Write Better AI Prompts

The difference between a mediocre AI image and a stunning one comes down to how you write your prompt. Here are the techniques that produce the best results.

1. Be Specific, Not Vague

The more detail you give, the better your result. Vague prompts produce generic images.

Subject Description

✗ "a cat"

✓ "a fluffy orange tabby cat sitting on a windowsill, looking out at rain"

Specify breed, color, pose, setting, and action for much better results.

Scene Setting

✗ "a city"

✓ "a bustling Tokyo street at night, neon signs reflecting on wet pavement, crowd of people"

Name the city, time of day, weather, and atmosphere. Generic locations produce generic results.

2. Describe the Mood & Lighting

Lighting and mood are what separate amateur photos from professional ones — the same applies to AI art.

Lighting Keywords That Work

golden hour sunlight streaming through forest trees, volumetric light rays

dramatic side lighting, deep shadows, film noir atmosphere

soft overcast lighting, pastel colors, dreamy and ethereal

Try: golden hour, blue hour, backlit, rim lighting, neon glow, candlelight, studio lighting, volumetric fog.

3. Use Style Modifiers

DreamForge AI has 8 built-in styles, but you can push them further with style keywords in your prompt.

Photorealistic Boosters

portrait of an elderly fisherman, weathered face, Canon EOS R5, 85mm f/1.4, shallow depth of field

Camera model, lens specs, and photography terms push photorealism to the next level.

Anime/Illustration Boosters

magical girl transformation scene, cel shading, sparkle effects, pastel color palette, manga style

Reference specific anime aesthetics: cel shading, chibi, shoujo, mecha, Studio Ghibli, Makoto Shinkai.

Digital Art Boosters

epic fantasy warrior standing on a cliff, concept art, matte painting, trending on artstation, 4k detailed

"Trending on artstation," "concept art," and "matte painting" signal high-quality digital art styles.

4. Composition & Camera Angle

Tell the AI where the camera is. This controls the composition and dramatic impact of your image.

Angle Keywords

aerial view of a medieval castle surrounded by autumn forest

extreme close-up of a bee on a sunflower, macro photography

low angle shot looking up at a towering skyscraper, dramatic perspective

Try: bird's eye view, worm's eye view, dutch angle, over-the-shoulder, wide shot, close-up, panoramic.

5. Color Palette Control

Specifying colors gives you much more control over the final look.

Color Techniques

cyberpunk city, teal and orange color grading, neon purple accents

minimalist landscape, muted earth tones, warm autumn palette

pop art portrait, bold primary colors, high contrast, flat design

Name specific colors, reference color grading styles (teal and orange, desaturated, monochromatic), or describe the overall palette.

6. The Prompt Formula

Use this structure for consistently great results:

The Formula

[Subject] + [Setting/Background] + [Lighting/Mood] + [Style] + [Camera/Composition] + [Quality Keywords]

Example: "A samurai warrior (subject) standing in a bamboo forest (setting) during golden hour with mist (lighting) in the style of a cinematic movie poster (style), wide angle shot (composition), highly detailed, 8k (quality)"

Ready to Try These Tips?

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