🎯 Let’s Start With the Truth: AI Doesn’t “Get You” (Yet)
You’ve got a vision in your head.
Maybe it’s a cyberpunk flamingo in a trench coat.
Maybe it’s a serene forest temple lit by moonlight.
Or maybe it’s a product mockup that doesn’t look like it came from a potato.
So, you fire up Midjourney, DALL·E, Leonardo, or whatever your tool of choice is.
You type something like:
“Cool looking bird in a sci-fi outfit.”
And what you get back?
🦆 A duck. Wearing sunglasses. In a dumpster.
Not what you meant. Not even close.
Why?
Because generative AI tools don’t “guess” what you want.
They don’t read minds.
They follow structure, pattern, and probability.
So if you want to create amazing AI images?
You need a prompt that works like a creative director briefing a pro artist — not like a vague thought you had in the shower.
🤖 So… What Is Important To Do When Trying To Create An Image With A Generative AI Tool?
Let’s hit it hard and honest:
Your output is only as good as your input.
Creating stunning visuals with AI starts with 7 core things:
- Clarity of concept
- Command of style
- Mastery of prompt structure
- Smart use of keywords
- Tweaking with negative prompts
- Picking the right tool for the job
- Consistent iteration and testing
We’ll walk through all of them. And we’ll use bold, human examples so you actually walk away knowing what to do — not just theory.
Let’s break this thing wide open.
🧠 1. Get Clarity on What You Want — Or Prepare to Be Disappointed
Most bad AI images come from bad vision.
| Weak Prompt | Strong Prompt Example |
|---|---|
| “A cool city” | “Cyberpunk city at night with neon reflections, rain, 4K” |
| “A fantasy animal” | “A phoenix rising from volcanic ash, glowing feathers” |
| “A painting of a man” | “Renaissance oil painting of a stoic king, gold crown” |
Before you prompt, ask yourself:
- What is the subject?
- What is the scene?
- What is the mood?
- What is the style?
- What is the intended use?
Until you know that… you’re guessing. And so is the AI.
🎨 2. Choose An Art Style — Or Get Bland Garbage
AI thrives on art style context.
Give it none, and it’ll default to something generic, which often means flat, stock photo energy.
Use bold style prompts to bring your vision to life.
| Art Style | Prompt Add-on Example |
|---|---|
| Cyberpunk | “cyberpunk aesthetic, neon glow, Blade Runner style” |
| Anime | “anime style, Studio Ghibli, soft shadows, vibrant eyes” |
| Surrealism | “Dalí-inspired, dreamlike, floating elements” |
| Concept Art | “ArtStation trending, cinematic light, detailed” |
| Pixel Art | “8-bit pixel style, top-down RPG look” |
🔁 Style transforms the same subject into radically different images.
🧩 3. Use This Prompt Formula (It Just Works)
When in doubt, use this formula:
cssCopyEdit[Subject] + [Environment] + [Lighting] + [Style] + [Medium] + [Mood] + [Artist Reference]
🎯 Example 1: Product Mockup Prompt
“Matte black smartwatch floating in white space, studio lighting, photorealistic, product photography, Apple-style aesthetic”
🎯 Example 2: Fantasy Character Prompt
“Elf archer in misty forest, glowing arrows, golden hour light, digital painting, concept art, by Artgerm and Greg Rutkowski”
🎯 Example 3: Surreal Dreamscape Prompt
“Desert made of piano keys, giant floating fish above, soft clouds, surrealism, oil painting, Dalí style”
Use this structure, and you’ll out-prompt 90% of users instantly.
📉 4. Learn the Power of Negative Prompts
Negative prompts tell AI what NOT to include.
This is crucial if you’re getting weird hands, odd faces, or unnecessary clutter.
| Without Negative Prompt | With Negative Prompt |
|---|---|
| “A fantasy warrior with sword” | “A fantasy warrior with sword –no text –no watermark” |
| “Space scene, digital art” | “Space scene, digital art –no logo –no border” |
| “A child holding balloon” | “A child holding balloon –no extra limbs –no distortion” |
🔧 Great tools like Midjourney and Leonardo AI support --no formatting or structured negative keywords.
⚙️ 5. Choose The Right AI Tool (They Don’t All Work The Same)
Here’s a no-fluff comparison.
| Tool | Best For | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midjourney | Artistic, surreal, cinematic visuals | Highly stylized outputs | Struggles with text / faces |
| DALL·E 3 | Product mockups, clean illustrations | Understands text, logos, photorealism | Can be too literal at times |
| Leonardo AI | Concept art, game assets, characters | Game-dev style + variation | UI can be overwhelming |
| BlueWillow | Free Midjourney alternative | Beginner-friendly | Less detail, slower evolution |
| Adobe Firefly | Graphic design assets, print-quality work | Branding-safe, copyright clean | Not ideal for surreal or chaotic images |
🧠 Choose your tool based on your end goal — not hype.
🧱 6. Use Aspect Ratios For the Right Format (Or Regret It Later)
If you want to post to Instagram, print art, or design thumbnails — you must control your aspect ratio.
| Format | Use Case | Prompt Add-on |
|---|---|---|
| 1:1 | Instagram feed, square art | --ar 1:1 |
| 9:16 | Stories, Reels, TikTok | --ar 9:16 |
| 2:3 | Posters, Pinterest | --ar 2:3 |
| 16:9 | YouTube, blog headers | --ar 16:9 |
Most tools let you set the aspect ratio directly in the prompt or in UI settings.
🧪 7. Test, Iterate, Tweak, Repeat (The Secret Sauce)
Nobody gets the perfect image on Prompt #1.
The pros test 3–10 variations per idea.
📊 Pro Workflow Table
| Step | Tool or Action |
|---|---|
| Write 3 different prompts | Vary tone, style, structure |
| Generate 4 variations each | Use image variation feature |
| Upscale the best version | Export for real use |
| Remix / rerun if needed | Add new modifiers |
🚨 Don’t stop at one image. Build a visual set that shows variety.
🧠 Prompt Templates You Can Copy Right Now
Use these to get started fast:
🎨 Product Design Mockup
“A sleek ceramic coffee mug on a wooden table, natural morning light, high-resolution product photography style, white background –no text –no watermark”
👾 Fantasy World Builder
“Towering ice castle in the middle of a frozen lake, northern lights in the sky, fantasy illustration, concept art, trending on ArtStation”
📸 Branding Hero Image
“Young woman laughing with coffee in hand, sunrise city background, modern minimalism, soft focus, lifestyle brand ad photo”
🐉 Mythical Creature
“Dragon made of crystal, flying through clouds at golden hour, surreal, hyper-detailed, digital painting, by Alex Ross”
💥 Common AI Image Creation Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
| Mistake | Why It Fails | Fix It With… |
|---|---|---|
| Too vague | AI doesn’t know what you mean | Add scene, mood, style, medium |
| Overcomplicated prompts | AI gets confused | Stick to 7–9 key components max |
| Forgetting lighting | Image feels flat or dead | Add “golden hour”, “studio light”, etc. |
| Not using negative prompts | Images include junk or text | Use --no text --no watermark etc. |
| Relying on only one variation | Output feels boring or random | Generate 3–5 versions per prompt |
📦 Build an AI Image Prompt System (For Fun or Profit)
Want to create images fast, at scale, with consistent branding?
Here’s how to set up your system:
| Element | Tool | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Prompt Generator | ChatGPT (prompt + style input) | Generates new prompts in seconds |
| AI Art Tool | Midjourney / DALL·E / Leonardo | Best-in-class image generation |
| Organizer | Notion / Airtable | Categorize by style, subject, usage |
| Export System | Canva / Photoshop | Final polish and resizing |
| Delivery Channel | Instagram, Etsy, Webflow, Shopify | Turn art into posts, prints, or sales |
🧠 Wait… Can I Use AI-Generated Images Commercially?
Short answer: it depends.
| Tool | Commercial Use Allowed? | Fine Print |
|---|---|---|
| Midjourney | Yes (with paid plan) | Free plans = no rights |
| DALL·E 3 | Yes (via ChatGPT or OpenAI) | Must follow use case guidelines |
| Firefly | Yes, even for business | Great for commercial brands |
| Leonardo | Yes (with Pro plan) | Always check export terms |
| BlueWillow | Yes | Less predictable results |
Always read your tool’s Terms of Use — especially if you’re selling the artwork.
🚀 Final Thoughts: Create Like a Machine, Think Like an Artist
The tools are getting smarter.
But you are still the creative engine.
You’re the director. The dreamer. The one who says, “Wouldn’t it be cool if…”
What’s important to do when trying to create an image with a generative AI tool?
Everything we’ve covered:
- Be specific
- Set a mood
- Pick a style
- Guide the AI like a pro
- Refine until it feels right
And most importantly — have fun with it.
Because right now, you don’t need a paintbrush, camera, or 10 years of art school.
You need 12 well-chosen words. And a little imagination.
💡 Want Me To Build Your Prompt Library or Visual Brand System?
If you’re thinking:
“This is awesome — but I want a repeatable system for content, social, client work, or product design…”
I’ll help you:
- Build a Notion-based prompt vault
- Categorize prompts by tone, format, use case
- Sync with Midjourney, Leonardo, or DALL·E workflows
- Train you (or your VA) to generate content daily
- Create branding templates that never miss
Say: “Build my AI image system.”