Mastering the Generation of Various Types of Visual Content Using an AI Image Generator

Why Content Type Matters

Artificial intelligence can create stunning visuals across genres today, but the quality of the results strongly depends on your understanding of the specific requirements of each category. Every type of visual content – whether it's portraits, landscapes, or product visualizations – has its unique rules and best practices.

This guide will help you understand the nuances of individual visual content categories and offer specific techniques that will dramatically increase the quality of your AI-generated images for each of them.

Portraits and Characters

The portrait is one of the most challenging, yet also most sought-after types of visual content. The human brain is extremely sensitive to the slightest inconsistencies in the depiction of faces and figures, meaning a good prompt must be precise and detailed.

Key Elements of Successful Portrait Prompts

When generating portraits, it's important to focus on several specific aspects:

• Facial Details: Specify features, expression, age, gender, ethnicity, and other relevant characteristics
• Facial Lighting: Light dramatically affects the appearance of the face (Rembrandt lighting, butterfly lighting, split lighting)
• Composition and Shot: Determine if it's a close-up of the face, a half-portrait, or a full figure
• Pose and Gestures: Describe body posture, head turn, or specific gestures
• Emotional Expression: Specify the desired emotion or mood (thoughtful, cheerful, serious)

Example of an Effective Portrait Prompt

"Portrait of a young woman with Asian features, a round face, and a friendly smile, with short black shoulder-length hair, frontal view with a slight head turn to the right, soft natural lighting emphasizing cheekbones, bokeh effect in the background, photographic style inspired by Steve McCurry's portrait photography, sharp detailed shot with high resolution."

Overcoming Common Portrait Problems

When generating portraits, we often encounter several typical problems:

• Anatomy Problems: Specify "anatomically correct proportions" or "realistic human features"
• Inconsistent Details: Mention key details several times in different contexts
• Unnatural Expressions: Use phrases like "natural expression" or "authentic emotion"
• Inconsistent Lighting: Describe the light source and direction in detail

When generating characters, it is particularly important to pay attention to anatomy, which is often one of the biggest challenges for AI image generators. Detailed techniques for achieving anatomically accurate figures can be found in our specialized guide to character anatomy in AI-generated images.

Landscapes and Environments

Landscapes offer wide possibilities for creative expression and are generally easier for AI generators than human figures. Nevertheless, specific techniques exist that can significantly improve the quality of your landscape visualizations.

Strategies for Impressive Landscapes

When creating landscapes, focus on these aspects:

• Time Specification: Time of day and season dramatically change the atmosphere (golden hour, winter dawn)
• Atmospheric Conditions: Fog, rain, snow, or clear skies add character to the landscape
• Topography: Detailed description of the terrain (mountainous area, coastal cliff, rolling farmland)
• Vegetation: Type and density of plant life (dense coniferous forests, blooming meadows, arid desert)
• Compositional Elements: Foreground, middle ground, and background to create depth

Example of a Landscape Prompt

"Dramatic mountain landscape with sharp rocky peaks covered in snow, in the foreground an alpine meadow with wildflowers and a small lake reflecting the mountain peaks, early morning with fog rising from the valley and the first rays of sun illuminating the mountaintops, inspired by the painting style of Albert Bierstadt, panoramic format emphasizing depth and atmospheric elements, photorealistic rendering with rich details."

Enhancing the Immersive Experience

To create a truly immersive landscape:

• Include dynamic elements such as moving clouds, flowing water, or vegetation bending in the wind
• Describe the sound atmosphere of the place (even if it won't be heard, it helps the AI create a more authentic scene)
• Utilize light effects like volumetric light, rays penetrating through trees, or reflections on water
• Consider the observer's perspective (view from above, human perspective, wide-angle shot)

Product Visualizations and Commercial Content

Product visualizations require a different approach than artistic content. The priority here is clarity, accuracy, and attractive presentation of the product.

Key Principles of Effective Product Visualizations

To achieve professional results in product photography, focus on:

• Background Clarity: Specify a neutral, simple, or contextually relevant background
• Technical Accuracy: Describe in detail the materials, textures, and physical properties of the product
• Product Lighting: Use terms like "product studio," "softbox lighting," or "high-key lighting"
• Compositional Rules: Determine the viewing angle and placement of the product in the shot
• Usage Context: Optionally show the product in a real environment or in use

Example of a Product Prompt

"Luxury wristwatch with a leather strap on a white background with a soft shadow, three-quarter view emphasizing the dial and watch profile, studio lighting with a subtle reflection on the glass, macro detail showing precise craftsmanship, sharp edges, and texture of metal parts, photographic style of product photography for a luxury magazine, 8K high resolution."

Advanced Techniques for Product Photography

• For textile products, emphasize fabric structure, folds, and how the material reacts to light
• For food, specify "food photography lighting," "shallow depth of field," and details like steam, droplets, or textures
• For electronics, use terms like "product showcase," "clean tech aesthetic," or "minimalist presentation"
• Include stylistic elements like product reflection or gradient backgrounds for a professional look

Conceptual Art and Illustrations

Conceptual art and illustrations offer space for maximum creativity. These visual formats often combine realistic elements with fantasy ones and require a different approach than photorealistic genres.

Building Fantastic Worlds

When creating conceptual art, focus on:

• Consistent Visual Language: Define a unified style and aesthetic (sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk)
• Atmosphere and Mood: Determine the emotional tone of the illustration (mysterious, epic, utopian)
• Color Palette: Specify dominant colors and the color scheme
• Inspirational Sources: Refer to well-known artists or genres of conceptual art
• Narrative Elements: Describe story elements or dynamic action in the image

Example of a Conceptual Prompt

"Futuristic city center with floating buildings connected by transparent bridges, in the foreground a figure in a high-tech suit observing the city, dramatic sky with two moons and a slight purple hue, glowing neon accents in contrasting azure and pink colors, conceptual illustration inspired by the works of Simon Stålenhag and Sparth, atmospheric lighting emphasizing spatial depth, highly detailed digital painting."

Balancing Realism and Fantasy

The key to impressive conceptual art is the right balance between realistic and fantastical elements:

• Grounding in physical laws, even with fantastical elements, lends credibility to the illustration
• Detailed textures and surface properties create an illusion of weight and substance
• Use terms like "tangible atmosphere," "coherent light," or "natural transition between elements"
• Specify the level of stylization (photorealistic base with fantastical elements, fully stylized)

Abstract and Experimental Art

Abstract creation offers unique challenges and opportunities. Although it moves away from representing the real world, it requires a thoughtful approach to achieve aesthetically impressive results.

Navigating the World of Abstraction

For successful abstract prompts, use:

• Formal Elements: Describe shapes, lines, textures, and patterns instead of objects
• Visual Dynamics: Specify movement, rhythm, contrast, or balance
• Emotional Quality: Express the feeling the image should evoke
• Technical References: Refer to specific art movements (Cubism, Abstract Expressionism)
• Process Techniques: Mention methods of creation (layering, fluid dynamics, generative algorithms)

Example of an Abstract Prompt

"Fluid abstract composition with dynamic movement of organic shapes, transitioning from intense blue to turquoise and white, inspired by marbling technique and the works of Gerhard Richter, subtle gradients and high contrast creating an illusion of depth, combination of sharp and blurred lines evoking a sense of movement and instability, digital painting with textures reminiscent of acrylic paints, high resolution."

Experimenting with Unconventional Approaches

For unique abstract results:

• Combine incompatible styles or techniques (glitch art with Impressionism)
• Incorporate mathematical concepts (fractals, golden ratio, Fibonacci sequence)
• Experiment with materials and media (liquid metal, luminescent paints, dispersed ink)
• Create visual paradoxes or optical illusions

Architectural Visualizations

Architectural visualizations combine technical precision with artistic expression. Quality architectural prompts require an understanding of spatial relationships, materials, and lighting conditions.

Fundamentals of Impressive Architectural Visualizations

To create convincing architectural depictions, include:

• Architectural Style: Specify a particular direction (Brutalism, high-tech, organic architecture)
• Materials: Describe building materials and their surface properties in detail
• Structural Elements: Define key structural components and their relationships
• Context and Surroundings: Describe the building's setting (urban context, natural landscape)
• Perspective and Shot: Determine the viewing angle (bird's-eye view, worm's-eye view, isometric view)

Example of an Architectural Prompt

"Modern minimalist residence set into a rocky coastline, characterized by clean horizontal lines and large glazed surfaces, construction materials include exposed concrete, dark wood, and glass, dramatic sunset creating warm interior lighting contrasting with the blue sky, wide-angle shot from a slight high angle capturing the building's relationship with the surrounding landscape, photorealistic render in architectural visualization style, fine details of materials and textures."

Enhancing Architectural Visualizations

To achieve professional results:

• Focus on the interaction of light with materials (reflection, translucency, shadows)
• Include a human element for scale and life (silhouettes of people, signs of habitation)
• Pay attention to environmental details (vegetation, water features, street furniture)
• Specify weather and atmospheric conditions to enhance mood and character

Animation and Game Styles

Animation and game styles represent a specific visual aesthetic that often moves between realism and stylization. These styles have their unique conventions and visual language.

Characteristics of Animation and Game Styles

For effective prompts in these styles, focus on:

• Level of Stylization: Specify the degree of abstraction from reality (hyperrealistic 3D to highly stylized)
• Visual References: Refer to well-known studios or titles (Pixar style, Zelda: Breath of the Wild aesthetic)
• Technical Aspects: Specify rendering (cel shading, PBR rendering, pixel art)
• Character Design: Describe character proportions and stylistic elements
• Expressive Means: Specify the method of expressing emotions and dynamics

Example of a Game Art Prompt

"Stylized fantasy character in isometric view, a young wizard with exaggeratedly large eyes and head, dressed in a blue robe with alchemical details and glowing runic symbols, holding a shining magic wand, distinct cel-shaded style with clean outlines and flat color areas, bright contrasting palette predominantly blue and purple, ambient occlusion highlighting details, style inspired by Japanese RPG games, sharp vector drawing."

Balancing Stylization and Readability

For effective animation and game visuals:

• Maintain strong silhouettes and readable shapes even with a high degree of stylization
• Work with exaggerated expressiveness and dynamics characteristic of animation
• Use terms like "readable expressions," "dynamic pose," or "distinct silhouette"
• Focus on style consistency across all elements of the image

Conclusion: Mastery in Different Visual Domains

Each type of visual content requires specific knowledge and approaches. Understanding the unique requirements of individual categories will allow you to achieve precisely the results you need.

Experiment with different types of prompts, combine techniques, and continuously evaluate the results. With practice and patience, you can master the art of generating any visual content using AI and elevate your creative possibilities to a new level.

Remember that even within artificial intelligence systems, classic artistic principles apply. Pay attention to composition, light, color, and form – these fundamental elements of visual communication remain relevant even in the era of AI-generated images. To achieve the best results, combine knowledge about specific content types with a comprehensive understanding of prompt structure and iterative creation methods.