Introduction: Welcome to Visual Prompting
In the world of generative AI, words create images. Tools like DALL·E and MidJourney allow anyone to generate breathtaking visuals just by describing them in text. But not all prompts are created equal. This guide will teach you how to prompt better to get high-quality, detailed, and stylized AI-generated images.
Whether you’re a digital marketer, content creator, entrepreneur, or aspiring AI artist, mastering these tools opens up creative possibilities like never before. The goal of this guide is to give you a practical, hands-on understanding of how to write prompts that deliver the results you want.
What is Visual Prompting?
Visual prompting is the art of crafting written instructions that guide image-generation AIs like DALL·E (by OpenAI) and MidJourney to create artwork, thumbnails, illustrations, and more.
Instead of coding or drawing, you tell the AI what to create by describing:
- Subject (e.g., a lion, a spaceship, a temple)
- Style (e.g., photorealistic, cyberpunk, watercolor)
- Mood (e.g., calm, mysterious, joyful)
- Detail (e.g., ultra-detailed, minimal, textured)
- Format (e.g., square, poster, portrait, widescreen)
These components come together to help the AI visualize what you’re trying to express.
Why DALL·E and MidJourney?
There are several tools for image generation, but DALL·E and MidJourney dominate because of their ease of use and stunning output.
- DALL·E (OpenAI): Best for clean, realistic, and editorial-style images. Great for product mockups, educational graphics, and clean design assets.
- MidJourney: Known for its surreal, high-art style. Excellent for cinematic storytelling, fashion visuals, character design, and digital posters.
Using both gives you flexibility—realism and imagination, side by side.
Basic Prompt Structure: Anatomy of a Good Visual Prompt
Crafting great prompts is like giving a camera direction and an artist inspiration. Here’s a structure that works:
[Subject] + [Style] + [Mood] + [Details] + [Lighting/Camera/Color] + [Format]
Example Prompt:
A monk meditating in a snow-covered forest, cinematic lighting, ethereal glow, realistic style, 4K resolution, wide angle
This example gives clear instructions for the AI and ensures a powerful output.
Key Tip: Start simple and iterate. Don’t try to do everything in one prompt. Instead, add or remove elements gradually.
Prompting for DALL·E: How to Get the Best Results
DALL·E 3 is integrated with ChatGPT and excels at generating coherent, clean, and photorealistic images. Here’s how to maximize its potential:
- Be Specific: Instead of saying “a car,” say “a red convertible car driving through a desert during golden hour.”
- Avoid Contradictions: Don’t mix styles that clash unless that’s your goal (e.g., “watercolor in neon style” may confuse the model).
- Add Backgrounds: Background details enrich the story—like “a coffee mug on a table with sunlight streaming in through the window.”
- Use Simple Language: Avoid jargon. Write in a descriptive, visual way.
- Utilize Edits (Inpainting): DALL·E allows you to modify existing images. You can remove, add, or change parts of the image with new prompts.
Prompting for MidJourney: Artistic Powerhouse
MidJourney requires Discord access and is more community-driven. It responds best to:
- Style References: Add “in the style of…” to reference an artist or aesthetic. Example: “in the style of Van Gogh” or “Studio Ghibli.”
- Camera Details: Add phrases like “aerial view,” “macro lens,” or “dramatic lighting.”
- Aspect Ratios: Use
--ar 3:2(for banners),--ar 1:1(for thumbnails), or--ar 9:16(for mobile content). - Version & Quality Tags: Use
--v 5(version),--q 2(high quality),--style raw(to avoid MidJourney’s default stylization). - Weights: Use
::to assign priority to different parts of your prompt.
Example Prompt:
A medieval warrior walking through a battlefield, in the style of oil painting, –ar 16:9 –v 5 –q 2
Use Cases: Where to Apply AI Image Generation
- Thumbnails: YouTube, blog banners, social headers
- Posters & Wallpapers: For events, music, quotes
- Product Mockups: For e-commerce, startups
- Character Concepts: For games, stories, comics
- Social Campaigns: Quotes, memes, promotions
- Spiritual & Cultural Art: Mythology, festivals, traditional settings
Prompt Templates for Creators
- YouTube Thumbnail:
A happy man pointing at a mobile app screen, YouTube thumbnail style, bright background, minimal clutter, white space for text
- Instagram Post:
Motivational quote over sunrise mountain view, light orange tones, text space in center, square format
- Poster:
Krishna playing flute under a moonlit tree, Indian art style, glowing aura, spiritual background, vibrant colors
- Book Illustration:
A child flying on a book above a fantasy city, dreamy, digital painting, soft lighting
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
- Overloading Prompts: “A dog flying a spaceship under a waterfall, Pixar style, 3D sketch, watercolor, noir” = confusing output
- Vague Descriptions: “Make a good photo” gives the model no direction
- No Style Indication: Always specify tone—realistic, minimal, cinematic, etc.
- Ignoring Aspect Ratios: Square images may not fit YouTube or mobile formats
Pro Tips for Better Prompting
- Keep a Prompt Log or Prompt Library with notes and variations
- Use moodboards (Pinterest/Behance) to describe styles you want
- Experiment! Small tweaks in phrasing can yield big changes
- Join communities (Reddit, Discord) to learn and share prompts
Conclusion: Prompt Like a Pro
In 2025, prompt engineering is not limited to text generation—it’s also visual storytelling. Whether you’re building a brand, growing on YouTube, designing digital art, or automating content creation, tools like DALL·E and MidJourney give you the creative power to do more.
The secret? Clear, vivid, structured prompts.
Start with a strong idea. Add the right style. Tune the lighting, format, and mood. Then let AI do the magic.
