admin Great prompts are built from precise words. This glossary collects the terms that change AI images the most, and explains what each one does. Every word here works in Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Flux, ChatGPT and most other generators. To see which of these words describe an image you like, upload it to the image to prompt generator and look for them in the result.
How to use this glossary
- Pick one word from each group you care about. Mixing several lighting styles confuses the model.
- Put the most important words near the start of the prompt.
- Change one word at a time to learn what it does in your generator.
Medium and style
| Term | What it does |
|---|---|
| photograph / photorealistic | Realistic camera image |
| film photography, 35 mm film | Grain, softer contrast, nostalgic colours |
| digital illustration | Clean drawn look, flexible style |
| flat vector illustration | Simple shapes, solid colours, no texture |
| watercolour | Soft edges, paper texture, pigment blooms |
| oil painting, impasto | Visible brush strokes, rich texture |
| 3D render, isometric | Clean 3D objects; isometric gives a diagram-like angle |
| claymation, clay render | Soft, handmade 3D look |
| anime, cel shading | Bold outlines, flat shading (see our anime guide) |
| pixel art | Retro game look with visible pixels |
| line art, ink drawing | Outlines only, high contrast |
| paper cut, collage | Layered paper shapes and shadows |
Anime styles have their own vocabulary: see anime image to prompt.
Lighting
| Term | Effect |
|---|---|
| golden hour | Warm, low sun, long soft shadows |
| blue hour | Cool twilight, calm mood |
| soft window light | Natural, gentle light from one side |
| studio lighting, softbox | Even, controlled light, clean shadows |
| rim light, backlight | Glowing edges that separate the subject |
| hard light, harsh shadows | Strong contrast, dramatic or summery |
| volumetric light, god rays | Visible beams through fog or dust |
| neon lighting | Saturated coloured light, urban night look |
| low key | Mostly dark image with small bright areas |
| high key | Bright, airy image with few shadows |
| candlelight, firelight | Warm, flickering, intimate |
| overcast, diffused daylight | Flat, soft light with no strong shadows |
Camera, lens and shot type
| Term | Effect |
|---|---|
| close-up, extreme close-up | Face or detail fills the frame |
| medium shot | Subject from the waist up |
| full body shot | Whole person visible |
| wide shot, establishing shot | Shows the whole scene |
| macro | Very small subjects, tiny details |
| 85 mm lens | Flattering portraits, blurred background |
| 35 mm lens | Natural street and documentary view |
| wide-angle lens, 16 mm | Dramatic perspective, more of the scene |
| shallow depth of field, bokeh | Sharp subject, blurred background |
| low angle | Subject looks powerful or tall |
| high angle, top-down, flat lay | Looking down; flat lay is directly above |
| aerial view, drone shot | From high above |
| motion blur, long exposure | Movement shown as streaks |
Composition
| Term | Effect |
|---|---|
| centered composition | Subject in the middle; strong and simple |
| rule of thirds | Subject off-centre; balanced and natural |
| symmetrical | Mirror-like balance |
| negative space | Empty area, useful for adding text |
| leading lines | Lines guiding the eye to the subject |
| framed by… | Subject seen through a door, window or branches |
| minimal, uncluttered | Few elements, clean look |
Negative space is especially useful for thumbnails and stock images that need room for text.
Colour and tone
| Term | Effect |
|---|---|
| pastel palette | Soft, light, gentle colours |
| muted tones, desaturated | Calm, sophisticated, less vivid |
| vibrant, saturated | Bold, energetic colours |
| monochrome, black and white | One colour or greyscale |
| teal and orange | Classic cinematic contrast |
| earth tones | Browns, greens and beiges; natural feel |
| complementary colours | Opposite colours for strong contrast |
| warm / cool colour temperature | Cosy and inviting vs. calm and clinical |
Mood and atmosphere
| Term | Feeling |
|---|---|
| serene, tranquil | Calm and peaceful |
| moody, dramatic | Dark, intense, emotional |
| whimsical, playful | Light-hearted, fun, magical |
| mysterious, eerie | Uncertain, slightly unsettling |
| nostalgic, vintage | Memories, old photos |
| cozy, inviting | Warm, homely, comfortable |
| epic, cinematic | Large scale, film-like |
| futuristic, cyberpunk | High-tech, neon, urban future |
Detail and finish
- highly detailed, intricate: more fine detail (useful for illustrations and fantasy).
- clean, minimal: fewer details, simpler shapes.
- textured, grainy: visible surface or film grain.
- matte / glossy finish: surface look for products and 3D renders.
- sharp focus: crisp subject, especially for photos and products.
Build a prompt from the glossary
Follow this order: subject → medium → light → camera → composition → colour → mood.
“A street food vendor at night, film photography, neon lighting, 35 mm lens, rule of thirds, teal and orange, nostalgic and lively.”
For more ways to combine these words, read 10 tips for better prompts.
Related articles
- 10 Tips to Write Better AI Image Prompts (With Examples)
- How to Get the Prompt From Any Image (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Midjourney vs Stable Diffusion vs Flux vs ChatGPT: How to Write Prompts for Each
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