Introduction: Words That Paint Pictures
AI image generation begins with words. But if you want great results from tools like DALL·E or MidJourney, you must master the anatomy of image prompts—specifically, four core components: Style, Mood, Subject, and Detail.
Each of these shapes how your final image looks and feels. This guide breaks them down with examples and tips to help you write better visual prompts in 2025.
1. Subject – What Do You Want to See?
This is the foundation. The subject is the main thing the AI will try to generate. It can be as simple or as specific as you want:
- Basic: “a cat”
- Specific: “a calico cat sitting on a windowsill with morning light”
- Creative: “a robot cat wearing a space helmet, floating in zero gravity”
📌 Tips:
- Be specific about poses, objects, and characters
- Add context or environment (e.g., “in a forest,” “underwater,” “in front of a crowd”)
- Use nouns and adjectives together (e.g., “ancient wooden door” vs “door”)
2. Style – How Should It Look?
Style defines the visual language of the image. It tells the AI whether you want something realistic, cartoony, painterly, minimalist, etc.
🎨 Common Styles:
- Photorealistic
- Watercolor painting
- 3D render
- Cyberpunk aesthetic
- Pixar-style animation
- Paper cut-out art
- Flat vector style
📌 Tips:
- Add famous artist names: “in the style of Van Gogh”
- Combine mediums: “digital painting with pencil sketch texture”
- Try movement styles: “motion blur,” “frame from an anime”
3. Mood – What’s the Emotional Tone?
Mood sets the emotional context. Is the image bright and hopeful, or dark and mysterious?
😊 😨 😍 Mood Examples:
- Joyful, serene, vibrant
- Mysterious, eerie, apocalyptic
- Whimsical, dreamlike, romantic
📌 Tips:
- Use lighting words: “sunlit,” “glow,” “neon haze,” “dimly lit”
- Combine with seasons or times: “autumn morning,” “late-night street”
- Add atmosphere: “foggy,” “windy,” “warm breeze”
4. Detail – How Rich Should the Image Be?
Detail controls how much texture, depth, and fine elements the AI should include.
🔍 Levels of Detail:
- Minimalist: “clean lines, few elements, white background”
- Moderate: “moderate detail, balanced composition, soft focus”
- Highly detailed: “intricate textures, highly reflective surfaces, thousands of tiny stars”
📌 Tips:
- Use terms like “ultra-detailed,” “macro shot,” “ornate patterns,” “complex background”
- Add focus levels: “foreground sharp, background blurry”
- Be careful not to overload—more isn’t always better
Prompt Composition Examples
- Simple Prompt:
A dragon flying over mountains
- Improved Prompt with Anatomy:
A majestic red dragon with shimmering scales flying over misty blue mountains, cinematic lighting, in the style of a fantasy oil painting, dramatic and awe-inspiring mood, ultra-detailed with glowing eyes
- Creative Prompt:
A child holding a glowing balloon in a neon-lit alley, synthwave style, melancholic mood, soft shadows, cinematic framing, 4K resolution
Quick Prompt Template
[Subject] + [Style] + [Mood] + [Detail] + [Format/Lighting/Color]
Example:
A peaceful monk meditating by a river at sunset, digital painting style, serene mood, glowing aura and detailed reflections, cinematic wide shot
Why This Matters for Creators
Whether you’re designing thumbnails, social media content, posters, or NFT artwork, understanding these four elements will dramatically improve the quality and consistency of your AI-generated visuals.
Think of Style, Mood, Subject, and Detail as your creative ingredients. Combine them right—and you’ll get scroll-stopping results.
Conclusion: Structure Unlocks Creativity
Prompting isn’t just about imagination—it’s also about structure. The more clearly you describe your visual intention, the better AI can execute it.
Start practicing with these four elements, mix and match styles, moods, and formats—and keep iterating. Great visuals start with great prompts.
