You do not need to be an artist, a photographer, or a designer to create professional-quality images. You need to know how to describe what you want. This is the complete guide to AI image generation — choosing the right tool, writing prompts that work, and 25 ready-to-use prompts across every creative use.
AI Images~8,200 wordsBeginner to advanced
The right AI image tool for your situation
There are now several excellent AI image tools and choosing the right one for your use case matters. The decision comes down to three factors: how much artistic control you need, whether you need it free or are willing to pay, and how much time you want to spend learning prompting.
Best artistic quality — Midjourney ($10/month)
The gold standard for aesthetic quality. More painterly, more evocative, more visually striking than alternatives. Requires learning parameter syntax. Best for: professional creative work, marketing visuals, art, illustration.
Built into ChatGPT. No extra setup, no new tool to learn. Understands plain English without special syntax. Best for: quick everyday image needs, non-designer use, when you already use ChatGPT.
Adobe’s AI image tool is trained only on licensed content — so outputs are commercially safe without copyright concern. Integrates with Photoshop and Illustrator. Best for: professional design work, brand assets, commercial use requiring clean licensing.
Best open-source — Stable Diffusion (free)
Runs locally on your computer with no subscription, no API limits, and complete control. Requires technical setup. Best for: power users who want maximum control, privacy, and no cost.
What makes a good image prompt
An image prompt is a description of a photograph, painting, or illustration you want to see — written as if briefing a skilled photographer or artist. The more specific and visual your description, the better the result.
The six elements of a strong image prompt
SUBJECT
What is in the image? Be specific — not “a woman” but “a woman in her 40s, reading a book, short dark hair”
SETTING
Where and when? “in a rain-soaked Paris street, evening, neon reflections on wet cobblestones”
Golden hour sunlight? Dramatic studio lighting? Candlelight? Overcast diffused light? Neon glow? Natural window light?
MOOD
What feeling should it evoke? “serene and contemplative”, “tense and dramatic”, “joyful and celebratory”, “mysterious”
TECHNICAL
Aspect ratio, camera lens details, depth of field, colour palette, resolution quality descriptors
25 image prompts across every use case
Business and marketing
1. Professional hero image for website or blog
A [subject description] captured in professional photography style. Setting: [describe environment]. Lighting: [natural window light / soft studio / golden hour]. Mood: [confident and approachable / calm and focused / energetic]. Suitable as a website hero image or blog post header. [Aspect ratio: 16:9 for wide banner / 4:3 for standard / 1:1 for square]. Photorealistic, high quality.
2. Product on a clean background
[Describe the product] photographed on a [clean white / soft grey / textured natural material] background. Professional product photography. Soft studio lighting with gentle shadows for depth. Slightly reflective surface. No props, product as the sole focus. Ultra-detailed, photorealistic. Suitable for e-commerce. [1:1 aspect ratio].
3. Social media lifestyle image
Lifestyle photography: a [person description] [activity — enjoying morning coffee / working at a laptop / cooking / reading]. Setting: [describe — bright modern home / outdoor café / cosy room]. Natural, candid feel. Warm natural lighting. Colour grade: [warm and golden / clean and airy / moody and atmospheric]. [9:16 for Stories / 4:5 for Instagram feed / 16:9 for banner]. Authentic, not staged-looking.
4. Abstract background for presentations or documents
Abstract [describe concept or mood — flowing data streams / geometric minimalism / organic gradients / futuristic tech]. Colour palette: [describe — deep blue and purple / warm amber and cream / monochrome]. Suitable as a presentation background or document header. Subtle texture, not distracting. [16:9 aspect ratio]. No text, no recognisable objects.
5. Business concept illustration
Flat design illustration representing [business concept — collaboration / growth / innovation / data analysis / global connectivity]. Clean, modern vector-style. [Brand colours: describe] or [colour palette: describe]. Suitable for website, presentation, or report. No text in the image. Professional and polished. [1:1 or 16:9].
Personal and creative
6. Personalised portrait or family illustration
A warm [illustration / watercolour painting / charming cartoon] portrait of [describe subjects — family of four / couple / individual with specific features]. Setting: [a cosy home / garden / favourite place]. Style: [storybook illustration / modern digital art / classic portrait painting]. Warm, affectionate mood. Suitable for printing as a gift or keepsake. [Portrait orientation 3:4].
7. Fantasy landscape
Epic [fantasy / sci-fi / dreamlike] landscape featuring [describe key elements — floating islands / ancient ruins / alien sky / enchanted forest / crystalline mountains]. Dramatic [golden / purple / crimson] light. Rich, saturated colours. Cinematic wide composition. High detail in foreground elements. [21:9 ultra-wide for panoramic effect]. Digital concept art style, studio quality.
8. Children’s book illustration
A charming children’s book illustration of [scene — e.g. a small bear wearing a yellow raincoat, splashing in puddles]. Soft pastel colours. Round, friendly shapes. Gentle, warm lighting. Reminiscent of classic picture book art — gentle and inviting. [4:3 landscape for double-page spread / 3:4 portrait for single page]. The character should look kind and approachable.
9. Birthday or celebration image
A beautiful [theme: space / unicorn / underwater / garden] birthday celebration illustration. Colour scheme: [describe]. Joyful and festive atmosphere. Key elements: [balloons / confetti / flowers / stars / cake]. Style: [watercolour / flat digital illustration / warm and painterly]. Suitable for printing as a birthday card or banner. [Landscape 4:3]. Warm and celebratory mood.
10. Travel and destination image
[Specific destination or type of place] captured at [time of day — golden hour / blue hour / midday]. [Camera style — wide angle drone shot / street level / intimate detail]. Key visual elements: [describe what makes this place distinctive]. [Weather and atmosphere]. Photorealistic, National Geographic quality. [16:9 landscape]. Evokes the feeling of being there.
Art and illustration
11. Fine art inspired by a style
[Scene or subject] painted in the style of [artistic movement or era — Impressionism / Art Nouveau / Baroque / Dutch Golden Age / Abstract Expressionism]. [Describe colour palette and key characteristics of the style]. [Medium: oil on canvas / watercolour / gouache]. [Describe the specific scene or subject]. High quality art reproduction, gallery quality. [1:1 or 2:3 portrait].
12. Architectural concept or interior design
[Building type / room type] with [describe architectural or interior style — Scandinavian minimalist / Japanese wabi-sabi / Art Deco / contemporary / industrial]. [Time of day and lighting]. Key design features: [describe materials, colours, key furniture or structural elements]. Photorealistic architectural visualisation or interior design rendering. [16:9 wide angle]. Professional quality suitable for a client presentation.
13. Character design
Character design for [type of character — hero / villain / supporting character]. Description: [age, build, distinctive physical features, expression]. Wearing: [describe clothing and accessories that reflect their personality or role]. Style: [realistic concept art / anime / cartoon / illustrated]. [Full body shot / portrait / three-quarter view]. Background: simple neutral or environment that suits the character. [3:4 portrait].
[Dish name and description] — professional food photography. [Angle: overhead flat lay / 45 degree / close-up macro]. [Backdrop: rustic wooden table / white marble / dark slate / linen cloth]. [Garnishes and styling details]. Natural window light from the left, creating soft shadows. [Props: minimal / ceramic bowls / herbs / vintage cutlery]. Photorealistic, restaurant-quality, appetising. [4:3].
Branded and design work
16. Logo concept exploration (for inspiration only)
A minimalist logo design concept for a [type of business] that conveys [brand values — trust / innovation / craftsmanship / warmth / modernity]. Simple geometric or iconic symbol. No text. [Primary colour] on white background. Vector-style, clean lines. [Describe any specific symbolism or concept to explore]. Note: for professional use, refine this concept with a human designer. [1:1].
17. Book or album cover concept
[Book / album] cover for a [genre] work titled “[working title if you have one]”. Concept: [describe the mood, themes, or imagery that captures the work]. Style: [photographic / illustrated / abstract / typographic-focused]. Colour palette: [describe]. Composition should leave space for title text at [top / bottom / centre]. [Portrait 2:3 ratio]. Should feel [atmospheric / bold / intimate / mysterious].
18. Event poster concept
A design concept for an event poster for [type of event — music festival / conference / art exhibition / community event]. Style: [bold graphic design / photography-based / illustrated / typographic]. Colour scheme: [describe]. Key visual element: [describe]. The design should convey [mood/feel of the event]. Vertical format suitable for print. Space for event name, date, and details at [top/bottom]. [3:4 portrait].
Technical and educational
19. Process or concept diagram illustration
A clean, clear infographic-style illustration showing [process or concept]. Style: flat design, simple icons and arrows, clear visual hierarchy. [Brand colours or: professional blue and white / warm earthy tones]. Steps / elements: [list the key stages or components]. Suitable for use in a presentation or explainer document. [16:9]. No dense text — this should be understood at a glance.
20. Science or nature illustration
A detailed [scientific illustration / nature illustration / educational diagram] of [subject — specific animal / plant / biological process / geographical feature]. Style: [accurate naturalist illustration in the tradition of field guides / modern scientific illustration / textbook diagram]. [Level of detail: high / simplified for education]. Accurately depicted, aesthetically beautiful. [3:4 portrait or 4:3 landscape depending on subject].
21. Aerial or map-style view
An aerial [photographic / illustrated] view of [location type — a coastal village / city grid / farmland / mountain terrain / forest]. [Level of abstraction: photorealistic drone shot / stylised illustrated map / abstract pattern]. Colour palette: [describe]. [Time of day / season / weather if photorealistic]. [16:9 or 1:1]. Suitable for [print / digital background / educational use].
22. Mood board element — texture or material
Close-up macro photography or highly detailed illustration of [material / texture — aged leather / rough stone / weathered wood / polished metal / silk fabric / hand-thrown ceramic]. Extremely detailed surface texture. [Lighting: raking sidelight to reveal texture / even studio light]. [Colour: natural / describe specific tone]. Suitable as a mood board element or background texture. [1:1].
23. Seasonal or holiday image
A [season / holiday] image that captures the feeling of [Christmas / autumn / spring / summer / Diwali / Eid / New Year]. Key visual elements: [describe what evokes this time of year]. Style: [photographic / illustrated / watercolour / modern flat design]. Colour palette: [describe seasonal/holiday colours]. Warm, inviting atmosphere. Suitable for social media or greeting cards. [4:3 or 1:1].
24. Concept art — sci-fi or futuristic
[Describe a futuristic scene, technology, or environment]. Sci-fi concept art style. [Atmosphere: clean utopian / gritty cyberpunk / clinical corporate / hopeful and bright / dark and atmospheric]. Key design elements: [describe specific visual features]. [Colour grade: cool blues and whites / warm amber and shadow / neon accents on dark]. Cinematic quality. [16:9 or 21:9 for wide panoramic feel].
25. Abstract emotional image
An abstract image that captures the feeling of [emotion or state — grief / hope / joy / anxiety / peace / transformation / connection]. [Medium: oil paint / digital painting / photographic composite / fluid abstract]. [Colour palette that matches the emotion — cool and grey for melancholy / warm and golden for joy / deep purple and black for mystery]. Not representational — purely abstract. [1:1]. Gallery quality fine art.
Advanced prompting — Midjourney parameters
Midjourney’s parameter system gives you precise control over how the model generates images. Once you have the basics working, these are the parameters that move you from good to exceptional results.
--stylize 0 — Literal interpretation of your prompt, minimal artistic embellishment
--stylize 100 — Default. Balanced between literal and artistic
--stylize 750 — High artistic interpretation, beautiful but may stray from prompt
--chaos 0 — All four generations are similar to each other
--chaos 50 — More variety between the four generations. Use when exploring.
Exclusion with --no
Use --no [element] to explicitly exclude things from your image. Common uses: --no text removes any text from the image; --no people for landscape photography without figures; --no watermark for clean outputs.
Using style references with --sref
If you have a previous Midjourney image whose style you want to replicate, use --sref [image URL] to reference that style. Combine with --sw [0-1000] to control how strongly the style reference is applied. This allows consistent visual style across a series of images — essential for brand consistency.