Framework Components
Tools & Practice
Track Your Progress (Optional)

Getting Started

This tool will help you write effective prompts for AI image generators like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot.

Three Ways to Use This Tool

📚 Learn the Framework

Click through the six component sections in the sidebar to understand what makes prompts effective. Each section explains one component with examples showing basic versus detailed approaches.

Best for: First-time users who want to understand the principles

🛠️ Quick Reference

Jump straight to the Prompt Builder. Fill in whichever components matter for your specific image, copy the assembled prompt, and use it in your AI tool of choice.

Best for: Quick prompt creation when you already know what you want

📊 Track Your Progress (Optional)

Use the Pre-Assessment before exploring the framework, then complete the Post-Assessment after. This helps you see how your prompting improves and which components make the biggest difference for you.

Best for: Users who want to measure their learning and understand their growth

The Six Components

Effective image prompts include some or all of these elements:

Subject

What appears in the image

Setting

Where the scene takes place

Mood & Lighting

Emotional tone and light quality

Style

Artistic approach or treatment

Framing

Camera angle and composition

Context

Time period and cultural details

💡 Pro Tip

You don’t need to use all six components every time. Start with the ones that matter most for your specific image. A portrait might need strong subject and lighting details but minimal context. A landscape might emphasize setting and mood over specific framing.

🔄 Expect to Iterate

Prompting is an iterative process. Your first prompt – even with all six components — probably won’t give you the perfect image.

Generate your image, see what’s wrong, then come back and adjust the specific component that needs work.

⚠️ Important: AI Generation Is Variable

Text-to-image AI doesn’t follow exact rules. The same prompt will produce different results across tools and between generations in the same tool. This framework helps you communicate more clearly, but it won’t guarantee identical or consistent results every time.

Think of these components as guidelines that increase your odds of getting what you want, not formulas that guarantee specific outcomes. Experimentation and iteration are normal parts of the process.

Subject

The subject influences what appears as the focal point of your image—it’s what viewers look at first.

The subject forms the foundation of your prompt. Think of this as answering “what is in the picture?” Rather than using generic terms, be specific about the primary elements you want to see. Strong subjects use precise nouns with descriptive details.

Instead of writing “a person,” specify “a middle-aged woman with curly gray hair” or “a young man wearing a business suit.” If you want multiple subjects, list them clearly and show their relationship to each other. For example, “two golden retriever puppies playing” gives the AI much clearer direction than simply “dogs.”

Key Strategy: Use specific nouns, include relevant adjectives for appearance, and specify quantities when important. Consider age, size, gender, clothing, or other distinguishing features that matter for your intended image.

From Basic to Detailed

📝 Basic
“a person”
Basic prompt example output for the prompt 'a person'.
Image created by ChatGPT
✏️ Detailed
“a professional woman in her 40s with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a navy blazer”
Detailed prompt example: professional woman in her 40s with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a navy blazer.
Image created by ChatGPT
📝 Basic
“some animals”
Basic prompt example output for the prompt 'some animals'.
Image created by ChatGPT
✏️ Detailed
“three tabby cats sitting on a wooden fence”
Detailed prompt example: three tabby cats sitting on a wooden fence.
Image created by ChatGPT
Common Mistakes: Avoid conflicting subjects like “a medieval knight using a smartphone” unless you’re deliberately creating anachronistic imagery. Stay away from vague terms like “something” or “thing” without descriptors.

Setting

The setting shapes where your subject exists and creates the environmental context for the entire scene.

The setting answers “where is this happening?” and includes both location and environmental details. This component dramatically influences the overall composition—from lighting conditions to color palettes to atmospheric elements that make images feel cohesive.

Settings can range from simple (“in a forest”) to detailed (“inside a modern glass-walled conference room on the 20th floor”). Consider not just the immediate surroundings but also elements like weather conditions, time of day, and seasonal details that affect the environment.

Key Strategy: Be specific about indoor versus outdoor locations. Include architectural details for buildings, natural features for outdoor scenes, and atmospheric conditions like fog, rain, or bright sunshine that affect the mood and appearance of the setting.

From Basic to Detailed

📝 Basic
“outside”
Basic prompt example output for the prompt 'outside'.
Image created by Microsoft Copilot
✏️ Detailed
“in a bustling city park with tall oak trees and a fountain in the background”
Detailed prompt example: bustling city park with tall oak trees and a fountain in the background.
Image created by Microsoft Copilot
📝 Basic
“in a room”
Basic prompt example output for the prompt 'in a room'.
Image created by Microsoft Copilot
✏️ Detailed
“inside a women’s boutique with exposed brick walls and large windows facing the street”
Detailed prompt example: inside a women’s boutique with exposed brick walls and large street-facing windows.
Image created by Microsoft Copilot
Common Mistakes: Watch for conflicting environmental elements like “tropical beach in winter snow” unless creating surreal imagery. Settings should logically support your subject.

Mood & Lighting

Mood and lighting work together to establish how your image feels emotionally and how light reveals or conceals elements within the scene.

These two elements influence different aspects but combine to create the overall atmosphere. Lighting describes the physical properties—where light comes from, how harsh or soft it is, what color temperature it has. Mood describes the emotional tone you want—peaceful, mysterious, energetic, professional. Together, they significantly impact your image’s visual appeal and emotional resonance.

Lighting descriptions should specify both source and quality. “Soft natural lighting from a large window” creates different results than “dramatic spotlight from above” or “golden hour sunlight.” Consider whether you want harsh shadows or gentle, diffused light. Mood encompasses the emotional atmosphere you want to convey. Words like “peaceful,” “energetic,” “mysterious,” or “professional” guide the AI toward generating appropriate visual elements, colors, and compositions.

Key Strategy: For lighting, use specific terms like “diffused,” “directional,” “backlighting,” or “golden hour.” For mood, choose words that clearly convey emotional tone, such as “serene,” “dynamic,” “intimate,” or “imposing.”

From Basic to Detailed

📝 Basic
“good lighting”
Basic prompt example output for the prompt 'good lighting'.
Image created by Gemini
✏️ Detailed
“soft natural light filtering through sheer curtains, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere”
Detailed prompt example: soft natural light through sheer curtains, warm and peaceful atmosphere.
Image created by Gemini
📝 Basic
“dark and scary industrial building”
Basic prompt example: dark industrial building described as scary.
Image created by Gemini
✏️ Detailed
“dark and scary industrial building, dramatic shadows cast by a single overhead streetlight, creating a mysterious and tense mood”
Detailed prompt example: industrial building lit by a single overhead streetlight with dramatic shadows and tense mood.
Image created by Gemini
Common Mistakes: Avoid mixing conflicting descriptors like “cheerful and ominous” or physically impossible lighting like “bright midday sun and candlelight” in the same outdoor scene.

Style

Style defines the artistic treatment and visual approach, helping ensure your image matches its intended use and aesthetic context.

Style influences everything from color palettes to rendering techniques. This component can reference specific artistic movements like “impressionist painting” or “art deco poster,” technical approaches like “photorealistic” or “minimalist line drawing,” or even specific media like “oil painting” or “digital illustration.”

Consider your end use—a professional presentation might need “clean vector graphics” while a creative project might benefit from “watercolor painting style.” Contemporary digital art styles like “concept art,” “matte painting,” or “isometric illustration” often produce excellent results.

Key Strategy: Reference specific artistic movements (“impressionist painting,” “art deco”), technical approaches (“photorealistic,” “minimalist line drawing”), or media types (“oil painting,” “digital illustration”). Match style to your end use.

From Basic to Detailed

📝 Basic
“artistic drawing”
Basic prompt example output for the prompt 'artistic drawing'.
Image created by ChatGPT
✏️ Detailed
“digital concept art with painterly brushstrokes and rich color saturation”
Detailed prompt example: digital concept art with painterly brushstrokes and rich color saturation.
Image created by ChatGPT
📝 Basic
“a head of broccoli, like a drawing”
Basic prompt example: a head of broccoli, like a drawing
Image created by ChatGPT
✏️ Detailed
“a head of broccoli, hyperrealistic pencil work with soft blending and photographic precision”
Detailed prompt example: a head of broccoli, hyperrealistic pencil work with soft blending and photographic precision
Image created by ChatGPT
Common Mistakes: Don’t mix incompatible styles like “photorealistic watercolor” or “minimalist detailed rendering.” These contradictions can confuse the AI and produce unsatisfactory results.

Framing

Framing influences what the viewer sees and from what perspective, shaping both composition and emotional relationship to the subject.

Framing affects the composition and perspective of your image—how close or far the view appears and what portions of the subject are included. This component significantly impacts the usability and emotional resonance of your generated image.

Standard framing options include “close-up” for detailed views, “medium shot” for balanced composition, and “wide shot” for environmental context. You can also specify camera angles like “bird’s eye view,” “low angle,” or “eye level” to create different visual dynamics. Close-ups create intimacy and focus attention on details, while wide shots provide context and can convey scale or environment.

Key Strategy: Use standard photography and cinematography terms like “establishing shot,” “medium close-up,” “three-quarter view,” “profile shot,” “bird’s eye view,” or “low angle.” Be specific about what should be included in the frame and what can be cut off.

From Basic to Detailed

📝 Basic
“close up of a toddler”
Basic prompt example: close up of a toddler.
Image created by Gemini
✏️ Detailed
image of a toddler, medium close-up showing head and shoulders, three-quarter view facing slightly left”
Detailed prompt example: toddler in a medium close-up, head and shoulders, three-quarter view facing slightly left.
Image created by Gemini
📝 Basic
“a yellow rubber duck from far away”
Basic prompt example: yellow rubber duck shown from far away.
Image created by Gemini
✏️ Detailed
“a yellow rubber duck, wide establishing shot from a great distance, showing the full bathtub against the tiled bathroom wall”
Detailed prompt example: yellow rubber duck in a wide establishing shot, full bathtub and tiled wall visible.
Image created by Gemini
Common Mistakes: Avoid framing that conflicts with your subject, like “extreme close-up of a vast landscape” or requesting “wide shot” when you need specific details visible.

Context

Context provides the historical, cultural, or situational backdrop that helps the AI make appropriate choices about supporting details in your scene.

Context includes details about the purpose, time period, cultural setting, or specific circumstances of your image. This information influences all other elements by helping the AI understand the bigger picture.

Context can include time period specifications like “1950s America” or “futuristic cyberpunk world,” cultural elements like “traditional Japanese tea ceremony” or “modern tech startup office,” or situational details like “during a thunderstorm” or “at a graduation ceremony.” This information helps the AI make appropriate choices about clothing, objects, architecture, and other details that should appear in the scene. Good context also considers the intended audience and use case—an image for a children’s book needs different contextual elements than one for a corporate presentation.

Key Strategy: Be specific about time periods, cultural backgrounds, and situational circumstances. Include details about the purpose or occasion when relevant, and consider mentioning specific cultural or historical elements that should influence the image’s details.

From Basic to Detailed

📝 Basic
“old-fashioned diner”
Basic prompt example output for the prompt 'old-fashioned diner'.
Image created by ChatGPT
✏️ Detailed
“old-fashioned diner, 1950s era with period-appropriate clothing, hairstyles, and architectural details”
Detailed prompt example: 1950s-era diner with period clothing, hairstyles, and architectural details.
Image created by ChatGPT
📝 Basic
“a mix of female and male college students at work”
Basic prompt example: a mix of female and male college students at work.
Image created by ChatGPT
✏️ Detailed
“a mix of female and male college students during a collaborative brainstorming session in a modern active learning environment”
Detailed prompt example: a mix of female and male college students during a collaborative brainstorming session in a modern active learning environment.
Image created by ChatGPT
Common Mistakes: Avoid context that conflicts with other components, such as “medieval setting” combined with “modern business suit” unless you’re deliberately creating an anachronistic image. Don’t overload with too many contextual details that might confuse the AI.

How The Components Work Together

This example demonstrates how adding components gives you control over specific aspects of your image. Each level doesn’t necessarily produce a “better” image. Instead, it shows you which components influence which visual elements. Sometimes a simpler prompt works perfectly fine. Other times, you need precise control over lighting, framing, or context to match your specific needs.

Note: These examples show one possible outcome for each prompt. If you use the exact same prompts, your results will vary based on which AI tool you use and even between different attempts with the same tool. The patterns you’re learning here — how components affect output — remain reliable even though specific results change.

Level 1 – Subject Only

📝 Basic
“a woman”
Basic prompt example: a woman
Image created by ChatGPT
✏️ Detailed
“a woman in her mid-40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint-splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck”
Detailed prompt example: a woman in her mid-40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint-splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck
Image created by ChatGPT
Notice how subject details alone change the portrait. The basic prompt (“a woman”) yields a neutral, default subject with unspecified age, hair, and wardrobe. The detailed subject prompt (“a woman in her mid‑40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint‑splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck”) maps directly to visible features—“mid‑40s” → more mature facial cues; “wavy auburn…loose bun” → hair color, texture, and style; “black turtleneck” + “paint‑splattered canvas apron” → specific wardrobe that signals an artist—turning an anonymous figure into a recognizable individual. Use the short prompt when you just need “a person”; add age, hairstyle, and clothing when you want a distinct identity.

Level 2 – Subject + Setting

📝 Basic
“a woman in an art studio”
Basic prompt example: a woman in an art studio
Image created by ChatGPT
✏️ Detailed
“a woman in her mid-40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint-splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck, standing at a large easel in an art studio with white walls, paint tubes scattered on a wooden workbench, and unframed canvases leaning against the wall”
Detailed prompt example: a woman in her mid-40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint-splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck, standing at a large easel in an art studio with white walls, paint tubes scattered on a wooden workbench, and unframed canvases leaning against the wall
Image created by ChatGPT
Notice how adding Setting changed: The basic prompt (“a woman in an art studio”) names a place but leaves the environment generic, so the system fills in tidy, default props. Adding concrete setting cues – “standing at a large easel” (defines scale and placement), “white walls” (sets a clean, bright palette), “paint tubes scattered on a wooden workbench” (adds texture and signs of active work), and “unframed canvases leaning against the wall” (creates depth and an in‑progress feel) – turns a simple backdrop into a believable, lived‑in studio. In short, setting descriptors control which objects appear, how they’re arranged, and what story the space tells, transforming a vague location into a specific scene.

Level 3 – Subject + Setting + Mood & Lighting

📝 Basic
“a woman in an art studio, good lighting”
Basic prompt example: a woman in an art studio, good lighting
Image created by ChatGPT
✏️ Detailed
“woman in her mid-40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint-splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck, standing at a large easel in an art studio with white walls, paint tubes scattered on a wooden workbench, and unframed canvases leaning against the wall, soft natural light streaming through a large north-facing window creating even illumination, focused and contemplative atmosphere”
Detailed prompt example: woman in her mid-40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint-splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck, standing at a large easel in an art studio with white walls, paint tubes scattered on a wooden workbench, and unframed canvases leaning against the wall, soft natural light streaming through a large north-facing window creating even illumination, focused and contemplative atmosphere
Image created by ChatGPT
Notice how adding Mood & Lighting changed: The basic prompt (“a woman in an art studio, good lighting”) creates a clear but generic scene—an evenly lit room with a neutral atmosphere. The detailed prompt (“a woman in her mid‑40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint‑splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck, standing at a large easel in an art studio with white walls, paint tubes scattered on a wooden workbench, and unframed canvases leaning against the wall, soft natural light streaming through a large north‑facing window, focused and contemplative atmosphere”) specifies who, where, and how it feels. “Soft natural light” defines the quality of illumination—gentle contrast and diffuse shadows; “north‑facing window” establishes direction and consistency; and “focused, contemplative atmosphere” influences pose and expression. Together, these details shift the image from a tidy, well‑lit studio to a cohesive, story‑driven portrait that conveys both identity and mood.

Level 4 – Subject + Setting + Mood & Lighting + Style

📝 Basic
“a woman in an art studio, good lighting, artistic photo”
Basic prompt example: a woman in an art studio, good lighting, artistic photo
Image created by ChatGPT
✏️ Detailed
“a woman in her mid-40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint-splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck, standing at a large easel in an art studio with white walls, paint tubes scattered on a wooden workbench, and unframed canvases leaning against the wall, soft natural light streaming through a large north-facing window creating even illumination, focused and contemplative atmosphere, artistic editorial photography with shallow depth of field and attention to paint texture details”
Detailed prompt example: a woman in her mid-40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint-splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck, standing at a large easel in an art studio with white walls, paint tubes scattered on a wooden workbench, and unframed canvases leaning against the wall, soft natural light streaming through a large north-facing window creating even illumination, focused and contemplative atmosphere, artistic editorial photography with shallow depth of field and attention to paint texture details
Image created by ChatGPT
Notice how adding Style changed: The basic prompt (“a woman in an art studio, good lighting, artistic photo”) yields an artful but generic portrait. The detailed prompt adds explicit style cues—“artistic editorial photography with shallow depth of field and attention to paint texture details.” Each phrase maps to a visible choice: artistic editorial → magazine‑like composition and restrained color treatment; shallow depth of field → soft background blur that isolates the subject; attention to paint texture details → crisp rendering of the apron, easel, and paint tubes. With style specified, the image shifts from a nice studio shot to a curated, publication‑ready photograph.

Level 5 – Subject + Setting + Mood & Lighting + Style + Framing

📝 Basic
“woman in an art studio, good lighting, artistic photo, side view”
Basic prompt example: woman in an art studio, good lighting, artistic photo, side view
Image created by ChatGPT
✏️ Detailed
“woman in her mid-40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint-splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck, standing at a large easel in an art studio with white walls, paint tubes scattered on a wooden workbench, and unframed canvases leaning against the wall, soft natural light streaming through a large north-facing window creating even illumination, focused and contemplative atmosphere, artistic editorial photography with shallow depth of field and attention to paint texture details, three-quarter view from slightly behind showing her painting gesture with the unfinished canvas and paint palette visible”
Detailed prompt example: woman in her mid-40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint-splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck, standing at a large easel in an art studio with white walls, paint tubes scattered on a wooden workbench, and unframed canvases leaning against the wall, soft natural light streaming through a large north-facing window creating even illumination, focused and contemplative atmosphere, artistic editorial photography with shallow depth of field and attention to paint texture details, three-quarter view from slightly behind showing her painting gesture with the unfinished canvas and paint palette visible.
Image created by ChatGPT
Notice how adding Framing changed: The basic prompt (“side view”) fixes only a profile angle, yielding an observational but distant composition. The detailed prompt—“three‑quarter view from slightly behind showing her painting gesture with the unfinished canvas and paint palette visible”—directs camera position and crop: three‑quarter view reveals more of the face and torso; slightly behind creates an over‑the‑shoulder vantage; showing her painting gesture captures action rather than a static pose; and canvas + palette visible forces those elements into frame. With framing specified, the image shifts from a detached profile to an engaged, process‑oriented perspective that connects the viewer to the act of painting.

Level 6 – Complete (All Components)

📝 Basic
“a woman painting in an art studio”
Basic prompt example: a woman painting in an art studio.
Image created by ChatGPT
✏️ Detailed
“woman in her mid-40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint-splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck, standing at a large easel in an art studio with white walls, paint tubes scattered on a wooden workbench, and unframed canvases leaning against the wall, soft natural light streaming through a large north-facing window creating even illumination, focused and contemplative atmosphere, artistic editorial photography with shallow depth of field and attention to paint texture details, three-quarter view from slightly behind showing her painting gesture with the unfinished canvas and paint palette visible, contemporary working artist in mid-career during an afternoon painting session”
Detailed prompt example: woman in her mid-40s with wavy auburn hair pulled back in a loose bun, wearing a paint-splattered canvas apron over a black turtleneck, standing at a large easel in an art studio with white walls, paint tubes scattered on a wooden workbench, and unframed canvases leaning against the wall, soft natural light streaming through a large north-facing window creating even illumination, focused and contemplative atmosphere, artistic editorial photography with shallow depth of field and attention to paint texture details, three-quarter view from slightly behind showing her painting gesture with the unfinished canvas and paint palette visible, contemporary working artist in mid-career during an afternoon painting session
Image created by ChatGPT
Notice how adding Context changed: A woman painting in an art studio” captures action and place but leaves purpose and identity vague. Specifying context—“a contemporary working artist in mid‑career during an afternoon painting session”—anchors the narrative: mid‑career signals professional identity and confidence; working artist turns the apron, palette, and unfinished canvas into tools in use rather than props; afternoon session suggests a steady, reflective pace. With context layered on top of subject, setting, mood, style, and framing, the image reads as a real moment in a working day rather than a generic demonstration.

🔄 Expect to Iterate

These examples demonstrate how each component affects your output. They’re designed to show clear patterns so you can see which elements each component affects.

When you create your own prompts, iteration is normal and expected. Your first attempt won’t be perfect. You’ll generate an image, identify what’s not working (lighting too harsh, framing too tight, subject facing the wrong way), then adjust the specific component that controls that aspect.

The framework’s value is helping you know which component to adjust instead of randomly rephrasing everything. If shadows are too dramatic, refine Mood & Lighting. If the composition feels wrong, adjust Framing. This targeted approach helps you get closer to your vision more efficiently than trial and error.

Interactive Prompt Builder

Combine all six components to create a complete prompt. Fill in the fields below, and your final prompt will be assembled automatically. Not all components are required or necessary, but including more detail generally produces better results.

Plan to come back here. After you generate your first image, you’ll likely need to adjust something. That’s the normal process.

When your generated image isn’t quite right, return to this builder and modify just the component that controls the problem area. Lighting too bright? Adjust Mood & Lighting. Subject facing wrong direction? Refine Framing. This targeted approach is faster than starting over with a completely new prompt.

Your Complete Prompt:
Start filling in the fields above to build your prompt…

Resources

Style References

Browse this curated gallery to see 75+ art styles with visual examples and terminology to use in your own prompts.

Browse Art Style Gallery →

Prompt Books

These collections show real prompts and their results across different contexts. The DALL¡E 2 Prompt Book shares technical approaches, while Dove’s Real Beauty Prompt Book explores how AI tools handle representation and diversity.

Technical Terminology by Use Case

Browse the use cases below to find suggested language that describes what you’re envisioning.

For Professional Documentation & Corporate Settings

Clean, credible, polished imagery that conveys competence and trustworthiness.

Recommended terms:
  • Composition: rule of thirds, eye-level angle, medium shot, centered symmetry
  • Lighting: soft front light, high-key lighting, LED soft panel, diffuse lighting
  • Lens: standard 50mm, portrait 85mm (for people), deep focus
  • Avoid: Dutch tilt, extreme angles, harsh shadows, lens flare

For Dramatic Tension & Cinematic Scenes

Images that feel intense, mysterious, or emotionally charged—often for storytelling or creative projects.

Recommended terms:
  • Composition: low angle (makes subjects imposing), dynamic diagonal, negative space
  • Lighting: low-key lighting, side light, silhouette, chiaroscuro, rim light
  • Lens: wide-angle (creates distortion), shallow depth of field (isolates subject)
  • Camera effects: Dutch tilt (unease), high contrast, deep shadows

For Intimate & Emotional Portraits

Images that feel personal, warm, and focus attention on human subjects and their emotions.

Recommended terms:
  • Composition: close-up, extreme close-up, over-the-shoulder, rule of thirds
  • Lighting: Rembrandt lighting, butterfly lighting, golden hour, soft natural light
  • Lens: portrait 85mm, shallow depth of field, creamy bokeh
  • Focus: selective focus on eyes, soft focus for ethereal quality

For Environmental & Landscape Scenes

Images that showcase space, scale, and atmosphere—whether natural or architectural.

Recommended terms:
  • Composition: extreme long shot, bird’s-eye view, leading lines, low horizon
  • Lighting: golden hour, blue hour, volumetric rays, atmospheric haze
  • Lens: wide-angle, ultra-wide, deep focus
  • Atmosphere: overcast diffuse (even lighting), dappled light (texture)

For Product Photography & Technical Visualization

Clear, detailed images that show objects accurately with minimal distortion.

Recommended terms:
  • Composition: centered symmetry, overhead top-down, isometric (for technical drawings)
  • Lighting: front light, even lighting, high-key, soft diffuse
  • Lens: macro lens (for small objects), tilt-shift (corrects perspective), standard 50mm
  • Focus: deep focus (everything sharp), detail shot

For Dynamic Action & Movement

Images that convey energy, motion, and activity.

Recommended terms:
  • Composition: tracking shot, low angle, dynamic diagonal, dolly-in
  • Camera effects: motion blur, slow shutter pan, long exposure
  • Lighting: hard spotlight, edge lighting (defines motion)
  • Angles: POV (viewer perspective), worm’s-eye view (emphasizes speed)

For Moody Atmospheric & Fine Art

Images with strong emotional resonance, often prioritizing feeling over clarity.

Recommended terms:
  • Lighting: moonlit, candlelit, gelled magenta, bioluminescent glow, ultraviolet
  • Camera effects: soft focus, lens flare, washed-out (for nostalgic feel)
  • Color treatments: teal-and-orange, pastel wash, cyberpunk neon
  • Composition: negative space, foreground framing, golden spiral

For Editorial & Documentary Style

Authentic, journalistic imagery that captures real moments without obvious staging.

Recommended terms:
  • Composition: eye-level, medium shot, off-center subjects (rule of thirds)
  • Lighting: natural available light, overcast diffuse, practical sources
  • Lens: standard 50mm, prime lens (for authenticity)
  • Approach: soft focus (less clinical), dappled window light

For Vintage & Period-Specific Aesthetics

Images that evoke specific historical eras or nostalgic analog photography.

Recommended terms:
  • Lighting: tungsten warm (1960s-80s indoor), Edison-bulb vintage
  • Camera effects: vintage glass (slight aberrations), washed-out colors
  • Lens: pinhole (dreamlike softness), anamorphic (cinematic 1970s-80s)
  • Color: sepia tones, faded pastels, film grain texture

For High-Impact Marketing & Advertising

Eye-catching images with bold visual appeal that command attention.

Recommended terms:
  • Composition: low angle (powerful), centered symmetry (bold), crane shot
  • Lighting: dramatic contrast, hard spotlight, backlight with rim light
  • Color: vibrant saturation, teal-and-orange (commercial standard), neon glow
  • Camera effects: HDR (punchy detail), lens flare (energy), shallow depth of field

Mixed approaches: You can combine terms from different use cases, but be aware that some combinations create conflicting instructions. For example, “soft focus” (moody/artistic) conflicts with “deep focus” (technical/documentary).

Lighting Terminology

Lighting terms let you control how illumination shapes your image. The categories below organize lighting language by its purpose—whether you’re specifying a time of day, choosing a light source, controlling shadow direction, or creating specific emotional effects through color and contrast.

Natural & Ambient

Uses time-of-day and weather conditions to create specific color temperatures and shadow qualities.

golden hour • blue hour • dawn light • twilight glow • midday harsh sun • overcast diffuse • moonlit • starlit

Artificial & Practical Sources

Specifies the type of light source, which determines color temperature and quality of illumination.

tungsten warm • fluorescent cool • LED soft panel • neon glow • candlelit • fireplace glow • lantern light • Edison-bulb vintage

Directional Techniques

Controls where shadows fall and which features of the subject are emphasized or hidden.

front light • backlight • rim light • silhouette • side light • split lighting • butterfly (Paramount) • Rembrandt lighting • top-light • under-lighting • edge lighting

Contrast & Exposure

Determines the range between the darkest and brightest parts of the image and the overall tonal balance.

high-key • low-key • chiaroscuro • dramatic contrast • HDR • washed-out • deep shadows • blown highlights

Color & Mood Washes

Applies specific color palettes that carry emotional associations and genre conventions.

teal-and-orange • pastel wash • gelled magenta • ultraviolet • bioluminescent glow • cyberpunk neon

Atmospheric Effects

Adds visible light behaviors or environmental conditions that create depth and mood.

volumetric rays (god rays) • softbox soft light • hard spotlight • patterned gobo • dappled window light • lens flare • light trails (long exposure)

Pre-Assessment: Your Starting Point

Before exploring the framework, let’s see your current approach to image generation prompts.

Step 1: Describe Your Vision

Think of an image you’d like to generate. Describe it in a few sentences—what should appear in the image? What feeling should it convey?

Step 2: Write Your Prompt

Now write the actual prompt you would give to an AI image generator to create this image. Use whatever approach feels natural to you.

Step 3: Generate and Reflect

Copy your prompt and generate an image using your preferred AI tool (ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, etc.). Then return here to reflect on the results.

Post-Assessment: Measuring Your Growth

Now that you’ve explored the framework, let’s see how your prompting has evolved. You can either revise your original prompt or create a new one using what you’ve learned.

Step 1: Review Your Original Vision

Here’s what you originally wanted to create:

Your original vision will appear here after completing the pre-assessment.

Step 2: Write Your Improved Prompt

Using the six-component framework, write a new prompt for the same vision. Try to include specific details for each relevant component.

Step 3: Component Checklist

Which components did you include in your improved prompt? This helps you see which elements you’ve adopted.

Step 4: Generate and Compare

Copy your improved prompt and generate a new image using the same AI tool you used before. Then return here to reflect on the results.

References

Adobe. (2025, September 4). Writing effective text prompts. Adobe Firefly Help Center. https://helpx.adobe.com/firefly/web/generate-images-with-text-to-image/generate-images-using-text-prompts/writing-effective-text-prompts.html

Chow, K. (2024, October). AI image prompting 101: The ultimate guide to AI image generation. AdeptDept. https://adeptdept.com/blog/ai-image-prompting-101-complete-guide/

Lannom, S. C. (2025, May 20). Camera framing techniques: Frame shots like a master filmmaker. StudioBinder. https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/types-of-camera-shot-frames-in-film/

LetsEnhance. (2025, October 7). How to write AI image prompts like a pro. LetsEnhance. https://letsenhance.io/blog/article/ai-text-prompt-guide

Microsoft. (2025). AI art prompting guide: Image prompting. Copilot. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/for-individuals/do-more-with-ai/ai-art-prompting-guide/image-prompting-101

Midjourney. (n.d.). Prompt basics. Midjourney Documentation. https://docs.midjourney.com/hc/en-us/articles/32023408776205-Prompt-Basics

Oppenlaender, J. (2023). A taxonomy of prompt modifiers for text-to-image generation. Behaviour & Information Technology, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2023.2286532

Oppenlaender, J., Linder, R., & Silvennoinen, J. (2024). Prompting AI art: An investigation into the creative skill of prompt engineering. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 41(10), 10207–10229. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10447318.2024.2431761

Provost, R. (2025, April 25). Film lighting — The ultimate guide. StudioBinder. https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/film-lighting/

Stockimg AI. (2025, March 13). Advanced prompt techniques: Getting hyper-realistic results from your AI photo generator. Stockimg.ai Blog. https://stockimg.ai/blog/prompts/advanced-prompt-techniques-getting-hyper-realistic-results-from-your-ai-photo-generator

Taylor, M. (2025, May 10). Prompt engineering: From words to art and copy. Saxifrage. https://www.saxifrage.xyz/post/prompt-engineering

Zapier. (2025, September 28). How to write AI art prompts. Zapier. https://zapier.com/blog/ai-art-prompts/