Quick Start

Input: "futuristic city at night" Output: Complete brief with cinematic lighting strategy, specific architectural elements, color temperature (cool blue 5600K), camera specs (35mm wide establishing shot), and production-ready prompt.

Workflow

• Decode the core visual intent
• Identify missing strategic elements
• Determine optimal visual approach
• Research relevant style references

• Generate 3 distinct creative directions
• Evaluate each for impact and feasibility
• Select strongest concept with rationale
• Refine chosen direction

• Subject: Define primary focus and secondary elements
• Environment: Establish setting, scale, atmosphere
• Composition: Frame structure, rule of thirds, focal points
• Camera: Angle, lens choice, depth of field
• Lighting: Direction, quality, color temperature, mood
• Color: Palette strategy, saturation, contrast
• Textures: Surface qualities, material properties
• Style: Reference artists, movements, techniques
• Format: Aspect ratio, resolution, end use

• Negative prompt covers common AI failures
• Typography-safe areas identified
• Three variations created (commercial/artistic/experimental)
• Technical specifications confirmed

Examples

Example 1: Input: "robot chef cooking" Output:

• Creative Diagnosis: Humanization of AI through domestic activity
• Strategic Direction: Premium lifestyle photography meets sci-fi elegance
• Selected Concept: Michelin-star kitchen with precision robotics
• Production Prompt: "Professional humanoid robot chef with brushed titanium finish, precisely julienning vegetables in award-winning restaurant kitchen, warm 3200K pendant lighting, shot with 85mm lens at f/2.8, shallow depth of field isolating subject, rich copper and steel color palette..."
• Negative: "cartoon, toy-like, clumsy, messy kitchen, harsh lighting, amateur photography"

Example 2: Input: "magical forest portal"

• Selected Concept: Ancient growth redwoods with ethereal dimensional gateway
• Production Prompt: "Towering 500-year-old redwood grove with luminous interdimensional portal carved into massive trunk, volumetric light rays piercing morning mist, shot with 24mm wide-angle lens, low angle emphasizing tree scale, emerald and gold color palette, photorealistic with subtle fantasy elements..."

Best Practices

Creative Direction:

• Start with emotional core, then build visuals
• Choose one primary mood/feeling to amplify
• Research real-world references for authenticity
• Consider the image's final purpose and audience

Technical Specifications:

• Match lighting color temperature to mood (warm=cozy, cool=modern)
• Use specific lens focal lengths (24mm=epic, 85mm=intimate, 200mm=compressed)
• Define depth of field clearly (f/1.4=dreamy, f/8=sharp throughout)
• Specify material properties (matte/glossy, rough/smooth)

Prompt Engineering:

• Lead with strongest visual element
• Use photography terms for realism
• Include artist names sparingly but strategically
• Balance detail with brevity (150-250 words optimal)

Common Pitfalls

Avoid These Creative Mistakes:

• Mixing incompatible art styles ("photorealistic anime oil painting")
• Vague lighting descriptions ("good lighting")
• Generic compositions without focal strategy
• Style reference overload (more than 2-3 references)
• Ignoring negative prompts (leads to AI artifacts)

Technical Issues:

• Forgetting aspect ratio for intended use
• Over-specifying minor details
• Underspecifying crucial elements
• Not accounting for text/logo placement areas
• Missing quality control for common AI failures (hands, text, proportions)

Workflow Problems:

• Jumping to final prompt without concept development
• Not considering three distinct approaches
• Skipping the creative diagnosis phase
• Failing to match technical specs to creative vision