10 Prompt Engineering Tips for Better AI Images

After generating over 2,000 AI images across Midjourney, DALL-E, and Leonardo AI in 2025-2026, I’ve learned that the difference between mediocre and stunning results comes down to one thing: prompt engineering. These AI image generation tips will help you transform vague ideas into precisely crafted visuals that match your creative vision.

The right prompt can mean the difference between a blurry cartoon and a photorealistic masterpiece. Let’s dive into the techniques that actually work.

Why Prompt Engineering Matters for AI Art

AI image generators are incredibly powerful, but they’re only as good as the instructions you give them. A generic prompt like “sunset beach” will give you generic stock photo results. But a well-engineered prompt unlocks the full potential of these tools, giving you control over composition, lighting, style, and mood.

Think of prompt engineering like giving directions to a talented artist who doesn’t speak your language. The more specific and structured your instructions, the closer the result will match your vision.

1. Be Specific, Not Generic

Vague prompts produce vague results. The more specific details you include, the more control you have over the final image.

Don’t:

• Use generic prompts like “sunset beach scene”
• Leave composition to chance
• Assume the AI knows what you want

Do:

• Use specific prompts: “Golden hour sunset over Mediterranean beach, dramatic clouds, cinematic depth of field, Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8”
• Include concrete details about subject, setting, lighting, and perspective
• Specify exactly what you want to see

Example transformation:

• Generic: “portrait of a woman”
• Specific: “Portrait of a woman in her 30s, professional headshot, soft studio lighting, shallow depth of field, neutral gray background, confident expression, looking directly at camera”

2. Use Quality Keywords

Certain keywords signal to the AI that you want high-quality, professional results. These “magic words” consistently produce better outputs across all platforms.

Don’t:

• Forget to specify quality level
• Use conflicting quality terms
• Assume default quality is sufficient

Do:

• Include quality keywords: “Shot on ARRI Alexa”, “8k resolution”, “highly detailed”, “photorealistic”
• For 3D renders: “Unreal Engine 5 render”, “octane render”, “ray tracing”
• For photography: Camera model, lens specs, aperture settings

Quality keyword library:

• Photography: “Shot on [camera model]”, “professional photography”, “award-winning”
• Digital art: “trending on ArtStation”, “highly detailed”, “intricate”
• 3D: “Unreal Engine”, “volumetric lighting”, “physically based rendering”

3. Master Negative Prompts

Telling the AI what you DON’T want is just as important as what you do want. Negative prompts help eliminate common unwanted elements.

Don’t:

• Skip negative prompts entirely
• Use only positive descriptions
• Hope the AI avoids common mistakes on its own

Do:

• Specify what to avoid: --no blur, distorted, cartoon, oversaturated
• Remove unwanted styles: --no watermark, text, signature
• Exclude common AI artifacts: --no extra fingers, malformed hands

Platform-specific syntax:

• Midjourney: Use --no parameter at the end
• DALL-E: Include “without [element]” in prompt
• Leonardo: Use negative prompt field in advanced settings

Common negative prompt elements:

• Quality issues: blur, noise, grain, low quality, pixelated
• Style conflicts: cartoon, anime, sketch (unless intended)
• Artifacts: watermark, text, signature, logo
• Anatomical issues: extra limbs, distorted faces, malformed hands

4. Leverage Camera and Composition Terms

Photography terminology gives you precise control over perspective and framing. These terms work consistently across all AI image generators.

Don’t:

• Leave camera angle to chance
• Use vague terms like “nice view”
• Ignore composition principles

Do:

• Specify camera angle: “low angle shot”, “bird’s eye view”, “Dutch angle”
• Define lens type: “macro shot”, “wide angle”, “telephoto”, “fish-eye”
• Include composition rules: “rule of thirds”, “centered composition”, “golden ratio”

Composition vocabulary:

• Angles: Eye level, low angle, high angle, aerial view, worm’s eye view
• Distances: Extreme close-up, close-up, medium shot, long shot, establishing shot
• Lenses: 24mm (wide), 50mm (standard), 85mm (portrait), 200mm (telephoto)
• Depth: Shallow depth of field, deep focus, bokeh background

Example: “Low angle macro shot of morning dew on rose petals, shallow depth of field, bokeh background, 100mm f/2.8 lens”

5. Understand Platform Strengths

Each AI image generator has unique strengths. Matching your project to the right platform dramatically improves results.

Don’t:

• Use the same platform for everything
• Ignore platform-specific features
• Fight against a platform’s natural style

Do:

• Choose based on your needs: Midjourney for artistry, DALL-E for literal adherence, Leonardo for speed
• Learn platform-specific parameters
• Leverage unique features like Leonardo’s real-time generation

Platform comparison:

6. Use Stylize Parameters

Platform-specific parameters give you fine control over how much artistic liberty the AI takes with your prompt.

Don’t:

• Ignore stylization controls
• Use default settings for everything
• Misunderstand what stylize values do

Do:

• Adjust Midjourney’s --stylize (0-1000): Lower for literal, higher for artistic
• Use Leonardo’s guidance scale: 7 for balance, 3-5 for creative freedom, 10-15 for strict adherence
• Experiment with different values for different project types

Midjourney stylize guide:

• --stylize 0-200: Very literal interpretation
• --stylize 200-500: Balanced (default is 100)
• --stylize 500-1000: Highly artistic, takes creative liberties

When to adjust:

• Product photos: Low stylize (literal)
• Marketing materials: Medium stylize (balanced)
• Concept art: High stylize (artistic)

7. Iterate in Real-Time

The fastest way to perfect your prompts is rapid iteration. Tools that show results quickly enable experimentation.

Don’t:

• Wait 60+ seconds per generation
• Generate one image at a time
• Accept first results without testing variations

Do:

• Use Leonardo AI for real-time generation (2-3 seconds)
• Generate 4 variations at once
• Test prompt modifications side-by-side

Iteration workflow:

1. Start with base prompt
2. Generate 4 variations
3. Pick best result
4. Modify one element (lighting, angle, style)
5. Generate 4 more variations
6. Repeat until satisfied

Elements to iterate on:

• Lighting (golden hour → overcast → dramatic rim light)
• Style (photorealistic → cinematic → painterly)
• Composition (wide shot → close-up → macro)
• Mood (peaceful → tense → mysterious)

8. Train Custom Models

For brand consistency or recurring projects, training a custom model saves hours of prompt engineering. This is particularly powerful in Leonardo AI.

Don’t:

• Manually recreate the same style every time
• Waste tokens on repetitive prompts
• Hope for consistent results across projects

Do:

• Train custom models with 10-20 reference images
• Use for brand assets, character consistency, or specific art styles
• Name and organize your models for easy reuse

Custom model use cases:

• Brand identity: Logo variations, marketing materials
• Character design: Consistent character across scenes
• Product mockups: Specific product in different settings
• Architectural visualization: Building style consistency

Training tips:

• Use high-quality reference images (1024x1024+)
• Include variety in your training set (different angles, lighting)
• Test your model with diverse prompts to check versatility

9. Specify Lighting and Mood

Lighting transforms the emotional impact of an image. Be explicit about light sources, quality, and atmosphere.

Don’t:

• Let the AI choose lighting randomly
• Use vague terms like “good lighting”
• Ignore how lighting affects mood

Do:

• Specify lighting type: “Dramatic rim lighting”, “soft diffused light”, “golden hour”, “harsh overhead fluorescent”
• Define mood: “moody atmosphere”, “cheerful and bright”, “mysterious and dark”
• Include light direction: “backlit”, “side lighting”, “three-point lighting”

Lighting vocabulary:

• Time of day: Golden hour, blue hour, midday sun, night
• Quality: Soft, hard, diffused, direct, ambient
• Direction: Front-lit, backlit, side-lit, rim lighting
• Sources: Natural light, studio lighting, candlelight, neon

Mood keywords:

• Warm: Cozy, inviting, cheerful, comfortable
• Cool: Mysterious, tense, clinical, isolated
• Dramatic: Cinematic, moody, atmospheric, epic
• Peaceful: Serene, calm, tranquil, gentle

Example: “Interior of modern coffee shop, soft morning light streaming through large windows, warm and inviting atmosphere, golden hour glow, shallow depth of field”

10. Include Artist and Style References

Referencing specific artists or art movements gives the AI a clear stylistic direction. This works across all platforms.

Don’t:

• Describe styles in vague terms
• Say “make it look good”
• Ignore art history and established styles

Do:

• Reference artists: “In the style of [artist name]”
• Cite movements: “Art Deco”, “Bauhaus”, “Impressionist”
• Mention media: “Studio Ghibli aesthetic”, “Pixar animation style”

Style reference categories:

Fine art:

• Classical: Renaissance, Baroque, Impressionist
• Modern: Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Cubism, Surrealism
• Contemporary: Pop Art, Street Art, Digital Art

Digital/Commercial:

• Animation: Studio Ghibli, Pixar, Disney, anime
• Games: Unreal Engine, cel-shaded, low poly
• Photography: Fashion photography, documentary style, fine art photography

Specific artists (use sparingly, respect copyright):

• Photography: Annie Leibovitz, Steve McCurry
• Digital art: Beeple, Loish, Artgerm
• Traditional: Van Gogh, Monet, Dali

Example: “Cyberpunk street scene in the style of Blade Runner 2049, neon lighting, cinematic composition, Denis Villeneuve aesthetic”

Quick Reference: Platform Strengths

Choose your platform based on project requirements:

Leonardo AI - Best for speed and consistency

• Free tier: 150 tokens/day
• Paid: $12/mo (Apprentice)
• Strength: Real-time generation (2-3 seconds), custom model training
• Use when: You need to iterate quickly or maintain brand consistency

Midjourney - Best for artistic quality

• Paid only: $10/mo (Basic)
• Strength: Beautiful, striking images with artistic interpretation
• Use when: Creating marketing materials, concept art, or hero images

DALL-E 3 - Best for beginners

• Free tier available (ChatGPT)
• Strength: Conversational interface, literal prompt following
• Use when: You want simple, straightforward image generation

Final Recommendations

Start with Leonardo AI if you’re new to AI image generation. The real-time feedback helps you learn prompt engineering faster than any other platform. Their free tier gives you 150 daily tokens to experiment with these techniques.

Once you’ve mastered the basics, explore Midjourney for projects that need that extra artistic polish, or DALL-E 3 when you need quick, conversational generation without learning complex syntax.

The key to better AI images isn’t just better tools — it’s better prompts. These AI image generation tips work across all platforms because they leverage fundamental principles of photography, composition, and visual design. Master these techniques, and you’ll transform your AI art from generic to gallery-worthy.

Conclusion

Effective AI image generation tips come down to three core principles: specificity, technical vocabulary, and understanding platform strengths. By being explicit about what you want, using photography and art terminology, and choosing the right tool for each project, you’ll consistently generate stunning images that match your creative vision.

Start with one or two techniques from this guide, practice them until they become second nature, then gradually incorporate more. The learning curve is steep, but the results are worth it. Your AI-generated images will stand out from the generic outputs that flood the internet, giving you a real competitive advantage in visual content creation.

External Resources

For official documentation and updates:

• Leonardo AI — Official website
• OpenAI — Additional resource