Image Generation
Prompt formulas for Midjourney, DALL-E, and friends.
People & Products
Photorealistic Portrait Formula
Copy, fill in the brackets, and generate: “Photorealistic portrait of [SUBJECT, e.g. an elderly fisherman with weathered skin], [SETTING, e.g. on a harbor dock at golden hour], [LIGHTING, e.g. warm side light], shot on 85mm f/1.4 lens, ultra-detailed skin texture, natural colors, shallow depth of field, professional photography, 8k –ar 4:5 –style raw” Tips: “–style raw” reduces Midjourney’s beautification. Avoid the words “perfect” and “flawless” – they trigger plastic-looking skin. Describe age, texture, and imperfections for realism; “natural skin texture” beats “beautiful skin” every time.
Product Mockup Formula
Copy, fill in the brackets, and generate: “Professional product photography of [PRODUCT, e.g. a matte black water bottle], [SCENE, e.g. on a marble counter next to a blurred kitchen background], [LIGHTING, e.g. soft studio lighting with gentle reflections], [ANGLE, e.g. three-quarter view], hyper-detailed, commercial advertising quality, 8k –ar 4:5” For e-commerce: use a plain or subtly textured background so the product pops. Describe materials precisely (“brushed aluminum”, “frosted glass”) – material words matter more than adjectives like “premium”. Generate the scene WITHOUT your label, then composite branding afterward for crisp text.
Food Photography Formula
Copy, fill in the brackets, and generate: “Professional food photography of [DISH, e.g. a steaming bowl of ramen], [SETTING, e.g. on a dark slate table with blurred chopsticks behind], [LIGHTING, e.g. soft window light from the left], steam rising, glossy textures, appetizing close-up, shallow depth of field, commercial food advertising quality, 8k –ar 4:5” Tips: describe textures concretely (“melted cheese pulling”, “crisp golden crust”) instead of saying “delicious”. Add one human touch like “a hand reaching for a slice” for scale. Overhead 4:5 works best for social feeds; use 3:2 for menus.
LinkedIn Headshot Generator
“Professional corporate headshot of [PERSON, e.g. a man in his 40s with short graying hair and glasses], [WARDROBE, e.g. dark suit jacket over a light-blue shirt, no tie], head-and-shoulders, [BACKGROUND, e.g. soft neutral gray studio backdrop], warm confident expression, gentle smile, soft key light with subtle fill, sharp focus on the eyes, high-end corporate photography –ar 1:1 –style raw” Describe the person concretely (age range, hair, ethnicity) instead of “professional-looking” – vague words produce stock-photo cliches. Generate 4-8 variations and pick the one with the most natural eyes and smile. For a full team page, reuse the same backdrop and lighting phrase across every headshot for a consistent set.
Dating App Profile Photo
“Natural candid-style portrait of [PERSON, e.g. a woman in her late 20s with curly red hair], [ACTIVITY, e.g. laughing while holding a takeout coffee], [SETTING, e.g. sunny city sidewalk with soft bokeh storefronts behind], warm golden-hour light, relaxed genuine smile, unposed feel, shot on 50mm lens, lifestyle photography, true-to-life colors –ar 4:5 –style raw” Candid-style shots with a hobby or pet consistently outperform studio portraits. Skip sunglasses, hats, and anything that hides the face. One clear face shot plus one full-body or activity shot covers what most profiles need – generate the face shot and the lifestyle shot as two separate images.
Family Studio Portrait
“Classic family studio portrait of [FAMILY, e.g. parents in their 30s with a 6-year-old daughter and toddler son], [WARDROBE, e.g. coordinated neutral outfits in cream, beige, and denim], posed naturally close together, soft smiles, seamless light-gray studio backdrop, even flattering studio lighting, tack-sharp focus, timeless professional photography –ar 3:2” AI cannot reproduce real family likeness, so use this for a stylized keepsake or holiday card rather than expecting recognizable faces. Keep the headcount and ages in the prompt and check hands carefully – extra fingers are the most common defect in group shots. Generate at 3:2 for prints or 16:9 for a holiday card banner.
Newborn Portrait Session
“Dreamy newborn photography of [BABY, e.g. a sleeping infant wrapped in a cream knit swaddle], [PROP, e.g. nestled in a woven basket on a cream fur rug], soft diffused window light, gentle pastel tones, macro-level skin detail, peaceful serene mood, professional newborn photographer style, ultra sharp –ar 4:5” Keep the scene simple and the palette limited to two or three soft tones – cluttered AI newborn scenes look artificial fast. Always inspect tiny fingers, toes, and ears; regenerate if they warp. These work beautifully as birth announcements when you add the name and date in Canva afterward.
Pet Portrait in Oil Painting Style
“Classical oil painting portrait of [PET, e.g. a golden retriever], [POSE, e.g. seated with head tilted, looking directly at viewer], rich painterly brushstrokes, [BACKGROUND, e.g. dark moody backdrop with a hint of a grand library], dramatic Rembrandt-style lighting, regal dignified mood, museum-quality fine art –ar 4:5” Describe the pet’s exact markings, coat color, and ear shape – “brown dog” gives you a generic dog. The old-master style (dark background, dramatic light) flatters almost any animal and hides AI imperfections in the fur. This is one of the most-gifted AI art formats: generate at 4:5 or 5:7 and print on canvas.
Engagement / Couple Photo
“Romantic engagement photo of [COUPLE, e.g. a couple in their late 20s, woman in a flowing white dress, man in a navy suit], [SETTING, e.g. on a cliffside overlooking the ocean at sunset], [MOMENT, e.g. forehead to forehead, laughing], golden-hour backlight with lens flare, soft dreamy tones, cinematic wedding-photographer style, emotional and joyful –ar 4:5” Emotion words (“laughing”, “forehead to forehead”, “mid-embrace”) matter more than camera specs for romantic shots. Backlit sunset scenes hide facial imperfections better than harsh midday light. Generate a few variations of the same moment and pick the one where both faces look natural – faces are where couples’ photos live or die.
Graduation Portrait
“Celebratory graduation portrait of [GRADUATE, e.g. a young woman with long black hair], wearing [CAP AND GOWN COLORS, e.g. a black cap and gown with a gold tassel and honor cords], [SETTING, e.g. standing in front of classic university stone columns], proud joyful smile, bright flattering daylight, professional graduation photography, crisp and vibrant –ar 4:5” Specify your school’s actual gown and tassel colors for a believable result. A simple campus backdrop reads “graduation” instantly without needing a real location. Watch the cap – AI sometimes renders mortarboards at odd angles; regenerate if it looks tilted or floating. Add your name and year in Canva for announcement cards.
Glamour Studio Portrait
“Elegant fine-art glamour portrait of [SUBJECT, e.g. a woman with long auburn hair], [WARDROBE, e.g. draped in flowing champagne silk], dramatic low-key studio lighting with a soft rim light, dark charcoal backdrop, poised confident expression, high-fashion editorial style, tasteful and artistic, ultra-detailed –ar 4:5” Low-key lighting (dark background, sculpted light) is the most forgiving glamour setup and the easiest for AI to render well. Keep wardrobe descriptions classy and simple – flowing fabrics photograph better than intricate outfits, which AI tends to mangle. One strong pose and one strong light beats a busy scene every time.
Real Estate Virtual Staging
“Virtually staged [ROOM, e.g. empty living room], [STYLE, e.g. modern Scandinavian], [FURNITURE, e.g. light-gray fabric sofa, round oak coffee table, textured area rug, floor lamp], bright airy daylight through large windows, realistic proportions and shadows, architectural photography, MLS-listing quality –ar 16:9” Stage one room per generation and describe furniture placement relative to the room (“sofa facing the fireplace”) to keep proportions believable. Bright, airy, and lightly furnished sells – avoid overstuffing the room. Note: disclose virtually staged photos in your listing per local MLS rules. Generate at 16:9 for listing sites and 4:3 for print flyers.
Interior Design Mockup
“Interior design concept of [ROOM, e.g. a small home office], [STYLE, e.g. warm minimalism with walnut wood and boucle fabric], [KEY PIECES, e.g. walnut desk under the window, cream boucle chair, brass floor lamp, framed abstract art], soft natural daylight, cozy inviting mood, photorealistic architectural render, wide angle –ar 16:9” Use these mockups to test a design direction before spending a dollar – generate the same room in two or three styles and compare. Name specific materials (“boucle”, “walnut”, “brushed brass”) rather than “nice furniture”; material words drive the look. Keep a consistent camera angle across versions so you are comparing design, not composition.
Curb Appeal / Exterior Rendering
“Real estate exterior photo of [HOUSE, e.g. a two-story craftsman home with a covered porch], [DETAILS, e.g. fresh sage-green siding, white trim, manicured lawn with flower beds], [TIME, e.g. golden hour with warm windows glowing], lush landscaping, inviting curb appeal, professional real estate photography –ar 16:9” Golden hour with glowing windows is the classic listing-photo look and flatters any exterior. Describe the actual architectural style and colors of the property for believability. Tidy landscaping details (trimmed hedges, flower beds, clean driveway) add perceived value – include them deliberately rather than hoping the model invents them.
Architectural Visualization
“Photorealistic architectural render of [BUILDING, e.g. a modern three-story townhouse], [MATERIALS, e.g. white stucco, black-framed glass, cedar wood accents], [SETTING, e.g. tree-lined street at dusk], warm interior lights glowing, dramatic sky, ultra-detailed, professional arch-viz quality –ar 16:9” Dusk “blue hour” shots with glowing windows are the money view in architectural visualization. Name real materials and keep the massing description simple – overly complex geometry confuses the model. For client presentations, generate the same building at daytime and dusk; the pair sells the design better than either alone.
Fashion Lookbook Concept
“High-fashion lookbook photo of [MODEL, e.g. a model with short platinum hair], wearing [OUTFIT, e.g. an oversized camel trench coat over a cream turtleneck and wide-leg trousers], [SETTING, e.g. minimalist concrete studio], dramatic editorial lighting, confident pose, Vogue-style fashion photography, moody and sophisticated –ar 4:5” Describe garments piece by piece (fabric, cut, color) – fashion renders live or die on garment detail. A plain studio backdrop keeps all attention on the outfit and avoids busy backgrounds that distort clothing. Build a consistent lookbook by reusing the same model description, backdrop, and lighting phrase across every shot.
Clothing Product on Model
“E-commerce fashion photo of [GARMENT, e.g. a sage-green linen midi dress], worn by [MODEL, e.g. a woman in her 30s with brown hair in a low bun], [POSE, e.g. standing three-quarter view], clean white studio background, soft even lighting, true fabric texture and drape visible, online-store product photography –ar 3:4” Show the garment’s real properties: fabric texture, drape, and fit matter more than the model’s expression. A clean white background and neutral pose keep the focus on what is being sold. Generate front, side, and detail views separately – shoppers want all three, and AI does one clean angle per image better than a collage.
Skincare / Cosmetics Product Shot
“Luxury beauty product photography of [PRODUCT, e.g. a frosted-glass serum bottle with a gold dropper cap], [SCENE, e.g. on a wet slate surface with water droplets, blurred eucalyptus behind], [LIGHTING, e.g. soft diffused light with dewy highlights], fresh clean aesthetic, macro detail, high-end cosmetics advertising –ar 4:5” Water droplets, silk fabric, and botanical sprigs are the classic beauty-shot props – pick one, not all three. Describe packaging materials precisely (“frosted glass”, “matte gold cap”); the model cannot read your label, so plan to composite real branding afterward. Dewy highlights and a shallow depth of field do most of the luxury work.
Jewelry Product Photography
“Macro jewelry photography of [PIECE, e.g. a gold pendant necklace with a teardrop emerald], [DISPLAY, e.g. draped over a cream silk cushion], [LIGHTING, e.g. soft studio light with sparkling gemstone reflections], extreme macro detail, sharp focus on the gemstone, rich bokeh background, luxury catalog quality –ar 1:1” Macro jewelry shots demand extreme detail – add “extreme macro detail” explicitly. Dark or deep-toned backgrounds make gold and gems pop; white backgrounds suit silver and diamonds. AI sometimes invents extra prongs or warped chains, so zoom to 100% on the metalwork and regenerate if the setting looks melted.
Sneaker / Shoe Product Shot
“Dynamic product photography of [SHOE, e.g. white and neon-green running sneakers], [SCENE, e.g. floating mid-air with motion-blurred track background], dramatic side lighting, crisp detail on stitching and sole texture, energetic commercial sportswear advertising –ar 4:5” The floating-shoe-with-motion-blur shot is the sneaker-ad standard – it reads “performance” instantly. Describe the colorway and key design details (stitching, sole pattern, logo placement) precisely. Check laces and soles at full zoom; AI loves to tangle laces and warp tread patterns. A clean studio version plus one dynamic version covers most listings.
Beverage / Bottle Product Shot
“Premium beverage photography of [PRODUCT, e.g. a craft IPA bottle with condensation], [SCENE, e.g. on a dark wooden bar with blurred hops and barley behind], moody backlit lighting with glowing highlights through the glass, condensation droplets, rich amber tones, high-end drinks advertising –ar 4:5” Backlighting through glass is what makes beverage shots glow – name it explicitly. Condensation droplets signal “ice cold” better than any adjective. Keep the label area simple or blank and composite your real label later; AI-generated label text will be gibberish. Dark moody scenes suit craft brands; bright scenes suit seltzers and sodas.
Tech Gadget Launch Render
“Sleek product render of [GADGET, e.g. matte-black wireless earbuds in an open charging case], floating on a [BACKGROUND, e.g. dark gradient studio background with a subtle blue glow], dramatic rim lighting, ultra-detailed surfaces, premium tech-launch aesthetic, 8k –ar 16:9” Tech renders want drama: dark backgrounds, rim light, and a subtle color glow beat flat studio shots. Describe materials (“matte black”, “brushed aluminum”, “glossy accents”) and the exact configuration (open case, screen on). Generate without any screen text or logos, then composite real UI and branding afterward for a launch-ready image.
Car Showcase Photography
“Cinematic automotive photography of [CAR, e.g. a midnight-blue sports coupe], [SETTING, e.g. on an empty coastal highway at blue hour], [ANGLE, e.g. low front three-quarter view], dramatic sky, glowing headlights, wet asphalt reflections, glossy paint detail, high-end car commercial –ar 16:9” Blue hour with headlights on and wet asphalt is the hero car-shot formula – reflections double the drama. Name the exact color and body style; “sports car” alone gives you a generic blob. Low three-quarter angles make any car look powerful. For dealership listings, add a clean daytime studio version too – buyers want to see the actual paint.
Fitness Brand Promo
“High-energy fitness brand photo of [ATHLETE, e.g. an athletic woman with a high ponytail], [ACTION, e.g. mid-kettlebell swing], [SETTING, e.g. industrial-style gym with dramatic overhead lighting], powerful dynamic pose, sweat detail, gritty motivational mood, commercial fitness photography –ar 4:5” Action verbs (“mid-swing”, “exploding off the starting block”) create the energy – static poses look like stock photos. Dramatic overhead or side lighting sculpts muscle definition far better than flat light. Keep the gym background slightly blurred so the athlete stays the hero. One strong action shot beats five stiff poses.
Baby Milestone Photo
“Adorable monthly milestone photo of [BABY, e.g. a smiling 6-month-old in a cream knit romper], [SETUP, e.g. lying on a white fur rug beside a blank round wooden milestone sign], soft natural window light, pastel props, joyful innocent mood, professional baby photography –ar 4:5” Keep the setup minimal – one outfit, one prop, one soft backdrop. Leave any milestone sign blank in the generation and add the real text in Canva; AI lettering on small signs turns to gibberish. Soft window light and pastel tones are the whole aesthetic – do not overcomplicate it.
High School Senior Portrait
“Modern senior portrait of [STUDENT, e.g. a teenage boy with wavy brown hair], [WARDROBE, e.g. dark jeans and a charcoal henley], [SETTING, e.g. leaning against a brick wall in warm late-afternoon light], relaxed confident smile, shallow depth of field, contemporary senior-photography style, vibrant and natural –ar 4:5” Urban textures (brick, murals, stairwells) plus golden-hour light are the modern senior-portrait standard. One casual outfit and one slightly dressier outfit give variety – generate them as separate sessions with the same setting. Avoid the stiff studio backdrop look unless the school specifically requires a traditional yearbook headshot.
Consistent Team Headshot Set
“Corporate headshot of [PERSON, e.g. a woman in her 40s with short blonde hair], wearing business attire, head-and-shoulders, plain light-gray studio backdrop, friendly professional expression, soft even studio lighting, sharp focus on eyes, company team-page photography –ar 1:1 –style raw” The trick to a believable team page is consistency: reuse this exact prompt structure, changing only the person description, wardrobe, and one expression word. Same backdrop, same lighting phrase, same crop – that uniformity is what makes a grid of AI headshots look like one photo shoot. Generate extras and keep the most natural-looking one per person.
Product Lifestyle Shot
“Lifestyle product photo of [PRODUCT, e.g. a sage-green ceramic pour-over coffee set], [SCENE, e.g. on a sunlit oak kitchen table beside a linen napkin and croissant], [PERSON, e.g. hands pouring water in soft focus], warm morning light, cozy aspirational mood, shallow depth of field, premium lifestyle-brand photography –ar 4:5” Lifestyle shots sell the dream around the product, not just the object – stage a believable moment of use. Hands in soft focus add human warmth without risking AI faces. Morning light and natural textures (wood, linen, ceramic) are the universal cozy palette. Pair one lifestyle shot with one clean white-background shot for a complete listing.
Action Figure Portrait
Copy, fill in the brackets, and generate: "Collectible action-figure product photo of [PERSON, e.g. a bearded dad in a flannel shirt and jeans], standing on a round base inside clear toy blister packaging, accessories lined up beside the figure: [3-4 ITEMS, e.g. coffee mug, laptop, hammer], bold toy-aisle colors, header card text reading [NAME OR TITLE], studio lighting, ultra-detailed plastic texture, 1/6 scale figure photography --ar 4:5" Tips: pick 3-4 specific accessories that say who this person is - generic props make a generic toy. If the tool refuses a real person's likeness, describe an archetype instead. "--style raw" keeps faces from looking cartoonish.
Brand & Style
Logo Concept Formula
Copy, fill in the brackets, and generate (Ideogram handles text best): “[COMPANY TYPE, e.g. artisan coffee roaster] logo, [STYLE, e.g. minimalist line-art], [ICON/SYMBOL, e.g. a coffee bean forming a mountain], [COLOR PALETTE, e.g. deep brown and cream], isolated on white background, vector style, clean edges, professional brand identity, no text, no watermark –ar 1:1” Rules: always add “no text” unless you specifically want lettering (AI mangles words). Generate 4+ variations and iterate on the strongest. Keep the brief to ONE clear symbol – logos with two ideas look muddy.
Social Media Graphic Formula
Copy, fill in the brackets, and generate: “[TOPIC, e.g. morning productivity tips] social media graphic, [STYLE, e.g. bold modern flat design], [COLOR SCHEME, e.g. navy and electric blue], large headline area at top, icon illustration below, [MOOD, e.g. energetic and clean], high contrast, readable at thumbnail size, no text, no watermark –ar 4:5” Design for the feed, not the canvas: keep one focal point, leave negative space for your own headline text (add it later in Canva), and check small details at full zoom. Portrait 4:5 gets maximum mobile feed space.
Illustration Style Formula
Copy, fill in the brackets, and generate: “[SUBJECT/SCENE, e.g. a cozy bookstore at night], [ART STYLE, e.g. flat vector illustration / watercolor / anime-inspired], [COLOR MOOD, e.g. warm amber and deep teal palette], rich background details, soft lighting, wide establishing shot, no text, no watermark –ar 16:9” Lock a consistent style by reusing the exact same style phrase across generations. For character consistency, describe the character identically each time (same clothes, colors, features) – or use your tool’s character-reference feature instead of re-rolling the description.
Negative Prompts: What to Avoid
Universal negative prompt – append where your tool supports it (Midjourney: use –no / Stable Diffusion: negative prompt field): “–no blurry, distorted, deformed, disfigured, watermark, text, logo, signature, low quality, oversaturated, extra limbs, extra fingers, mutated hands, bad anatomy, cropped, out of frame” Common mistakes to avoid in the positive prompt: stacking contradictory styles (“photorealistic cartoon”), more than 3 subjects, vague quality words (“nice”, “good”) instead of concrete descriptors, and requesting text without a text-capable model. When an image looks wrong, change ONE element per iteration – never rewrite the whole prompt at once.
YouTube Thumbnail Background
“Bold YouTube thumbnail background for [VIDEO TOPIC, e.g. a video about saving money], [STYLE, e.g. vibrant 3D render], [ELEMENTS, e.g. giant glowing coins and a shocked character silhouette], high-saturation colors, dramatic lighting, strong central focal point, empty space on the left for face and text overlay, readable at tiny sizes –ar 16:9” Design the background AROUND your face and title text – leave deliberate empty space where they will sit. High contrast and one big readable element win at thumbnail size; detail turns to mush. Generate the art with no text at all, then add your title in your editor with a heavy stroke or outline.
Fiction Book Cover
“Book cover art for [GENRE AND FEEL, e.g. a cozy fantasy novel], [SCENE, e.g. a tiny glowing cottage in an enormous ancient forest at twilight], [MOOD, e.g. mysterious and warm], painterly detail, strong silhouette readable at thumbnail size, title space left empty at top, no text, no watermark –ar 2:3” Covers are judged at thumbnail size – one strong silhouette and a limited palette beat intricate detail. Study the top 20 covers in your genre first and match their visual language; cozy fantasy, thriller, and romance each have strict unspoken rules. Generate art-only and typeset the title in Canva or Photoshop – AI typography is not cover-ready.
Children’s Book Illustration
“Whimsical children’s book illustration of [SCENE, e.g. a small fox sharing an umbrella with a hedgehog in the rain], [STYLE, e.g. soft watercolor with crayon texture], gentle pastel palette, expressive friendly characters, cozy storytelling mood, full-bleed page art with space for text at top, no text –ar 4:3” Character consistency across pages is the hard part – write one locked character description (“small rust-red fox with a cream-tipped tail and oversized yellow raincoat”) and paste it verbatim into every prompt. Soft textures and rounded shapes read “children’s book” instantly. Generate each spread separately with the same style phrase to keep the book visually unified.
Fantasy Character Portrait
“Epic fantasy character portrait of [CHARACTER, e.g. an elven ranger woman with silver braids and a scar across her cheek], [GEAR, e.g. weathered leather armor and a carved longbow], [SETTING, e.g. misty pine forest at dawn], dramatic cinematic lighting, painterly detail, heroic determined mood, character-concept-art quality –ar 4:5” Specificity is everything: scars, braid styles, armor materials, and signature gear make a character memorable instead of generic. A simple atmospheric background keeps focus on the character – save the epic landscapes for scene art. Writers and DMs: generate one portrait per major character with a consistent art style for a unified cast.
Sci-Fi Concept Art
“Cinematic sci-fi concept art of [SUBJECT, e.g. a colossal ring-shaped space station above a stormy alien ocean], [DETAILS, e.g. tiny shuttle craft for scale, glowing docking lights], epic sense of scale, dramatic volumetric lighting, rich color grading, ultra-detailed, blockbuster key-art quality –ar 16:9” Scale sells sci-fi: always include a tiny familiar object (a shuttle, a figure, a building) so the colossal subject reads as colossal. Volumetric light rays and atmospheric haze add cinematic depth cheaply. One hero subject per image – two competing mega-structures split the viewer’s attention and weaken the composition.
Blog Infographic Illustration
“Clean modern infographic illustration about [TOPIC, e.g. the steps of composting at home], [STYLE, e.g. flat vector with a fresh green and cream palette], [ELEMENTS, e.g. five numbered circular icons showing each step], generous white space, friendly approachable mood, no text, no watermark –ar 4:5” Generate the artwork with NO text and add all labels yourself afterward – even text-capable models garble small infographic copy. Numbered icon spots or blank banner areas give you natural places to overlay your own text. Flat vector styles scale cleanly and look professional; keep the palette to three or four colors for cohesion.
Presentation Slide Hero Visual
“Minimalist presentation hero visual about [TOPIC, e.g. company growth in 2026], [STYLE, e.g. abstract 3D shapes], [PALETTE, e.g. deep navy and gold], large empty negative space on the left for headline text, subtle depth, premium corporate-deck aesthetic, no text, no watermark –ar 16:9” Slide visuals exist to support your headline, not compete with it – brief the image as a background, with generous negative space where text will sit. Abstract 3D shapes and gradients in your brand colors look expensive and never go off-topic. Avoid literal imagery (“a graph going up”); metaphor and mood age better than clip-art concepts.
Podcast Cover Art
“Podcast cover art for [SHOW, e.g. a true-crime comedy show], [CONCEPT, e.g. a vintage microphone wearing a tiny detective hat, magnifying glass], [STYLE, e.g. bold flat illustration], [PALETTE, e.g. noir black, cream, and red], instantly readable at 55px, strong central icon, no text, no watermark –ar 1:1” Podcast art lives at 55 pixels in a feed – if it is not readable as a tiny square, it fails. One bold central icon and high contrast beat clever detail. Generate art-only and add your show title in your editor with a heavy, legible font; square 1:1 (3000x3000px) is the required spec everywhere.
Album Cover Art
“Album cover art for [GENRE AND MOOD, e.g. a dreamy synth-pop record], [CONCEPT, e.g. a lone figure walking toward a glowing horizon over a chrome desert], surreal and atmospheric, rich color grading, iconic central image, fine-art quality, no text, no band name –ar 1:1” Great album covers are iconic at a glance – one surreal central image, not a collage of ideas. Match the visual language of your genre: metal wants dark and intricate, lo-fi wants hazy and nostalgic, pop wants bold and clean. Generate the art clean and typeset the artist and title afterward; streaming platforms display art tiny, so test yours at 100px.
Phone / Desktop Wallpaper
“Stunning [TYPE, e.g. phone] wallpaper of [SUBJECT, e.g. bioluminescent jellyfish drifting through deep blue water], [STYLE, e.g. ultra-detailed digital art], [MOOD, e.g. calm and mesmerizing], uncluttered composition with calm space at top for clock and widgets, rich colors, no text, no watermark –ar 9:16” Brief the wallpaper around your screen layout – calm, uncluttered space where the clock and widgets sit matters more than edge-to-edge detail. Vertical 9:16 for phones, 16:9 for desktops. Dark, simple wallpapers save OLED battery and keep icons readable; save the maximalist art for the lock screen.
Virtual Meeting Background
“Professional virtual meeting background of [SCENE, e.g. a bright modern home office with bookshelves], [STYLE, e.g. photorealistic], soft natural light, tidy and aspirational but believable, subtle depth with the focal area softly blurred in the center where you will sit, no people, no text –ar 16:9” The center of the frame is where YOU sit, so brief soft blur or calm space in the middle and put the interesting details at the edges. Believable beats luxurious – a tidy bookshelf office reads professional; a marble penthouse reads fake. Slightly desaturated, lower-contrast backgrounds keep your face as the brightest thing on screen.
Event Poster / Flyer Art
“Eye-catching event poster art for [EVENT, e.g. a summer jazz night], [STYLE, e.g. retro art-deco illustration], [PALETTE, e.g. midnight blue and gold], [IMAGERY, e.g. a saxophone silhouette against a crescent moon], dramatic and elegant, large empty area at top for event details, no text, no watermark –ar 4:5” Poster art should carry the vibe while leaving room for the facts – brief generous empty space for the date, venue, and lineup you will add later. Match the art style to the event’s genre; art-deco for jazz, brutalist blocks for techno, watercolor for a farmers market. Print at 300 DPI: generate large and upscale before sending to the printer.
Business Card & Stationery Mockup
“Elegant branding mockup of [ITEMS, e.g. a business card, letterhead, and envelope], [DESIGN, e.g. minimalist layout with a gold-foil geometric logo on cream stock], [SCENE, e.g. arranged on a marble desk with soft shadows], premium stationery photography, shallow depth of field –ar 4:3” Use mockups to preview your identity system before printing a single card – generate the same suite on two or three paper tones and compare. Describe the logo placement and finish (“gold foil”, “embossed”, “letterpress”) concretely; those words drive the premium look. Keep branding elements simple and let AI handle the scene; composite your real logo afterward for accuracy.
Instagram Carousel Series
“Cohesive carousel illustration set about [TOPIC, e.g. five morning habits], [STYLE, e.g. warm flat illustration with a terracotta and cream palette], five square panels, each with one simple icon scene and generous blank space for text overlay, consistent characters and palette across all panels, friendly modern mood, no text –ar 1:1” Carousel consistency is won in the prompt: lock one style phrase and one palette, then generate each panel separately with the same seed words. Leave the text areas genuinely blank – you will add captions in Instagram or Canva for crisp, editable type. Plan the panels in your head (“panel 1: sunrise alarm clock”) and generate them one at a time for full control.
Brand Mascot Design
“Friendly brand mascot of [CONCEPT, e.g. a cheerful robot made of rounded parcels], for [BRAND TYPE, e.g. a delivery startup], [STYLE, e.g. modern flat vector character], [PALETTE, e.g. brand blue and warm orange], expressive simple face, full-body turnaround pose on white background, no text –ar 1:1” A good mascot is simple enough to recognize at favicon size – brief rounded shapes, minimal details, and one signature feature (the parcel body, the lightning-bolt antenna). Generate a turnaround (front, side, back) on one sheet for your designer or animator. Test the mascot at 32px before committing; if it is mush, simplify the brief.
Packaging Design Concept
“Premium packaging concept for [PRODUCT, e.g. small-batch granola], [FORMAT, e.g. a stand-up pouch], [DESIGN, e.g. kraft paper with a bold illustrated mountain sunrise and clean label area], [SCENE, e.g. studio product shot on warm beige background], appetizing and artisanal, no readable text –ar 4:5” Use AI to explore packaging directions fast – generate the same product in three visual styles and A/B the concepts before hiring a designer. Brief the structure (pouch, box, jar) and the label zone separately; keep the label area simple so your real artwork drops in cleanly. “No readable text” avoids gibberish lettering on the mockup.
Restaurant Menu Cover
“Elegant restaurant menu cover for [CUISINE AND FEEL, e.g. a modern Italian trattoria], [DESIGN, e.g. deep-green linen texture with a gold-embossed olive branch emblem], [FORMAT, e.g. tall portrait menu], luxurious tactile feel, refined and appetizing, no readable text –ar 3:4” The cover sets the price expectation before a guest reads a single dish – brief materials that match your positioning (linen and gold foil for fine dining, kraft and stamp ink for casual). Keep the emblem simple and centered; intricate AI ornament turns muddy in print. Generate the art, then have your designer set the real name and typography.
Wedding Invitation Suite
“Romantic wedding invitation suite for [THEME, e.g. a garden wedding], [DESIGN, e.g. blush watercolor florals framing an empty cream center panel], [PIECES, e.g. invitation, RSVP card, and envelope], [SCENE, e.g. styled flat-lay with silk ribbon and dried flowers], soft natural light, elegant and timeless –ar 4:5” Brief the florals and the empty center panel as two separate jobs in one prompt – AI handles “watercolor border, blank middle” better than a finished layout. Match the flower species and palette to your actual wedding for a cohesive suite. Generate the artwork, then have a stationer (or Canva) set your names, date, and details in real typography.
Kids’ Coloring Page
“Printable coloring page of [SUBJECT, e.g. a friendly dinosaur having a picnic], bold clean black outlines on white background, simple large shapes, no shading, no gray tones, no text, kid-friendly and cheerful –ar 8.5:11” Coloring pages need pure line art – say “no shading, no gray tones, bold black outlines” explicitly or you will get a finished illustration. Simple large shapes suit ages 3-6; add moderate detail for ages 7+. Generate at high resolution (or upscale) so lines stay crisp when printed at full letter size.
Sticker Pack Design
“Cute die-cut sticker sheet of [THEME, e.g. cozy coffee shop icons], [STYLE, e.g. kawaii flat illustration], [ITEMS, e.g. latte cup, croissant, sleepy cat barista, blank ribbon banner], thick white sticker borders, vibrant colors, arranged on white background, no readable text –ar 1:1” The thick white die-cut border is what makes stickers look like stickers – brief it explicitly. Keep each icon simple and bold; fine detail disappears at sticker size. Leave any word banners blank and add real lettering afterward. One sheet of 6-9 matching icons in a locked palette makes a cohesive pack buyers actually want.
Billboard / Outdoor Ad Concept
“Bold billboard concept for [PRODUCT AND FEEL, e.g. a meal-kit service], [VISUAL, e.g. giant hyper-realistic taco bursting with fresh ingredients], [STYLE, e.g. vibrant commercial photography], massive simple composition readable at 65 mph, huge negative space for headline, no text, no watermark –ar 21:9” Billboards get three seconds at speed – one giant appetizing visual and acres of negative space, nothing else. Brief the composition wide (21:9) and keep the focal object enormous and centered. Generate the visual only; your headline goes on afterward in massive type. If the concept is not readable as a tiny thumbnail, it will not work at 48 feet.
Website Hero Illustration
“Modern website hero illustration for [BUSINESS, e.g. a project-management SaaS], [STYLE, e.g. soft 3D isometric], [SCENE, e.g. floating dashboard cards and a rocket over pastel clouds], [PALETTE, e.g. brand indigo, lavender, and white], optimistic tech-forward mood, clean composition with calm space on the left for headline, no text –ar 16:9” Hero art frames your headline – brief calm negative space on the text side and keep the busy detail opposite. Abstract 3D and isometric styles look premium and never clash with UI screenshots. Match the palette to your brand colors; mismatched hero art cheapens the whole page. Test the layout with your real headline overlaid before shipping.
App Icon Design
“Modern iOS app icon for [APP, e.g. a habit tracker], [CONCEPT, e.g. a minimal checkmark sprouting a leaf], [STYLE, e.g. smooth gradient from teal to green], rounded-square icon on clean background, bold simple silhouette readable at small sizes, no text, no watermark –ar 1:1” App icons live at tiny sizes – one bold silhouette and a smooth gradient, zero fine detail. Brief the concept as a single merged idea (“checkmark sprouting a leaf”) rather than two separate objects. Generate on a plain background, then mask to the rounded-square yourself. Test at 60px on a real home screen mockup before shipping.
Newsletter Header Banner
“Polished newsletter header banner for [TOPIC, e.g. a weekly AI news roundup], [STYLE, e.g. sleek gradient mesh], [ELEMENTS, e.g. abstract circuit lines and glowing nodes], [PALETTE, e.g. deep navy and electric blue], wide panoramic composition, professional tech-media feel, no text, no watermark –ar 21:9” Email headers display wide and short – brief a true panoramic ratio (21:9 or wider) so nothing important gets cropped. Abstract gradients and patterns in brand colors are safer than literal imagery; they never fight your subject lines. Keep the center calm for your masthead text overlay, and keep the file under 200KB after export for fast loads.
T-shirt Graphic Design
“Bold t-shirt graphic of [DESIGN, e.g. a retro sunset over mountain peaks with a soaring eagle], [STYLE, e.g. vintage distressed screen-print], [PALETTE, e.g. burnt orange, cream, and faded black on transparent background], centered chest-print composition, clean edges, no text –ar 1:1” Design for the shirt, not the screen – centered chest composition with clean edges, and always preview on a mockup before printing. Vintage distressed textures hide print imperfections and sell well; brief the distressing explicitly. Limit the palette to 3-4 spot colors to keep screen-printing costs down, and generate with no text unless you will set the typography yourself.
Brand Mood Board Flat-Lay
“Flat-lay brand mood board for a [BUSINESS TYPE, e.g. a specialty coffee roaster], styled on a clean [SURFACE, e.g. white linen] background: a swatch of [COLOR 1], a swatch of [COLOR 2], a swatch of [COLOR 3], [TEXTURE OR MATERIAL, e.g. kraft paper and linen], [HERO OBJECT, e.g. a burlap coffee sack], and [SECONDARY PROP, e.g. scattered roasted beans], arranged like a professional design-studio photograph, soft natural window light, subtle shadows, balanced composition, high resolution, no text, no watermark” Mood boards sell a vibe before you commit to a brand identity – swatches of your exact colors next to real materials let clients feel the brand without a word of explanation. Flat-lay compositions read instantly on pitch decks; brief every color as a visible swatch so the AI cannot drift into generic tones. Keep props to two or three objects – clutter reads as chaos, and negative space does the selling.