Visual ideas
A useful image starts with a clear subject, setting, composition, and purpose. Describe what someone should see, then review the result against that brief rather than judging it only by first impression.
The same subject needs a different brief depending on where the image will appear. These examples separate the visual decision from the surrounding project.
You need a welcoming scene for a service page, but the first draft feels like a generic stock image.
Name the service, setting, audience, and mood. If the task begins with an existing photograph rather than a new scene, explore the photo-focused route.
runable photoA slide needs one visual idea that supports its point without competing with the text.
Request a simple focal subject and leave room in the composition for the slide heading. See the presentation route for the wider slide task.
runable ai presentationYou want an illustration for an event announcement and need it to read well at a small size.
Choose a recognizable subject and limited background detail; keep event dates and other essential wording outside the generated image.
runable photoYou need a visual metaphor to introduce a topic before showing detailed material.
Describe the metaphor and identify what must remain unmistakable. For a complete teaching deck, use the presentation-focused route.
runable ai presentationTreat the prompt as a short creative brief, not a list of every detail you can imagine.
Write down where the visual will be used and what viewers should notice first. A website header, a slide illustration, and a small social tile call for different framing even when they depict the same subject.
Specify the subject, its surroundings, viewpoint, and broad style. Add a constraint only when it matters, such as an uncluttered background or open space on one side. Avoid combining instructions that pull in opposite directions.
Compare the result with the original purpose. Check whether the main subject is legible, whether important details are missing, and whether anything unexpected changes the meaning. Revise the brief one issue at a time.
These are two ways to write a brief, not a claim that a particular input control or editing feature is available. Pick the column that matches what you already know.
Open-ended scene brief
Constraint-led scene brief
Open-ended scene brief
You know the topic but want to explore its visual direction.
Constraint-led scene brief
You know the placement and the elements the image must contain.
Open-ended scene brief
Describe the central subject and the feeling of the scene.
Constraint-led scene brief
State the subject, intended use, and most important requirement.
Open-ended scene brief
Suggest a viewpoint and allow room for interpretation.
Constraint-led scene brief
Specify focal point, framing, and any area that must stay uncluttered.
Open-ended scene brief
Use a broad direction such as editorial illustration.
Constraint-led scene brief
Choose a style that fits the surrounding page or slide.
Open-ended scene brief
Look for promising ideas and unexpected strengths.
Constraint-led scene brief
Check each stated requirement against the visible result.
Open-ended scene brief
Keep the strongest visual idea and make the brief more precise.
Constraint-led scene brief
Correct the most important mismatch without rewriting everything.
A visual brief helps you evaluate an image, but it does not replace checking the actual output or the rules for your intended use.
Do not assume lettering, labels, numbers, or logos inside a generated scene will be accurate or readable.
WorkaroundKeep essential text in your page, slide, or design layout instead of relying on text within the image.
A prompt can describe a particular object or arrangement without guaranteeing that every visible detail will match it.
WorkaroundCheck the result against a short list of requirements and revise the clearest mismatch first.
An invented scene should not be presented as a photograph of a real person, place, product, or event.
WorkaroundUse verified source material when factual accuracy matters, and label illustrative imagery appropriately.
This guide cannot establish the terms, permissions, or restrictions that apply to a particular result.
WorkaroundReview the applicable terms and check recognizable brands, people, and protected material before publishing.
If your project extends beyond a single image, choose a route that matches the material you are working with.
Start with a subject and a purpose, add only the constraints that matter, and inspect the result before placing it in a page or presentation. Available creation options are shown at the destination.
Explore image creationStart with the subject, setting, and visual style, then add framing or lighting if either matters to your project. Mention the intended use so you can judge whether the result fits. A short, consistent brief is usually easier to revise than a long list of competing instructions.
Describe the focal subject and ask for a composition with uncluttered space where your page copy will sit. Check the actual image in the intended layout, including smaller screen sizes. Keep headings and calls to action as page text rather than embedding them in the image.
Do not treat lettering in an image as verified copy. Inspect every word and number if the result includes them, especially on signs, labels, or packaging. Place essential wording in your design layout instead.
Identify the most important mismatch before revising. If the subject is right but the framing is wrong, adjust the viewpoint or composition rather than replacing the entire description. Check the next result against the same intended use.
An illustrative image can communicate a concept, but it does not verify how a real product looks. Use an accurate photograph when customers need to inspect actual features, colors, or condition. Avoid presenting an invented depiction as documentary evidence.