I’m trying to learn how to make AI pictures, but I got stuck after testing a few image generator tools. The results look nothing like what I had in mind, and I’m not sure how to write better prompts or choose the right settings. I need help figuring out the easiest way to create good AI images for my projects.
Most bad AI images come from vague prompts. You need three things. Subject, style, constraints.
Use this format.
Main subject + setting + style + lighting + camera/view + details to avoid
Example:
“young woman reading in a small Tokyo cafe, rainy window, anime style, soft warm light, medium shot, detailed face, no extra fingers, no blurry eyes, no text”
If your result is off, change one part at a time. Do 3 to 5 runs. Keep the seed if the tool supports it. Then compare.
A simple prompt structure:
- Who or what
- Where
- Art style
- Light
- Angle
- Quality details
- Negative prompt
Bad prompt:
“make me a cool fantasy pic”
Better prompt:
“ancient stone castle on a cliff, stormy sky, dark fantasy painting, moonlight, wide shot, high detail, no people, no text, no low-res”
Pick the right tool for the job.
Midjourney, strong style.
DALL-E, better for prompt following.
Stable Diffusion, more control, more setup.
If faces look weird, use close-up, detailed eyes, symetrical face, natural skin texture. If hands fail, hide hands or make them hold one object. Hands still break a lot lol.
Also, use image references if the app allows it. Text only is harder. Save prompts that work. Build your own prompt library. That part helps a ton.
Big thing people miss: prompting is only like half the job. The other half is picking an image that is close and then iterating on that, not expecting prompt #1 to magically read your brain.
@viajantedoceu is right about structure, but I kinda disagree on tools being super rigid by category. A lot of beginners bounce between apps too fast. Honestly, pick one generator and learn its quirks first. Every model has its own weird taste. Some overdo cinematic lighting, some ignore anatomy, some love plastic skin for no reason.
What helped me:
- start with simple scenes, not giant complex ideas
- use reference images whenever possible
- generate a batch, then use variations / inpaint / edit regions
- crop your idea tighter. Wide scenes often get messy fast
- if a style is wrong, change the model, not just the wording
Also, stop stuffing prompts with 40 adjectives. That can actually make results worse. Shorter, clearer prompts often work bettr.
A good beginner workflow:
- Get composition roughly right
- Fix character/object design
- Fix lighting/color
- Upscale or refine last
If you want exactly what’s in your head, AI art is kinda bad at mind-reading lol. Treat it more like directing a chaotic intern than ordering from a vending machine.