Anyone who has ever used an AI image or video generator knows that it isn't always easy to bring the image you have in your head to life on your screen. And if you're not artistically inclined, it can be difficult to describe what you want an AI tool to create.
Your best odds for success start with a great prompt. Getting optimal results isn't about magic; it's about giving the AI a better description of what you want. Experts call it "prompt engineering" but you don't need to be an AI expert to master it. It all comes down to including a few essential elements in your description to go beyond a simple idea.
Nailing your prompt is the single best way to avoid bizarre results and finally get the AI to create the image you desire. Here's how to craft a great AI prompt.
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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 or negative characteristics in your prompt, meaning 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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