MAX’S NOTES
How to write an AI image prompt
Start with what the image is for and what it should show. Then refine composition and details using one fictional cover illustration.
To write an AI image prompt, describe the image's purpose, main subject, scene, composition and style. Add the constraints that matter. After seeing the result, ask for specific changes that help it meet your needs.
OpenAI's image guidance recommends clear scene descriptions and small, targeted revisions. [1] The example below is original editorial guidance, not a claim that an image has already been generated.
Start with the purpose
The same scene may need different treatment for an avatar, an article cover or an illustration inside a page.
A cover may need space for a headline. A small avatar needs a recognizable subject. An instructional image may need precise positioning more than atmosphere.
I would first write down where the image will appear and what someone should understand at a glance.
Five useful anchors
- Subject: the main person or object.
- Scene: what is happening and where.
- Composition: framing, angle and placement.
- Style: a photograph, drawing or another clear visual treatment.
- Constraints: what to preserve or exclude.
You do not need a long paragraph for each. Replace “beautiful and modern” with visible characteristics such as a light background, a large subject and two main colours.
A fictional cover example
Imagine an article about keeping notes. Here is a working prompt:
Draw an editorial illustration for an article cover. An open green notebook and one pencil lie on a light desk. Use a top-down view, with the objects in the right half and clear space on the left for a headline. Use a calm illustrated style and soft daylight. No text, logos or additional objects.
You can check the object count, empty space and absence of text. The prompt does not ask the system to infer an entire brand mood from “cosy.”
If the interface offers aspect-ratio controls, use them. A written format preference does not replace checking the dimensions of the resulting file.
Refine a specific problem
If the notebook appears in the centre, a revision could be:
Move the notebook and pencil farther right. Preserve the top-down view, colours and illustrated style. Leave the left third clear.
That requests a defined change rather than describing everything again. Asking to preserve details still does not guarantee that they remain unchanged. Compare the versions yourself.
Check before using
- Does the scene fit the article?
- Is the main object recognizable at a small size?
- Is there room for text when needed?
- Were extra objects or random lettering added?
- Are the actual file dimensions and format suitable?
If an image must show precise information or a mechanism, check each important detail separately. A diagram with required labels may be easier to assemble with text and geometry in an editor.
A good prompt makes your expectations visible. The image itself determines whether those expectations were met.