AI (artificial intelligence) images have taken the world by storm. With almost 50% of artists now using some form of AI image generation to aid in their creativity, we’ve made a beginner’s guide to AI image prompts and generation.
What Are AI Image Prompts?
An AI image prompt is typically a piece of text that instructs a generative AI model, such as ChatGPT or Gemini, to generate visual content. They’re used to provide information so that AI algorithms can reproduce the requested image.
AI image prompts help the models understand the desired characteristics, objects, or concepts to feature in the generated image.
By providing clear, specific prompts to AI generators, users can influence several factors about the image, which can help the model produce somewhat accurate results that align with their creative vision. As AI continues to become smarter over time, users can now craft extremely detailed AI image prompts that capture every aspect of what they’re trying to achieve.
There are two types of AI image prompts that can be used to generate images:
AI Text Prompts
As mentioned, an AI text prompt can range from a simple one-liner to more comprehensive, detailed instructions. The more detail you provide to a generative model, the more accurate the image will be to your vision (in theory).
For example, we fed the below prompts into GPT-4o, OpenAI’s latest MLLM (multimodal large language model), and achieved the following results:
“Generate an image of a cat with a pink collar”
“Generate an image of a tabby cat with a pink, polka dot collar, against a sunset background. The image should feature white, puffy clouds, and the cat should be walking down a road surrounded by houses.”
As you can see, the AI model was able to act on both prompts, with the more detailed one achieving better results. It’s important to note that the simple image took around 60 seconds to generate, while the more detailed prompt took around 5 minutes.
AI Image Prompts
Another form of AI photo generation is image prompts, where you upload an image for the AI model to work with, as opposed to providing solely textual instructions. This technique can be useful for adjusting an existing photo or creating a new one based on the original image.
For example, you could upload a portrait of a person and write the prompt: “Recreate this portrait image in the style of Johannes Vermeer”, just like we did with Kyle, our SEO Executive.
You can also ask certain AI models to extend the background of the existing image, add an AI generated element to the photo, regenerate the photo in higher definition, or change the lighting and colours.
How to Write the Perfect AI Image Prompt
As we’ve shown, to write the perfect AI image prompt, you’ll need to write a clear description that provides enough detail for the AI to generate a high-quality image that meets your specifications.
Here is our step-by-step guide at nailing AI image prompts:
1. Be Descriptive
Using detailed descriptions is the key to getting what you want from an AI image. You can even go as far as including sensory details like colours, textures, sounds, and emotions to create an image that closely resembles your vision.
2. Specify Key Elements
Clearly define the main subject(s) or objects you want the AI to focus on, whether it’s a landscape, character, object, or specific scenario. Ensure you provide enough information for the AI to understand what you want to see in the image, as it can only work with the details you provide. Otherwise it could second-guess what you want and give you alternative results.
3. Include Action, Mood, and Context
Provide context or suggest a narrative to give depth to the image, like an action taking place, the relationship between the subjects or objects, or the backstory of the image.
4. Consider Composition
If you want the image to be set a certain way, it’s key to describe the perspective, framing, and any other specific visual elements and angles you want to include. This can help the AI create visually accurate compositions.
5. Keep the Prompt Concise
When generating images, aim for clarity and brevity in your AI image prompt, avoiding overly prescriptive prompts that stifle the AI’s ability to generate unique interpretations. Likewise, you should avoid overly complex descriptions that could conflict with the model’s generation process. Keep the language simple and direct to ensure the prompt is read correctly and effectively.
How Long Should an Image Prompt Be?
The ideal length of an AI image prompt varies depending on the complexity of the image. Prompts should be concise, yet descriptive enough to convey all the necessary details.
Generally, a prompt that is 3 to 5 sentences is sufficient to provide the AI with the information it needs to generate an image. It’s important to strike a balance between providing enough detail to guide the AI, whilst also avoiding unnecessary details that could make the prompt confusing or difficult to interpret.
Below is an example of a well-crafted AI image prompt:
“Generate a photorealistic image of a mountain landscape at sunrise. The mountain peaks are capped with snow in the early morning light. A lake reflects the colours of the sky, surrounded by pine forests. An eagle soars overhead towards the rising sun.”
And this is the image that was generated using GPT-4o, OpenAI’s image generator.
Considerations for AI Images
Whilst creating AI images can be massively beneficial and creative, there are also some important factors to consider when using these types of generated images.
AI-generated images can potentially raise ethical and legal issues, especially if they are used to create fake content or manipulate visuals in deceptive ways. Prior to sharing, you should consider the potential consequences of distributing or using such images.
Fake images and videos, also known as deep fakes, can be unethical to use, especially on larger platforms when shared for misinformation.
Another thing to consider is when AI-generated images are created using personal data or sensitive information. It’s crucial to ensure compliance with data privacy regulations and to take appropriate measures to protect individuals’ privacy if you are using an image prompt to create an AI generated image.
AI image generation is an exciting tool that’s transforming the way we approach visual creativity. Whether you’re experimenting with basic text prompts or exploring more advanced techniques using image inputs, the possibilities are vast. Understanding how to craft clear and effective prompts can help you unlock the full potential of generative AI and bring your creative ideas to life with greater precision. As with any new technology, it’s important to stay mindful of the ethical considerations, but when used responsibly, AI image generation can be a powerful ally in the creative process.
Posted on Thursday, July 17th, 2025 in Latest News.
