Your Guide to Writing Powerful AI Image Prompts

Have you started using AI to create images but find it hard to get exactly what you imagine? Maybe the AI sometimes seems to ignore what you tell it. Getting good results from AI image generators depends on how you write your prompts. Let's look at how to build better prompts that get the AI's attention.

Starting Your Prompt: The Subject

Begin with the main thing you want to see. This is your core subject. Is it a cat? Is it a website? Is it a person? Be clear about what is most important in your image.

Try to be specific. Is the subject a wide landscape, or is it a volcano *in* a landscape? Is it simply a woman, or is it a high fashion model? The words you pick guide the AI. If you're not sure where to start, just write down simple ideas that come to mind. One well-chosen word can make a big difference.

Adding Description to Your Subject

After naming your subject, add descriptive words. Focus on words that create a strong visual picture. Think of three to ten words that really describe how your subject should look.

Describing People

If your subject is a person, don't just say "a person." Describe the kind of person. Include details like their gender, age, and physical look. You could also add notes about their personality or job. You don't need a lot of words, just the right ones.

Here are some types of words you can use when describing people:

• Physical features (hair color, eye color, build)

• Clothing or style

• Expression or mood

• Job or role

• Historical period or setting details

Setting the Scene: Context and Atmosphere

What is happening around your subject? Describe the background and the overall feeling or mood of the image. What is your subject doing? What is the weather like? All these details build the image's atmosphere.

Use words that appeal to the senses. Think about light, colors, and textures. These words give the AI more information about the environment.

Think about the lighting. Some common lighting terms include:

• Cinematic light

• Studio light

• Chiaroscuro (strong contrasts between light and dark)

• Silhouette

Colors are important too. Use descriptive color words to get the mood you want. Pink feels very different from deep red. Just describe colors like you would to a friend.

AI models also recognize many textures. Think about words like rough, smooth, soft, hard, shiny, matte, etc.

Your description helps set the overall feeling. Do you want a image that feels romantic, elegant, or maybe mysterious? Tell the AI what kind of feeling you are after.

Adding Style to Your Image

Decide what the image should look like as a finished piece. Should it look like a drawing, a painting, or a photograph?

Using Artist Names

If you want a certain look but don't know art terms, using an artist's name can be a shortcut. Mentioning an artist tells the AI a lot about the style you want. If you use two artist names, it's like saying you want a mix of both their styles.

Putting It Together: The Basic Prompt Recipe

So, a simple recipe for an image prompt includes:

• Identify your subject.

• Add descriptive words about the subject.

• Describe the background or the image's atmosphere.

• Add a few words about the style you want.

You can add more details if you like. There is no limit to what you can include, but focus on words that create visuals.

Writing effective prompts can sometimes feel like trial and error, especially as you refine your ideas. Streamline your creative process by automating steps. Learn more about enhancing your creative workflow with TitanXT Midjourney Automator. It can handle repetitive tasks, letting you focus on the unique visual ideas.

Does Word Order Matter?

Yes, the order of words can matter, but maybe less than you might think. Randomly mixing words might give strange results sometimes, but often, slight changes in order don't make a huge difference, especially with models like Midjourney.

AI is built to understand language like we speak it. So, try writing your prompt as if you were describing the image to a friend.

Finding the Right Prompt Length

Just like talking to a friend, the length of your prompt matters. If it's too short, you don't give the AI enough to work with. If it's too long, some of your words might get less attention or even be ignored.

If your image isn't turning out how you want, try changing the prompt length. Add more detail if it's too vague, or remove words that don't directly describe a visual if it's too long.

Giving Weight to Parts of Your Prompt

Some AI generators let you tell the AI which words or sections are more important. In Midjourney, you can separate parts of your prompt with a double colon (::). By default, each part has a weight of one. You can give a part more importance by adding a higher number, like `subject::2`. This helps if the AI isn't picking up on a key detail.

Other tools might use parentheses around words or sections to give them more weight. The more parentheses, the more emphasis, though sometimes it doesn't seem to make a big difference.

Managing many prompts and testing different weights or keywords can be time-consuming. Speed up your workflow and keep track of your results. Discover how TitanXT Midjourney Automator can simplify managing your AI creations, helping you experiment more freely.

Refining Your Artistic Vision

Creating with AI is often a step-by-step process. You might start with a general idea but refine it as you see the results. Don't expect the perfect image on the first try. Start with a few ideas in your prompt and adjust based on what the AI gives you.

Getting better at prompting takes practice. By focusing on clear subjects, rich descriptions, setting the right scene, and adding style, you give the AI the direction it needs to create amazing images.

Ready to take your AI image creation to the next level? Stop doing repetitive tasks manually and spend more time on creative exploration. Learn how TitanXT Midjourney Automator can help you automate and improve your workflow.