One of the first things I learned while testing AI image generators is that there are a lot of things that can go wrong when you're trying to get the image you see in your head to appear on your screen. If you've ever used an AI image or video generator, you know what I mean.
I've spent the past year testing and reviewing different AI image generators, and I've generated hundreds of images across services like Google's nano bananas model, Midjourney and Dall-E. But the images I created haven't all been winners. A bunch of them have been downright horrifying. But all my testing forced me to learn that the best way to avoid creating a wonky AI image is using a good prompt.
Prompt engineering, as experts call it, is knowing what words to use to get AI products to do what you want. For AI images, that means creating a holistic description of what you want, beyond just the characters and setting. No matter what service you use, there are essential elements you need in every prompt for the best results. This is especially important if the generator you're using doesn't have a lot of editing tools, like the ability to upload reference images or fix weird hallucinations.
Writing a good AI image prompt isn't hard, but it may take a little more work than you expect. These are my best expert tips for crafting the right prompt, including some helpful phrases to use and common mistakes to avoid.
Start with these three elements
When you first write your prompt, you might feel overwhelmed or like you're not sure where to start. I've been there, and the best place to begin is with the essentials. These are the three necessary elements every prompt needs. Once you have something for each of these, you can build it out from there.
Characters and elements in the scene
Setting or where it takes place
Dimensions, like portrait, landscape or a specific ratio (3:2, 16:9, etc)
You might be tempted to add some exclusionary characteristics in your prompt, or things that you do not want in your image. I would caution against it. Even the most prompt-adherent generator is likely to ignore these, or worse, misread the prompt and include something you specifically asked it not to. If you want to eliminate an element from one image, it's usually easier to do that in the editing stage rather than in the original prompt.
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