A good image prompt is specific, visual, and easy for the model to follow. You do not need a long paragraph. You need clear choices: subject, action, scene, lighting, style, and what should not change.
This guide gives you a practical prompt structure for everyday image generation.
The Basic Prompt Formula
Use this format:
Subject + setting + composition + lighting + style + output constraints
Example:
A ceramic coffee cup on a marble cafe table, close-up product photo, warm morning window light, shallow depth of field, realistic texture, clean background.
This prompt works because it describes what the image contains and how it should look.
Prompt Tips for Product Images
Product prompts should be controlled and concrete. Mention the product, material, background, camera angle, and lighting.
Example:
A premium skincare bottle on a clean cream studio background, soft shadow, front-facing composition, commercial product photography, sharp label area, realistic glass reflection.
If the generated image becomes too busy, remove style words first. Product images usually improve when the prompt is simple.
Prompt Tips for Portraits
Portrait prompts should focus on identity, expression, wardrobe, camera framing, and mood.
Example:
A professional portrait of a young founder wearing a navy jacket, natural expression, soft studio lighting, 85mm lens look, neutral background, realistic skin texture.
When editing an uploaded portrait, add what must remain unchanged: face shape, hairstyle, outfit color, or original pose.
Prompt Tips for Ads and Social Posts
Advertising images need a clear visual hierarchy. Say what should be the hero, where the empty space should be, and what emotion the image should carry.
Example:
A summer launch poster for a sparkling drink, can as the main subject, citrus slices and condensation, bright outdoor light, room for headline text at the top, vibrant but realistic.
Prompt Tips for Reference Image Edits
When using image-to-image, describe the edit rather than rewriting the whole image.
Good:
Replace the background with a clean modern kitchen, keep the product shape, label, and camera angle unchanged.
Weak:
Make it better.
The model needs to know both the change and the boundary.
Common Mistakes
Avoid prompts that combine too many styles at once. "Cinematic, anime, watercolor, photorealistic, 3D render, oil painting" usually gives the model conflicting instructions.
Avoid asking for tiny text details unless the model and resolution are appropriate. For posters or labels, leave space for text and add final typography separately when needed.
A Reusable Prompt Builder
Use this template:
Create [subject] in [scene]. Use [camera/composition]. Lighting should be [lighting]. Style should be [style]. Keep [constraints]. Avoid [things to avoid].
You can test the template in the BananaLab generator, then move promising prompts into a higher-quality workflow for final output.
Prompt Builder Workflow
Searches for prompt builder apps usually mean the user wants a repeatable way to build prompts without starting from a blank page. You do not need a separate app for most work. Save a few templates, then adjust the subject, lighting, camera angle, and constraints for each image.
For image editing, keep the prompt short and specific:
Replace the background with a modern kitchen. Keep the product shape, label, camera angle, and lighting direction unchanged.
For text-to-image, add more scene context:
Create a premium product hero image for a glass perfume bottle, black stone surface, golden side light, soft reflection, luxury editorial style, clean empty space for a headline.
