10 Prompt Patterns for Better AI Image Generation (Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion)

Creating compelling AI-generated images hinges on how you craft your prompts. These ten prompt patterns will help you consistently guide models like Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, or Leonardo AI toward richer, more accurate, and visually striking results. Each pattern includes a simple template description, its purpose, and an illustrative example.

1. Photorealistic Template

Purpose: Capture ultra-detailed, camera-like realism for portraits, still lifes, or landscapes.
Pattern Structure:
“Create a realistic photo of a [subject], [pose or action], under [lighting], shot with a [camera type] from a [angle].”
Example:
Create a realistic photo of a golden retriever puppy sitting on emerald grass, in soft morning light, shot with a 50 mm DSLR lens at eye-level.

2. Painterly Style Template

Purpose: Emulate traditional media—oil, watercolor, or pastel—with brushstroke textures.
Pattern Structure:
“An [adjective] [medium] painting of [subject] in the style of [artist or movement], featuring [color palette], with [brushstroke detail].”
Example:
An impressionist oil painting of a misty lakeshore at dawn in the style of Monet, featuring pastel blues and pinks, with visible, swirling brushstrokes.

3. Cinematic Scene Template

Purpose: Produce wide-screen, narrative-driven compositions reminiscent of film stills.
Pattern Structure:
“A cinematic shot of [scene description], with [dramatic lighting], [camera movement], and [emotional tone], in 2.39:1 aspect ratio.”
Example:
A cinematic shot of a lone samurai standing on a cliff at sunset, with golden backlighting, slow dolly zoom, and a melancholic mood, in 2.39:1 aspect ratio.

4. Minimalist Vector Template

Purpose: Generate clean, flat-color graphics suitable for logos, icons, or posters.
Pattern Structure:
“Minimalist vector illustration of [subject] using [limited color palette], bold shapes, and negative space.”
Example:
Minimalist vector illustration of a bicycle using a yellow, black, and white palette, bold geometric wheels, and generous negative space.

5. Surreal Concept Template

Purpose: Blend dreamlike elements for abstract, mind-bending imagery.
Pattern Structure:
“Surreal scene of [primary subject] merging with [secondary element], floating in [environment], with [unusual texture or effect].”
Example:
Surreal scene of a clock melting into ocean waves, floating in a starry desert, with a glass-like reflective texture.

6. Macro Detail Template

Purpose: Emphasize extreme close-up details for textures, insects, or small objects.
Pattern Structure:
“Macro photograph of [tiny subject], highlighting [microscopic feature], under [controlled lighting], with shallow depth of field.”
Example:
Macro photograph of a dew-covered butterfly wing, highlighting iridescent scales, under soft LED light, with shallow depth of field.

7. Fantasy Concept Art Template

Purpose: Design game- or movie-style concept art with epic elements.
Pattern Structure:
“Epic fantasy concept art depicting [hero or creature] in [setting], armed with [weapon or tool], dramatic [lighting], and high detail.”
Example:
Epic fantasy concept art depicting a dragon rider soaring above volcanic mountains, armed with a flaming spear, dramatic chiaroscuro lighting, and highly detailed armor.

8. Retro Pixel Art Template

Purpose: Create low-resolution, 8- or 16-bit style images reminiscent of classic video games.
Pattern Structure:
“Retro pixel art of [subject], in [limited color palette], with [sprite size] resolution, on a [background style].”
Example:
Retro pixel art of a space explorer, in a 16-color palette, 32×32 sprite resolution, on a starfield background.

9. Cinemagraph Loop Template

Purpose: Generate subtle motion within a still-image format for social media or web use.
Pattern Structure:
“A cinemagraph of [scene], where [element] loops seamlessly, while the rest remains static, in [format specifications].”
Example:
A cinemagraph of a train station platform, where falling snow loops seamlessly, while passengers remain static, in 1080×1920 vertical format.

10. Architectural Visualization Template

Purpose: Showcase building designs with realistic lighting, materials, and perspective.
Pattern Structure:
“Architectural rendering of [building type] in [style], with [material details], during [time of day], from [viewpoint], using [render engine].”
Example:
Architectural rendering of a modern glass pavilion in minimalist style, with steel frame and concrete base, at golden hour, from a bird’s-eye view, using Unreal Engine 5.

Key Tips for All Patterns:

• Be Specific. Every adjective and detail narrows the model’s interpretation.

• Use Commas. Separate elements clearly to prevent confusion.

• Iterate. Treat the first output as a draft—refine prompts based on results.

• Leverage Model Flags. Include aspect ratios (e.g., --ar 16:9 for Midjourney) or quality tokens (–-quality 2) where supported.

By mixing and matching these patterns, you can unlock the full creative potential of AI image generators—producing everything from lifelike photographs to abstract dreamscapes. Experiment with blending multiple patterns (e.g., “photorealistic” + “surreal”) to discover fresh, unexpected outcomes.

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