As AI image generation tools like Stable Diffusion and DALL-E continue to advance, more people are experimenting with creating their own AI-generated art. A key part of this process is writing effective prompts – the text descriptions that guide the AI on what type of image to generate.
Crafting a good prompt is almost an art in itself. Small changes in wording can make a big difference in the final output. In this article, I’ll share some of my own prompt engineering tips and provide examples across different categories to spark ideas.
What Makes a Good Prompt?
When writing an AI art prompt, there are a few key things to keep in mind:
- Be specific. The more details you provide, the better. Describe the subject matter, style, composition, colors, etc.
- Use clear language. Avoid ambiguous phrasing that could be interpreted multiple ways.
- Limit the scope. Prompts that are too broad or ask for too much rarely turn out well. Try to focus on one clear concept.
- Provide examples and references. Give the AI some inspiration to work from – art styles, artists, color palettes, etc.
AI Art Prompt Examples
Below I’ve categorized prompts into different topics, along with examples for each. Feel free to tweak and experiment with these as a starting point for creating your own AI art.
Portraits and Characters
Prompts focused on imagining original characters and portraits tend to work very well.
- A portrait of an astronaut sitting on a cliff on Mars, matte painting trending on Artstation
- A female archer with long blonde hair, intricate fantasy armor, and glowing eyes, by Artgerm and Greg Rutkowski
- An elderly fantasy wizard with a long white beard and purple robes, detailed oil painting by Ilya Kuvshinov
Landscapes and Scenes
Describe a location or environment you’d like the AI to render.
- A lush green valley with a crystal blue lake, reflecting towering snowy mountains, by Thomas Kinkade
- A vibrant futuristic cityscape with towering neon skyscrapers, vehicles flying between buildings, by Syd Mead
- A magical grand library filled with endless bookshelves and glowing artifacts, detailed matte painting by Peter Mohrbacher
Still Life and Abstract
Prompt more experimental, abstract creations:
- An abstract liquid metal sculpture against a liminal space background, bismuth crystals, intricate details emerging from the shapes, trending on Behance
- A still life painting of various musical instruments on a table with dramatic lighting, by Henri Matisse
- A geometric sculpture made of triangles and circles floating through a surreal landscape, digital art
Useful Websites for Prompts
Here are some websites I’ve found very helpful for prompt inspiration and examples:
- PromptHero – Searchable database of top prompts
- Stable Diffusion Web – Explore prompts and AI art
- Promptomania – Prompt generator with references
The key is to keep testing out new prompts and learning what works best for your creative goals. Don’t be afraid to experiment! The AI still has much to learn from human artists and prompt engineers.