Fantasy characters are brought to life through vivid descriptions that capture their essence and spark the imagination. AI art generators like Stable Diffusion offer new possibilities for visually realizing these creative visions. However, writing effective prompts can be challenging. This guide provides tips and examples for crafting immersive prompts tailored to conjure up wondrous fantasy characters.
Describe Physical Attributes
When describing fantasy characters, focus on distinctive physical traits that embody their persona:
An elf warrior with long white hair, emerald eyes, and intricate vine tattoos covering his muscular arms
Lean into imaginative elements for non-human characters:
A female orc shaman with braided green hair, tusks protruding from her lower jaw, and tribal markings on her cheeks
Convey Backstory and Personality
Breathe life into your characters by hinting at their backstory and personality:
A once fierce but now weary dwarven berserker in exile, his ornate armor battered from countless battles
An optimistic young gnome wizard, overflowing with curiosity about the world beyond her forest home
Set the Scene
Ground fantasy characters in richly described scenes that inform the viewer about their role and purpose:
A human paladin bathed in divine light as she fearlessly confronts a horde of undead in a decrepit graveyard
A cunning goblin rogue picking the lock on an ancient vault filled with magical treasures and artifacts
Focus On What Makes Your Character Unique
Emphasize distinctive elements that make your fantasy character stand out. For example:
An angel with shattered wings and embers instead of feathers, wielding a flaming sword as she rebels against the gods
Use Comparisons Creatively
Compare your fantasy character to well-known archetypes or genres to guide the AI:
A panther warrior with claws like katanas, fierce as Marvel's Black Panther crossed with the ferocity of Conan the Barbarian
An elven archer resembling Legolas but with a cyberpunk aesthetic, neon lights glowing from sleek augmentations
Prompt Chaining
Chain multiple prompts about your character together to reinforce details:
An elderly wizard, fantasy, intricate details, highly detailed face, intricate design, flowing grey beard, kind wise eyes, purple robes covered in mystic symbols, casting a spell, dramatic lighting, volumetric lighting, cinematic lighting, concept art, artstation, sharp focus, illustration, art by Artgerm and Greg Rutkowski and Alphonse Mucha
Use Test Renders
Create test renders to check if prompts convey the desired qualities before generating a full image. Refine prompts based on test results.
Helpful Resources
Subreddits
r/StableDiffusion & r/MediaSynthesis
Discords
Stable Diffusion & Midjourney
Sites
Lexica – AI Art Prompt Inspiration
PromptHero – Curated SD Prompts
YouTube Channels
AI Art Prompt Ideas – Tutorials & Inspiration
Conclusion
Crafting the perfect prompt is key to generating stunning AI fantasy art. Focus on imaginative details that bring out the essence of your vision. Describe backstories, appearances and contexts that make characters compelling and unique. Prompt chaining, comparisons and test renders help fine-tune results. With practice, you’ll be able to consistently create captivating fantasy characters through AI art generators.