As an avid user of AI image generation models like Stable Diffusion, I have spent countless hours experimenting with prompts to create stunning images. After much trial and error, I have learned what makes an effective prompt that can unlock the full potential of Stable Diffusion.
In this article, I will showcase my expertise by providing a variety of prompt examples and techniques that have worked well in my experience. My goal is to offer meaningful insights to help fellow artists and creatives make the most of this incredible technology.
Why Prompts Matter
The text prompt is the main way users provide direction and context to Stable Diffusion. A well-crafted prompt acts like an artistic brief, allowing the AI to generate images aligned with your creative vision. The better the prompt, the better the final image.
While Stable Diffusion can produce photorealistic images from just a few words, more detailed prompts result in outputs more closely matching what you imagined. Prompt engineering is key to success.
Basic Prompt Structure
Most prompts follow a simple structure:
[Subject],[Medium/Style],[Details]For example:
A still life painting of fruit in a bowl, photorealisticLet’s break this prompt down:
- Subject: A still life
- Medium/Style: Painting, photorealistic
- Details: Fruit, bowl
This basic framework provides the AI enough context to generate a realistic still life painting.
Helpful Prompt Writing Tips
Here are some tips I’ve learned for writing effective prompts:
Be Specific
Clearly describe the subject, style, medium, composition, palette, etc. Stable Diffusion excels at rendering intricate details when provided.
Limit Scope
Focus prompts on one clear subject or scene. Overly complex prompts often result in confusing outputs.
Use Reference Photos
Provide a URL to a reference photo to give helpful visual context.
A still life painting of fruit in a bowl, photorealistic, https://example.com/fruit-still-life.jpgWeight Keywords
Emphasize important prompt terms using brackets to weight keywords. This signals priority to the AI.
A still life painting of [fruit:1.2] in a [bowl:1.2], photorealisticAdvanced Prompt Techniques
As you become more experienced with Stable Diffusion, try these advanced prompt techniques:
Storytelling
Build a narrative to provide imaginative context and set a specific mood/tone.
A moody still life painting reminiscent of 17th century Dutch Golden Age, muted palette, dramatic chiaroscuro lighting falling across overripe fruit spilling from a cracked porcelain bowl set atop a weathered oak tableNegative Prompts
Add negative prompts to specify what you DON’T want included in the image. Place these prompts before the positive.
No people, no utensils, a still life painting of fruit in a bowl, photorealistic Aspect Ratio
Define a specific aspect ratio to control image dimensions.
1:1 square format, A still life painting of fruit in a bowl, photorealisticExample Prompts
Here are a few more examples of prompts I’ve used successfully:
Landscape Photography
An epic wide angle photo of a vibrant green Northern California redwood forest with towering trees and misty light rays shining through the canopyCharacter Portrait
[Highly detailed digital art painting of a female wizard casting a magic spell, intense facial expression, intricate design on clothing and accessories, by Artgerm and Greg Rutkowski and Alphonse Mucha], ([Wizard holding an ancient leatherbound spellbook open, reading an incantation, surrounded by magic symbols and glow effects emitting from the pages]), 8kStill Life Painting
Baroque style still life oil painting by the old masters, [Caravaggio and Zurbarán], featuring [abundant overflowing fruit, overturned basket, detailed realism, chiaroscuro lighting, intense contrast, fine brushwork, masterful composition]Final Thoughts
With practice, you too can become an expert at Stable Diffusion prompting. Experiment often – creativity and persistence will be rewarded. I hope these examples and tips offer inspiration as you explore this incredible AI art tool.