How to Prompt AI to Create an Image: Quick Tips for Creators

If you’ve ever spent hours scrolling through stock photo sites or waited (not so patiently) for a designer to send over that one perfect visual, you’re not alone. As marketers and content creators, we know how crucial visuals are. They’re often the first thing people notice. But keeping up with that demand? It’s exhausting.

I’ve been there… tight deadlines, a half-finished content calendar, and no image that really fits the message. That’s when I started paying attention to how AI could help. And I’m not talking about futuristic hype; real, practical tools that are already reshaping how we create.

The numbers back it up: the global AI market is expected to hit $1.8 trillion by 2030. Closer to home, the AI image editing market alone is worth $80.3 million in 2024 and it’s only growing, especially as more teams look for faster, cost-effective creative solutions.

But the real question is: how to prompt AI to create an image that fits your needs exactly? Let’s explore how to craft the perfect prompt.

The Hidden Struggles of Visual Content Creation

Ever had a visual idea in your head that just wouldn't come out the way you imagined? You're not alone. Even with AI tools, many marketers still struggle with how to correctly generate image using AI. According to Salesforce, 62% of marketers now use generative AI for image creation, and 76% use it for basic content; yet challenges persist.

Here are some common struggles you might relate to:

• Time-consuming process: Turning an idea into a polished image still takes longer than expected
• Lack of creative inspiration: Fresh, scroll-stopping visuals aren’t always easy to come up with
• Visual inconsistency: Keeping a consistent brand look across AI-generated visuals can be tricky
• Tool confusion: Not knowing how to prompt or guide AI properly often leads to frustrating results

Recognizing these issues is the first step to overcoming them and AI is just one piece of the puzzle.

From Confused to Confident: Your First Steps in AI Image Creation

As someone who’s spent years working with design tools, I’ve seen firsthand how platforms like Canva and Facetune have become go-to solutions, pulling in millions in in-app revenue annually. Visual content isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore; it’s a core part of any marketing strategy.

But things shift when you move from editing existing visuals to generating them from scratch with AI. That empty prompt box? It can be surprisingly intimidating. And if you’ve ever found yourself asking how does AI generate images, here’s the thing: it’s all about the instructions you give. The better your prompt, the better the result. That’s where the real creative control kicks in.

Here’s a friendly guide to building your very first (or next best) image prompt; no stress, no jargon:

1. Start from the Basic Prompt Structure

Think of writing an AI image prompt like briefing a designer. The clearer and more structured you are, the closer the output gets to what you had in mind. A good prompt usually has three key parts:

• Subject: What’s the star of your image?
• Action & Details: What’s happening, where, and how?
• Style/Aesthetic: What’s the overall look and feel?

Let’s break it down.

Subject: The Who or What

Start with the anchor. Whether it’s a golden retriever, a vending machine in space, or a 90s cell phone, this is what the AI will revolve around.

Pro Tip: Use specific, physical nouns. A cactus in a clay pot will take you further than abstract terms like peace or creativity (unless you like surprises).

Example:

Basic: "creativity"

Pro: "an octopus painting on a giant canvas with all eight arms, in a sunny art studio"

Details: What’s Going On?

Now add context. What’s the subject doing? Where are they? What’s the vibe?

The more grounded your scene, the more useful the output.

• Basic: “Girl with a kite”
• Pro: “A young girl flying a red kite on a windy hilltop at sunset, tall grass swaying, warm backlight, joyful expression”

These extra layers help the AI capture more nuance. Imagine you’re describing a moment from a movie scene.

Style: Set the Mood

Now for the creative twist, how do you want it to look?

Mention a medium (digital illustration, polaroid photo), a style (brutalist, minimalist, cyberpunk), or even drop a known artist’s name (in the style of Keith Haring, like a Wes Anderson frame).

Also include composition cues:

• Framing: overhead shot, macro, side view
• Lighting: blue hour, neon glow, natural light

example:

• Basic: “A typewriter”
• Pro: “Vintage typewriter on a messy desk, cinematic lighting, shallow depth of field, moody atmosphere, film noir style”

2. Make It Natural and Descriptive

Imagine you’re describing the scene to a friend who can’t see it. Use vivid, natural language. More details mean more control over the final image.

For example:

• Basic: “Cat sitting on a chair”
• pro: “A fluffy tabby cat curled up on a worn leather chair by a sunny window, warm afternoon light casting soft shadows.”

See how the second one paints a more vivid picture? That’s what you want.

3. Experiment with Prompt Length and Complexity

Different AI tools respond better to different prompt lengths. Sometimes shorter prompts work fine; sometimes you need a paragraph.

Try these examples for a cyberpunk city prompt:

• Short: “Cyberpunk city, neon lights, flying cars”
• Medium: “A bustling cyberpunk city at night with neon signs, holograms, and flying cars weaving through skyscrapers.”
• Long: “A sprawling cyberpunk metropolis at night, towering skyscrapers covered in holographic ads, neon signs glowing in blue and pink, flying cars darting between buildings as crowds fill the rainy streets below.”

Test different lengths and see what each AI platform responds to best.

4. Use Key Elements to Shape the Image

Think about adding these to your prompt to get more precise results:

• Subject details: color, size, pose
• Environment: location, time of day, weather
• Lighting: natural light, dramatic shadows, soft glow
• Mood: peaceful, mysterious, energetic
• Composition: framing, focus, perspective

Example:

“A golden retriever puppy sitting on a grassy hill at sunrise, soft warm light, playful and curious expression, close-up shot.”

5. Focus on What You Want (Not What You Don’t)

It’s tempting to list things you don’t want, but most AI models work better with positive instructions. Say what you want to see instead of what to avoid.

Exception: Some models support negative prompts to exclude elements — use these sparingly.

6. Reference Images and Style Modifiers

Many AI tools let you upload reference images or add style keywords to guide the output.

Popular style keywords include:

• Oil painting
• Watercolor
• Photorealistic
• Anime style
• Low poly
• Impressionist

You can also ask the AI to mimic an artist’s style, like:

“A cozy village at sunset, in the style of Studio Ghibli”

Meet Nily AI: Your Creative Partner for Smarter Image Generation

Well, As a content marketer, I’ve spent years juggling between tools, trying to turn vague ideas into visuals that actually resonate. I’ve crafted briefs, tested apps, and even wasted hours fine-tuning AI prompts that led nowhere. That’s why when I discovered Nily AI, it genuinely felt like someone had finally designed a visual tool with us, the content creators, in mind.

Here’s why Nily quickly became my go-to image creation tool:

1. Access to Two Image Models

You’re not tied to one AI image generation model. Nily connects to two different AI models, so you can test styles and outputs until you find exactly what fits.

2. Diverse Style Options

From “Fun” and “General” to “Realistic,” “Anime,” or “Cinematic,” you can explore over 30 visual styles to match your project’s vibe.

3. Multiple Variations per Prompt

For every prompt, Nily delivers up to 4 different image options, so you can choose the one that best reflects your creative intent.

4. Custom Color Tones

Want a vintage look? Or something bold and vibrant? Nily lets you choose the image’s color palette to match your brand or mood.

5. Built-in AI Editor

No need for external tools; resize images, remove text, erase backgrounds, and polish your visuals all within the AI image editor.

6. Effortless Branding Assets

Whether you’re making a logo, sticker, or poster, Nily adapts your prompt to different formats and aspect ratios without losing design quality.

It’s not just a tool, it’s a teammate that gets the fast-paced, visual-first world we work in.

Ready to Try It Yourself?

Still wondering how to correctly generate image using AI? Now's the time to let Nily do the heavy lifting. Head over to nily.ai and try it out for yourself. Just one prompt can spark four fresh, styled concepts in seconds. Already tested it? We’d love to hear what you created! Send us a note (or even your favorite image) at [email protected]. We read every message.