Crafting AI Art Prompts: Tips from a Designer
Getting great results from AI image generators requires clear, specific prompts. Here is the structure I use. Crafting prompts for AI image generators follows the same principles as directing a human artist. Be specific about what you want, provide clear references, communicate the mood and style, and refine based on initial results. Vague prompts produce generic images. Specific prompts produce work that feels intentional. The Prompt Structure I Use My prompt structure includes the subject and action, the environment or setting, the artistic style or movement reference, the lighting and atmosphere, the color palette, and the composition approach. Not every prompt needs every element, but including more relevant context gives the AI better direction toward your vision. Subject: a woman reading a book on a park bench Setting: autumn park with fallen leaves, early morning Style: impressionist oil painting with visible brushstrokes Lighting: soft golden backlight, long shadows Palette: warm oranges, deep reds, muted greens Composition: medium shot, slightly low angle, subject left of center Each element narrows the space of possible outputs. Without the setting, the model might place the subject in a studio. Without the lighting description, the model defaults to flat, even illumination that looks artificial. Without the composition note, the model centers the subject, which often produces a less interesting image than an off-center composition. I learned this the hard way on a client project last March.