Prompt Mastery for AI Image Generation
Transform casual image descriptions into professional, high-quality prompts using patterns extracted from 1,186 viral AI-generated images.
The 6 Core Optimization Rules
Rule 1: Professional Terms Over Feeling Words
Replace vague aesthetic words with specific professional terminology, proper nouns, brand names, or artist names.
| Instead of... | Use... |
|---|---|
| Cinematic, vintage | Wong Kar-wai aesthetics, Saul Leiter style |
| Film look, retro | Kodak Vision3 500T, Cinestill 800T |
| Warm tones | Sakura Pink, Golden Hour warmth |
| Japanese style | Wabi-sabi aesthetics, MUJI visual language |
| High-end design | Swiss International Style, Bauhaus functionalism |
Key terminology banks:
- •Photographers: Annie Leibovitz, Christopher Doyle, Saul Leiter
- •Film stocks: Kodak Vision3 500T, Cinestill 800T, Fujifilm Superia
- •Aesthetics: Wabi-sabi, Bauhaus, Swiss International Style
Rule 2: Quantified Parameters Over Adjectives
Replace subjective adjectives with specific technical parameters.
| Instead of... | Use... |
|---|---|
| Professional looking | 90mm lens, f/1.8, high dynamic range |
| From above | 45-degree overhead angle |
| Soft lighting | Soft side backlight, diffused light |
| Blurred background | Shallow depth of field, f/1.4 bokeh |
| Dramatic | Volumetric light, chiaroscuro lighting |
| Wide shot | 16mm wide-angle lens |
Rule 3: Negative Constraints
Explicitly state what NOT to include to prevent unwanted elements.
Common constraints:
- •No text or words allowed
- •No watermarks or logos
- •No low-key dark lighting (unless intended)
- •No high-saturation neon colors
- •Product must not be distorted or warped
- •Maintain realistic facial features
Rule 4: Sensory Stacking
Go beyond visual descriptions by adding multiple sensory dimensions.
Sensory layers:
- •Visual: Color, light, shadow, composition (baseline)
- •Tactile: "Texture feels tangible", "Soft velvet surface"
- •Olfactory: "Aroma penetrates the frame", "Fresh morning dew scent"
- •Motion: "Steam wisps rising", "Fabric gently flowing"
- •Temperature: "Steamy warmth", "Crisp cold air"
Rule 5: Group and Cluster
For complex scenes, organize information into logical groups.
Standard grouping pattern:
[Subject Description] Visual Style: [Aesthetic references, color palette, artistic style] Lighting & Atmosphere: [Light sources, mood, environmental conditions] Technical Parameters: [Lens, aperture, film stock, resolution] Constraints: [What to avoid, what to preserve]
Rule 6: Format Adaptation
Choose format based on complexity:
- •Simple scenes (single subject): Natural language paragraphs
- •Complex scenes (multiple elements): Structured groupings with headers
Scene-Specific Patterns
Consult references/scene-guide.md for detailed patterns by scene type:
- •Product Photography
- •Portrait Photography
- •Food Photography
- •Cinematic Scenes
- •Japanese Aesthetic
- •Design/Poster
Smart Genre-Based Optimization
When generating an image, follow this intelligent flow:
Step 1: Auto-Detect Genre
Analyze the user's request and classify into one of these genres:
| Genre | Trigger Keywords |
|---|---|
food | dish, meal, cuisine, recipe, ingredient, cooking |
portrait | person, face, woman, man, selfie, headshot |
product | product, packaging, brand, commercial, advertising |
3d | icon, render, 3D, isometric, emoji, character |
cinematic | movie, scene, dramatic, action, poster |
design | UI, app, poster, layout, typography, mockup |
Step 2: Load Genre-Specific Patterns
Read ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/data/prompts-by-category.json and extract techniques from top prompts in that genre.
Top techniques by genre:
- •Food: overhead view, macro closeup, steam visualization, warm lighting
- •Portrait: depth of field, bokeh, skin texture detail, artificial lighting
- •Product: centered composition, minimalist style, studio lighting, grid layouts
- •3D: array/list format, negative constraints, white background, icon grids
- •Cinematic: volumetric lighting, hard contrast, dramatic composition
- •Design: minimalist style, geometric shapes, limited color palette
Step 3: Apply the 6 Rules with Genre Context
- •Identify genre from user's request
- •Load top techniques from that genre's viral prompts
- •Extract the core subject they want to depict
- •Apply Rule 1: Replace feeling words with genre-appropriate pro terms
- •Apply Rule 2: Add genre-typical technical parameters
- •Apply Rule 4: Layer in genre-appropriate sensory descriptions
- •Apply Rule 3: Add genre-specific negative constraints
- •Apply Rule 5/6: Structure using genre's preferred format
Quick Optimization Process (Simplified)
- •Identify scene type from the user's request
- •Extract the core subject they want to depict
- •Apply Rule 1: Replace feeling words with pro terms
- •Apply Rule 2: Add quantified technical parameters
- •Apply Rule 4: Layer in sensory descriptions
- •Apply Rule 3: Add negative constraints
- •Apply Rule 5/6: Structure appropriately for complexity
Example Transformation
User input: "a bowl of ramen"
Optimized output:
Steaming bowl of authentic Japanese tonkotsu ramen, rich milky pork bone broth. Visual Style: High-end culinary magazine aesthetic. Warm earth tones with cream and amber highlights. Shot with Hasselblad medium format quality. Composition: 45-degree overhead angle, 85mm lens, f/2.8, shallow depth of field on the soft-boiled egg. Sensory Details: Steam wisps rising and curling, noodles glisten with broth, chashu pork with caramelized edges, the aroma of garlic and sesame seems to penetrate the frame. Constraints: No utensils in frame. No text or watermarks. Maintain appetizing warm color temperature.
Additional Resources
Reference Files
For detailed patterns and terminology, consult:
- •
references/scene-guide.md- Scene-specific optimization patterns - •
references/terminology.md- Complete professional terminology banks - •
references/top-prompts.md- Top 50 viral prompts for inspiration
Generation Script
Execute image generation:
node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/gen.js" "YOUR_OPTIMIZED_PROMPT"
Model Information
This skill is optimized for Gemini 3 Pro Image (gemini-3-pro-image) via the antigravity-claude-proxy at localhost:8080.
The model excels at:
- •Photorealistic imagery
- •Complex scene composition
- •Following detailed structured prompts
- •Respecting negative constraints