The 6-part structure to writing prompts for AI.
You probably clicked into this post because you have been writing prompts for AI and your image results are not turning out the way you imagined.
As a graphic designer, I have experimented with AI image generation in my weekly work and spent real hours figuring out how to generate images that are high quality and consistent with what I visualize in my head.
In this post, I am going to share how I write an effective AI prompt, including the 6-part structure, the AI tools I use, examples of AI prompts, and where you can find more AI prompts for inspiration.
Why Writing Good AI Prompts Matters
I love the saying, AI is only as good as its prompter. And that means you. If your image results are not turning out well, it is usually because the prompt needs more work. The good news is, this is a skill you can build.
AI is not going anywhere, and the faster you master it, the faster you can reap the benefits it brings you.
For Businesses
If you are a business owner, you can save a good amount of money and time using AI.
For example, you can do a “photoshoot” for your brand new product launch right inside AI. Typical professional shoots are expensive and can take weeks before you even see the final image, not to mention the back and forth of revisions. When you can prompt well, imagine how fast you can launch your website, landing page, and campaign shoots.
And if your business is scaling, imagine how fast you can experiment with different concept ideas and make adjustments within days. A classic example is paid ads, where you need to test different creatives to see what works, so every dollar you invest earns the return it deserves.
If all of this sounds good in theory but you would rather not learn the ropes yourself, this is exactly what I help with inside Mini Feast. I generate these high quality product images for you, so you get the results without the learning curve.
For Individuals
If you are a freelancer, the possibilities are endless too, especially when it comes to opening new income streams you may never have considered.
AI prompting can be a service you offer to your clients to add value to their business, or an additional skill you offer once you master it. Who knows? This could become your cash cow in the long run.
Use Cases
Here are some classic examples of why mastering AI image generation will become an asset for anyone using it:
- Product Photoshoot
- Branding Images
- Website Hero Images
- Content Creation
- Product Mockups
And do not forget, being able to write good AI prompts is also the foundation for AI video generation when you want to level up.
The Key to Good AI Prompts
The main thing about writing good prompts is to be as detailed as possible, especially if you want to create consistent imagery. Imagine describing the image to someone who is blind.
In my opinion, writing prompts is similar to doing an English oral examination when I was a little girl, where you describe what the image looks like and name everything you can see within thirty minutes. But this time, you describe in detail exactly how you want the image to look, as you visualize it in your head or from a reference photo.
The 6-Part Structure of an Effective AI Prompt
There are 6 elements that go into writing an effective AI prompt:
- Concept
- Detailed description of the main subject
- Color
- Positioning
- Lighting
- Camera
When you put it together, it looks like this:
[concept][detailed description of main subject][color][positioning][lighting][camera]
Let us go through each one in detail.
1: Concept
Always start with the concept you are going for in the image. Here are options to get you started:
- Portrait
- Full body shot
- Lifestyle portrait
- Campaign visual
- Studio shoot
- White background studio
- Product in context
- Flat lay
2: Detailed description of main subject
Then, begin describing the subject. This can be a human or a product. Get into the nitty gritty and type out every single detail you can think of.
For a human subject, this can be:
- Gender
- Features
- Body posture
- Clothing
- Hair details
- Facial expression
- Accessories (watch, earrings, hat, etc)
- Make up
For a product, this can be:
- Size
- Shape
- Texture
- Material
- Angle
3: Color
Next comes the color palette.
If you have a specific color in mind, I like to write the entire hex code in. If you are going for a generic color palette or do not have one in mind, think “soft pastel color palette” or “Christmas theme color palette.”
4: Positioning
Consider where you want to place the subject. Is it:
- Center
- Left third / right third / upper third / lower third
- Full body / half body / close up
- Foreground / middle ground / background
If you have multiple objects, think about the relationship between them. Are they overlapping? Spaced evenly apart? Which object is at the front and which is at the back?
Also consider the background and negative space around the subject. What type of background are you going for?
- Solid color
- Gradient
- Texture
- A specific place
How much white space do you want?
- Generous
- Tight
- Minimal
5: Lighting
Next is the lighting of the image. Think:
- Natural lighting
- Studio lighting
- Golden hour
I also like to include the overall mood of the image so AI understands the vibe I am going for. Examples of mood:
- Bright and happy
- Soft and nostalgic
- Warm and cozy
- Professional and clean
6: Camera
Last but not least, write the tool you used to capture the image. For example:
- Professional digital camera
- Film camera
- Shot with an iPhone 17 Pro
If you can, go into detail about the camera settings, like lens selection and depth of field. End the prompt with the focus point of the camera.
Best AI Tools for Testing Your Prompts
Just like an ingredient can affect an entire dish, the AI tool you use will also affect the result of your prompt.
Here are the AI tools I recommend and that have given me good results.
1: Kittl
This is the tool I recommend, especially if you are a beginner to AI prompting. It is affordable, offers a wide range of AI models to experiment with, and comes packed with other design features you will find useful.
2: Midjourney
This one is slightly higher in pricing, but if you are scaling and looking for exceptional and consistently eye-catching image quality, Midjourney is a step up from Kittl.
Other AI tools that are popular in the market include Higgsfield, Kling AI, and ChatGPT.
AI Prompts Examples
Here is an example of how I created product mockups while working on a design brief for an instant noodle brand.
You can see that the product imagery is consistent and follows a similar concept. I also included the exact AI prompt I used to generate those images.
Here is another example of how I created two images using AI and turned them into a simple video for a milkshake brand.
This is the kind of potential mastering a good AI prompt can unlock for you, opening even more doors in the long run.
And for anyone here for fun, here is an example of how I created a Disney animation from my travel pictures.
If you are a business owner who needs help with AI prompting, consider Mini Feast, where I help you generate high quality images like these for your brand.
Where to Find More Prompt Inspiration
Working from a blank canvas is hard, especially when you hit a creative block. Here are three ways I personally find more prompt inspiration to kickstart a session or inspire my next concept.
1: Kittl Templates
Kittl has a wide range of ready-to-use templates in its library, with written prompts in their flows that you can study.
This is just another reason I recommend Kittl for its ready-to-use templates. All you have to do is select a template, replace the artboard with a picture of your subject, tweak the prompt, and regenerate the entire flow.
Try Kittl Today
Do not just take my word for it. Try it out for yourself and see what it can do for your workflow.
2: Midjourney
Midjourney has a large creative community. You can find prompts and inspiration in their Discord channel or on the explore page, where you can view concepts made by other creatives to inspire your own work.
3: Socials
As you scroll Instagram or TikTok every day, you will notice so many people sharing their prompts. Simply save them to a folder and come back to it whenever you need inspiration for your own projects or work.
This post is all about writing prompts for AI.
If you love to see more content like this, connect & follow me on social media to stay updated with the latest information.
Other posts you may like:
- 8 Types of Brand Visuals for a Product Launch
- Best Fonts That Look Like Logo in Kittl
- How to Make a Logo for Small Business
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