detailed instructions. The goal is to get closer to the exact image you want.

Start with a Simple Idea

You can begin with something basic, like "a woman riding a bike." AI has gotten much better, and sometimes this gives you a usable image.

But often, simple prompts leave too much up to the AI. You might get unexpected styles, settings, or odd details that need fixing.

Using AI to Add Detail

One way to improve is to ask an AI helper, like ChatGPT, to expand on your idea. You can give it a basic concept and ask it to describe the scene with lots of detail. You can even ask it to keep the description short, like under 50 words.

Pasting this longer description into your image generator usually produces a more specific image than the simple prompt alone. However, this output can sometimes still be quite general or include things you didn't expect.

Trying Built-In Prompt Tools

Some AI image tools have their own prompt generators. For instance, Leonardo AI has an ideation tool where you type a simple prompt, and it suggests several longer, more detailed versions. The idea is that more detail helps the AI understand what you want.

While these tools offer different angles for your prompt, results can vary. As seen in experiments, some suggested prompts might lead to images with significant errors or unexpected scenarios, proving that even detailed prompts from these tools aren't always perfect.

Experimenting with Prompt Training Tools

Other external tools exist that let you 'train' the prompt generator by feeding it examples of prompts that worked well for you. You select styles and themes you like, add your successful prompts, and then ask the tool to generate a new prompt based on your input.

This approach aims to learn your preferences and style. However, testing shows these prompts can also produce inconsistent results, sometimes leading to images with structural issues or unexpected elements, similar to other methods.

Getting consistent, high-quality AI images can often involve trial and error. If you find yourself spending a lot of time writing and refining prompts, consider exploring automation. Tools like the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT can help streamline your workflow and potentially improve your results by handling parts of the process for you.

The Most Effective Prompting Method

Based on the video, the most promising method involves using a custom AI setup (like a specific command in a tool like Harper which uses ChatGPT) that is pre-loaded with information about the capabilities and language of the specific AI image model you are using (like Leonardo AI's preferred terms for lighting, lenses, styles, etc.).

Here’s how it works:

• You set up your AI assistant (like ChatGPT) with detailed instructions about the target image generator and its known parameters (like volumetric lighting, raw image look, 8K UHD, bokeh effects, specific camera lenses).

• You give this informed AI a simple concept, like "a woman riding a bike."

• The AI uses its instructions about the image generator to craft a much more detailed and specific prompt, often providing both a photorealistic version and an artistic version.

Testing shows this method delivers significantly better results. The images generated from these prompts are often closer to what was intended, with beautiful lighting, appropriate settings (like a park instead of a road), and fewer errors compared to other methods.

This approach leverages the knowledge base of the image generator itself, leading to more predictable and higher-quality outputs.

Repetitive tasks like generating variations or upscaling can slow down your creative process. Automating these steps can free up your time for more creative exploration. The Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT offers features designed to make your Midjourney workflow more efficient.

A Note on Negative Prompting

Negative prompting is a technique where you tell the AI things you do NOT want to appear in the image (e.g., "no blurry faces," "no extra limbs"). Some AI setups that provide detailed prompts will also suggest negative prompts.

While negative prompting can be useful for fixing specific issues, personal testing in the video showed mixed results. Sometimes even with negative prompts, the AI still produced flawed images. Using models designed for high realism (like Leonardo AI's PhotoReal) or focusing on the informed AI prompting method described above seemed to yield better results overall without needing extensive negative prompts.

Putting It All Together

Getting stunning, realistic AI images depends heavily on how you communicate your vision through prompts. While starting simple, using AI to add detail, or trying built-in tools can help, the most effective strategy seems to be using an AI assistant that understands the specific language and capabilities of your image generation tool.

By providing this detailed context to your AI prompt writer, you guide it to create prompts that resonate better with the image generator, leading to more accurate and beautiful pictures.

Keep experimenting with these methods to find what works best for your creative projects.

Ready to take your AI image creation to the next level? Learn how the Midjourney Automation Suite from TitanXT can automate aspects of your workflow, helping you generate more images efficiently and focus on your creative vision.