Great AI art starts with a great prompt. Whether you're new to AI image generation or looking to improve your results, understanding how to write effective prompts is the single most impactful skill you can develop.
What Makes a Good AI Prompt?
A well-crafted prompt combines subject, style, lighting, and mood into a clear description. The more specific you are, the better your results will be.
The Basic Formula
Start with this structure: [Subject] + [Style] + [Lighting] + [Mood/Atmosphere] + [Technical Details]
For example: "A lone astronaut standing on a crystal planet, digital art style, volumetric lighting, ethereal and mysterious atmosphere, 8K resolution"
5 Prompt Engineering Techniques
1. Be Specific About Your Subject
Instead of "a cat," try "a fluffy orange tabby cat sitting on a windowsill, looking outside at falling snow." The additional details give the AI model much more to work with.
2. Reference Art Styles
Mentioning specific art styles helps guide the output. Try terms like "watercolor painting," "cyberpunk aesthetic," "Studio Ghibli style," or "photorealistic." Each model responds slightly differently to style keywords.
3. Describe Lighting and Atmosphere
Lighting transforms an image. Use terms like "golden hour," "neon-lit," "soft diffused light," or "dramatic chiaroscuro" to set the mood.
4. Use Negative Prompts Wisely
Some models support negative prompts — things you don't want in your image. This is useful for avoiding common artifacts like extra fingers, blurry faces, or unwanted text.
5. Iterate and Refine
Your first prompt rarely produces the perfect image. Generate a few variations, then refine your prompt based on what you see. Small changes — swapping "painting" for "illustration" — can dramatically alter results.
Model-Specific Tips
Seedream 4.5
Seedream excels at photorealistic images and detailed scenes. Use specific camera terms like "shot on Canon EOS R5, 85mm lens, f/1.4" for stunning photo-quality results.
Google Nano Banana
Nano Banana is fast and creative. It works well with artistic and abstract prompts. Don't be afraid to experiment with unusual combinations.
Seedance 1.5 (Video)
For video generation, focus on describing motion and camera movement. Use phrases like "slow pan across," "camera dolly forward," or "time-lapse of clouds moving" to guide the video output.
Ready to Try?
The best way to learn prompt engineering is by doing. Head to the creation studio and start experimenting with these techniques. Every Imagiluxion user gets free daily credits to practice.